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.
The economy slowed in the last 3 months of the year — but was still solid in 2025
The U.S. economy grew 2.2% in 2025, a modest slowdown from 2.4% the previous year. GDP gains were fueled by solid consumer spending and business investment.
Ali Akbar, who’s sold newspapers on the streets of Paris for 50 years, is now a knight
For decades, Ali Akbar has sold papers on the Left Bank of Paris. Last month, France gave the beloved 73-year-old immigrant from Pakistan one of its highest honors — and his neighborhood is cheering.
Bill limiting environmental regulations goes to the governor’s desk
President Trump has taken steps to roll back environmental regulations. Some of that same action is taking place in statehouses, including Alabama's. Lawmakers gave final passage this week to a bill that would ban the state from enacting environmental rules more stringent than those at the federal level. That's where we start our weekly legislative update with Todd Stacy, host of Capitol Journal on Alabama Public Television.
For years the Taliban told women to cover up in public. Now they’re cracking down
At hospitals, at seminaries and on buses, the Taliban is stepping up enforcement of rules on women's dress in the city of Herat.
What I learned watching every sport at the Winter Olympics
Sit down with pop culture critic Linda Holmes as she watches the 2026 Winter Games. She is exhausted by cross-country, says "ow ow ow" during moguls, and makes the case, once and for all, for curling.
Scientists worry about lasting damage from Potomac sewage spill
Drinking water around the District of Columbia hasn't been contaminated. But scientists say the environmental damage could be severe.
