THE CLAIM: State Rep. Terry Spicer, D-Elba, secured $32 million to assist in the rebuilding of Enterprise High and Hillcrest Elementary school after both were destroyed by a tornado "in 2008," according to his website, www.electspicer.com. The funding is the largest single appropriation to a school system in Alabama history.

SUMMARY: Spicer –- along with Holley –- did initiate and introduce the legislation that secured $32 million from the trust fund to help rebuild the schools. The monies, however, had to be voted on and approved by far more legislators than Spicer alone.

ANALYSIS:On March 1, 2007 (not 2008), Enterprise High School and Hillcrest Elementary School crumbled as a tornado devastated the city and claimed the lives of eight EHS students and one Enterprise resident. Just days later, Spicer and state Sen. Jimmy Holley, R-Elba, introduced identical bills in the House and Senate that asked for an immediate $79 million appropriation from the Education Trust Fund to rebuild the two schools. The money was to be reimbursed with money recouped from insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and other places, according to the bills.

The Alabama Legislature passed substitute legislation later in March 2007 that secured for the schools a $32 million appropriation – instead of $79 million – and did away with the repayment requirement. The $32 million is believed to be almost $25 million more than any direct appropriation made to help rebuild schools damaged or destroyed by disaster in Alabama.