Hoover Schools Unveil New Zoning Plan, Schedule Meetings For Parent Feedback
After months of input from the public and from the federal government, Hoover City Schools presented a proposed rezoning plan Thursday to more than a hundred people at Metropolitan Church of God.
Everyone from parents to taxpayers to the Department of Justice is watching Hoover’s rezoning process — an issue that has stirred controversy in the past.
Hoover Superintendent Kathy Murphy says goals of the plan include efficient use the district’s 17 school buildings and cutting travel times for students while complying with a 45-year-old desegregation court order.
“There are desegregation obligations which we must, and should, and will make sure that we’re honoring,” Murphy said at Thursday’s meeting.
Many of the changes in the complex plan have to do with grade-level configurations. Roughly 2,500 students – about 18 percent of the student body – would end up in different school zones. Parents can check on their kids’ zones at HooverReZoning.com.
“We have some schools underutilized,” said Murphy. “And we have some of our schools, if you will, that are really pushing capacity. And they’re a bit strained and stressed.”
There are four smaller meetings scheduled in the district this month. Unlike Thursday’s presentation, those meetings will include public feedback. School officials hope to have a final plan approved by the school board in March and by a federal court in April.
Additional reporting for this story provided by Dan Carsen.
Hoover City Schools
The draft of Hoover City School zones released Thursday, February 4. Click the map to see a larger version.
States and cities beef up security to prepare for potential election-related violence
Washington state's governor activated the National Guard to stand by to help local law enforcement as needed. Meanwhile, extra security is in place at locations across Washington, D.C.
When will mail-in and absentee ballots be counted?
Various state rules regarding when election officials can process and count mail ballots means it will likely take some time after Election Day before the results from these ballots are fully known.
When do polls close in every state? Here’s a timeline
The Associated Press can't call any races until polls close in their respective state. Here's a breakdown of when that will happen.
How has the Electoral College survived, despite being perennially unpopular?
Despite its substantial-sounding name, the Electoral College isn’t a permanent body: It’s more of a process. For decades, a majority of Americans have wanted it to be changed.
Thousands of Pennsylvania voters have had their mail ballot applications challenged
Thousands of last-minute challenges to voters’ mail ballot applications, along with baseless claims by former President Donald Trump, are adding pressure on Pennsylvania county officials.
No more fluoride in the water? RFK Jr. wants that and Trump says it ‘sounds OK’
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.’s claims about fluoride in the drinking water are linked to Cold War conspiracy theories about the substance.
