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.
Alabama district attorney says ‘justice demands’ new trial for death row inmate
Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr filed a brief expressing his support for Toforest Johnson’s bid to receive a new trial. Carr has supported a new trial since 2020, but the latest filing detailed the findings of a post-conviction review of the case.
After decisive loss at Alabama Mercedes plants, powerful auto union vows to return and win
Newly elected UAW President Shawn Fain said the union will return to Mercedes and will press on with efforts to organize about 150,000 workers at more than a dozen auto factories across the nation.
Gulf South states among U.S. leaders for juvenile life without parole sentences, study shows
A youth sentencing study shows Alabama and Mississippi are among just four states that top the nation in new juvenile life without parole sentences since 2012.
Workers at Alabama’s Mercedes plants vote against joining a union
The workers voted 56% against the union, according to tallies released by the National Labor Relations Board, which ran the election.
Taylor Hunnicutt is championing her home state with debut album ‘Alabama Sound’
Alabama offers a diverse symphony of swampy rock, swaggering blues, murky country, and bone-rattling soul. It’s a sound singer-songwriter Taylor Hunnicutt recently reimagined on her debut album, Alabama Sound, which is out now.
UAB building among Alabama’s first to feature ‘bird safe’ glass
Advocates hope the new glass will prevent window collisions, a leading causes of bird mortality.
