It's been several years since Ricky Murphy taught at Cleburne County High School but this year he returns as principal.

"I'm in a steep learning curve," said the 23 year veteran of education as he recently discussed his new job following work at Wadley, Wedowee, Woodland, and Fruithurst.

Murphy began his first year in education teaching math and coaching football and basketball at Wadley. From 1988-92 he taught math and coached football, basketball and softball at CCHS before going to the vocational at Wedowee and teaching technology.

He later coached football and baseball at Woodland and returned to Cleburne County where he served as principal at Fruithurst. He returned to Woodland, where he lives, and served as principal there for over 13 years.

Murphy said that having worked in Cleburne County is what attracted him to the open position at CCHS.

"I've been in the county here a couple of times and really enjoyed the times I've worked here. It is a place I'd been before and had real good experiences. I am looking forward to working with the people here, I've seen a a lot I know and I'm just looking forward to getting the year started."

Murphy said he will probably make very few changes until he's been here a year as he wants to see what works and what doesn't. "I'm not making a lot of changes because I might change something that works so I am going to give it a year," he explained.

He takes the helm of CCHS at a time when enrollment has increased by 24 students and, due to financial cuts, the school has lost a couple of instructors. He also finds CCHS with "a couple hundred" students less than Woodland's K-12 with 830 students. Murphy said he would like to get back the staff CCHS has lost but tight budgets and the removal of sweet snacks and drinks from school vending machines has cut revenues.

"This has caused more fund raising and we have to get creative to stay within the nutritional guidelines. The most popular items right now with the kids are Pop Tarts and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches," Murphy noted.

Murphy said he will continue to live in Woodland until one of his sons graduates at which time the family will probably move to Cleburne County.

His wife is presently a special education bus aide in Wedowee.