More Than a School: A Community's Next Chapter

When people hear that Eleven86 helped purchase a school, their first reaction is usually the same:

"Wait... a water company bought a school?"

The answer is yes — but the story is much bigger than that. This wasn't about expanding a business or adding another building to our portfolio. It was about protecting something our community couldn't afford to lose. For generations, Autaugaville School had been more than a place where students learned math and science. It was where lifelong friendships began, Friday nights were celebrated, and families gathered for events that brought an entire town together. It represented a community's identity.

So when the Autauga County Board of Education voted in February 2025 to close the school, it felt like much more than the loss of a campus.

For many students, it meant waking up before daylight to catch a bus around five o'clock in the morning. It meant longer rides to neighboring communities, fewer opportunities to participate in after-school activities, and another reminder of how difficult it can be for rural towns to hold onto the institutions that matter most. Unsurprisingly, the decision sparked conversations across Autaugaville, with many wondering what the future of the community would look like without its school.

Then, a few months later, everything changed.

In July 2025, the Board acknowledged there was an interested buyer for the property. That buyer was Marquis Forge, on behalf of our nonprofit organization, MRaine River Association. While many people first heard about us through Eleven86 Real Artesian Water, our nonprofit had already spent years serving the community through Mobile Food Drives in partnership with Heart of Alabama Food Bank, with Eleven86 proudly serving as the host location. We weren't arriving as outsiders — we were simply continuing the work we'd already been doing.

Once the purchase became official, we were finally able to share the news.

Autaugaville School had a future.

A School Reborn

Purchasing the campus wasn't the finish line — it was the beginning of an entirely new chapter.

The school that generations knew as Autaugaville School would now become Autaugaville Christian Academy, opening its doors as a private Christian school rooted in academic excellence, character, and faith. While the name on the building changed, the purpose remained remarkably familiar: giving local children a place to learn, grow, and prepare for whatever comes next.

The transition, however, wasn't as simple as unlocking the front doors.

Because the campus had been a public school, nearly everything inside was redistributed throughout the county after its closure. Desks, classroom furniture, computers, technology equipment — even miles of ethernet cable — found new homes in neighboring schools. By the time the keys were officially handed over, many of the classrooms echoed with empty walls and bare floors.

In many ways, we weren't reopening a school.

We were rebuilding one.

Fortunately, our community did what it has always done best — it showed up.

Through volunteers, local businesses, churches, educators, and generous supporters from across Alabama, classrooms slowly began taking shape again. Every donated desk, every fresh coat of paint, every hour volunteered became another reminder that this project belonged to more than one organization. It belonged to an entire community determined to give its children something worth believing in.

Building More Than Classrooms

A school is never defined by its buildings.

It's defined by the people who walk its hallways.

That's why one of the most exciting moments in this journey came with the appointment of Dr. Rachel Surles as Head of School. Bringing decades of educational leadership, a heart for students, and a clear vision for the future, Dr. Surles immediately began assembling a team that shared one common goal: providing every child with an exceptional Christian education.

Teachers, administrators, and volunteers have traveled from neighboring cities and school systems, bringing their experience and passion to Autaugaville. Together, they're creating an environment where students are challenged academically, encouraged spiritually, and genuinely known by name.

Even before the first official school year began, that vision was already taking shape.

Our free summer camp welcomed children from throughout the community for two unforgettable weeks filled with hands-on learning, arts and crafts, outdoor activities, farm animals, and plenty of laughter. Parents watched their children make new friends, families reconnected, and the campus once again echoed with something it had been missing for far too long — the joyful sound of children.

The academy has also adopted the Eagle as its mascot, inspired by Isaiah 40:31:

"But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles..."

It serves as a daily reminder of the values we hope every student carries long after graduation.

Looking Ahead

This fall, Autaugaville Christian Academy will welcome its first students as a Kindergarten through 6th grade school. Rather than expanding all at once, the academy will grow one grade level each year, allowing today's sixth graders to become tomorrow's seventh graders, then eighth graders, until one day the vision of a complete K–12 Christian academybecomes reality.

Much of that future is made possible through Alabama's CHOOSE Act, which helps eligible families access private education. Grants, generous supporters, and countless volunteers have also played an incredible role in preparing the campus for opening day. While there's still plenty of work ahead, every improvement made today is an investment in generations of students yet to come.

When people ask why a water company became involved in saving a school, the answer is actually pretty simple.

At Eleven86 Real Artesian Water, we've always believed our responsibility extends beyond the bottle. Real impact isn't measured only by what we manufacture. It's measured by the communities we strengthen, the opportunities we create, and the people we choose to invest in. Purchasing this campus wasn't just about preserving a building — it was about preserving hope, restoring opportunity, and helping write the next chapter of Autaugaville's story.

And if this journey has taught us anything, it's that when a community comes together with faith, determination, and a shared purpose, there's no limit to what can be rebuilt.