Kirby Middle School

Kirby Middle School
	Birmingham City Schools
Years	1970s–2008
Location	1328 28th Street North, (map) Norwood
Grades	6-8
Principal	Carolyn Denson
Enrollment	288 (2008)
Colors	green & white
Mascot	Stallions
Website

Clyde S. Kirby Middle School was a middle school in the Birmingham City Schools system located at 1328 28th Street North. It was originally built in the 1970s and named after Clyde Kirby. The current building was constructed in 1985 Carolyn Denson was the last current principal.

In 2008 the school was one of several locations chosen by Nintendo as the site for a celebratory launch of its "Kirby's Epic Yarn" game by filling the sky with floating soap-bubble depictions of the main character.

Under a school consolidation plan proposed by acting superintendent Barbara Allen and approved by the Board in 2008, Kirby Middle School closed in the Summer of 2009 with students transferring to Hudson K-8 School, Putnam Middle School and Norwood K-8 School.

In 2013, superintendent Craig Witherspoon proposed using the former Kirby School to consolidate Lewis Elementary School and Norwood Elementary School. A site investigation of the vacant building revealed significant problems in the building's sanitary sewer system in addition to damage from vandalism and theft to mechanical systems. State Superintendent Ed Richardson approved the proposal over the objection of the Birmingham Board of Education in a May 7 meeting.

References

• Underwood, Madison (April 23, 2013) "Significant problems found at former Kirby school, a possible consolidation site for Norwood and Lewis schools." The Birmingham News
• Underwood, Madison (May 8, 2013) "Richardson overrides Birmingham school board, approves Norwood-Lewis, Jackson-Hemphill mergers in heated meeting" The Birmingham News