Vestavia Hills High School: Difference between revisions

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|grades        =9-12
|grades        =9-12
|principal      =Tim Loveless
|principal      =Tim Loveless
|enrollment    =1,648
|enrollment    =1,902
|enroll-year    =2005
|enroll-year    =2014
|colors        =Red, white & blue
|colors        =Red, white & blue
|mascot        =Rebels
|mascot        =Rebels
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}}
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'''Vestavia Hills High School''' ('''VHHS'''), founded in [[1970]], is a public high school in the [[Vestavia Hills City Schools]] system, serving the entire city of [[Vestavia Hills]]. The school is known primarily for the success of its math, debate, and baseball teams.  
'''Vestavia Hills High School''' ('''VHHS''') is a public high school in the [[Vestavia Hills City Schools]] system serving 9-12th graders in the city of [[Vestavia Hills]]. It has been recognized for consistent academic excellence, and its athletic teams have won numerous championships. The student enrollment for 2013-2014 was 1,902. The current principal, serving on an interim basis, is [[Tim Loveless]].


Founded as a bedroom [[suburb]], the quality of Vestavia Hills' schools are locally recognized as the city's greatest asset. The creation of an independent school system was a landmark event in the history of the municipality. The High School, which is noted for excellence nationally as well as on a statewide level, is also an asset to a region not recognized for committing adequate resources to primary education.
Before Vestavia created its own school system in April [[1970]], students from the area attended [[Jefferson County Schools|Jefferson County]]'s [[Berry High School]]. Vestavia paid tuition to allow upperclassmen to complete their diplomas with their classmates while the first high school classes in the city were accommodated at existing schools, the [[Vestavia Hills Civic Center]], and [[Vestavia Hills Methodist Church]]. The new system fell under desegregation orders issued a federal appeals court in ''[[Stout vs. Jefferson County Board of Education]].''. Specifically the new system was required to hire a certain number of African-American teachers, and to provide free transportation and enrollment to the residents of an unincorporated area of [[Oxmoor Valley]].


The student enrollment for 2005-2006 was 1,648.  
The present school building, designed by [[Evan Terry & Associates]], was completed in [[1972]] on land donated by [[Isadore Pizitz|Isadore]] and [[Hortense Pizitz]].


The school mascot is the Rebel (a cartoon depiction of a "Southern gentleman" patterned after the University of Mississippi mascot). Occasional controversy about the use of the Rebel mascot has not made much impact in Vestavia Hills, which has an overwhelmingly white student body. The name "Rebels", the mascot, and use of the Confederate battle flag as a rallying symbol was the subject of a school board debate in November 2000. After hearing many opinions, mostly in favor of keeping these symbols, the board took the advice of its legal counsel and made no new policy. The use of the flag, once common, is strongly discouraged, and former principal [[Cas McWaters]] took the step of prohibiting flagpoles from the school stadium.
During the first year of classes, the student body selected the Rebels name and mascot, based on those used by the University of Mississippi, to represent them. These symbols, along with the Confederate battle flag which was commonly used as a rallying flag, have inspired repeated complaints. During his first year as principal in [[2006]], [[Cas McWaters]], an alumnus and former coach and faculty member, made the decision to prohibit the battle flag from being displayed in the school and to ban all flagpoles from being brought into the stadium.


The current school principal is [[Tim Loveless]], who was appointed as interim principal after the resignation of [[Wes Gordon]], who left for an administrative position with [[Auburn]] City Schools. Gordon had served one year as principal following the retirement of [[Cas McWaters]] in [[2013]].
In [[2008]] the Vestavia Board of Education awarded a $13.8 million contract to [[Taylor & Miree Construction]] for renovations to the school designed by [[Lathan Associates Architects]]. The renovations included 29 new classrooms and labs and a dance studio, as well as a new senior dining area in an existing courtyard. Additional interior renovations were completed during the summer of [[2010]].
 
In [[2008]] the Vestavia Board of Education awarded a $13.8 million contract to [[Taylor & Miree Construction]] for renovations to the school designed by [[Lathan Associates Architects]]. The renovations include 29 new classrooms and labs and a dance studio, as well as a new senior dining area in an existing courtyard. Additional interior renovations are planned for the summer of [[2010]].


==Achievements==
==Achievements==
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[[Category:Vestavia Hills schools|High School]]
[[Category:Vestavia Hills schools|High School]]
[[Category:Lime Rock Road]]
[[Category:Lime Rock Road]]
[[Category:1970 buildings]]
[[Category:1970 establishments]]
[[Category:1972 buildings]]
[[Category:Evan Terry buildings]]
[[Category:Evan Terry buildings]]

Revision as of 14:48, 1 July 2015

Vestavia Hills High School
VHHS crest.jpg
Established 1970
School type Public
District Vestavia Hills City Schools
Grades 9-12
Principal Tim Loveless
Enrollment 1,902 (2014)
Colors Red, white & blue
Mascot Rebels
Location 2235 Lime Rock Road
Vestavia Hills
Website www.vestavia.k12.al.us/high

Vestavia Hills High School (VHHS) is a public high school in the Vestavia Hills City Schools system serving 9-12th graders in the city of Vestavia Hills. It has been recognized for consistent academic excellence, and its athletic teams have won numerous championships. The student enrollment for 2013-2014 was 1,902. The current principal, serving on an interim basis, is Tim Loveless.

Before Vestavia created its own school system in April 1970, students from the area attended Jefferson County's Berry High School. Vestavia paid tuition to allow upperclassmen to complete their diplomas with their classmates while the first high school classes in the city were accommodated at existing schools, the Vestavia Hills Civic Center, and Vestavia Hills Methodist Church. The new system fell under desegregation orders issued a federal appeals court in Stout vs. Jefferson County Board of Education.. Specifically the new system was required to hire a certain number of African-American teachers, and to provide free transportation and enrollment to the residents of an unincorporated area of Oxmoor Valley.

The present school building, designed by Evan Terry & Associates, was completed in 1972 on land donated by Isadore and Hortense Pizitz.

During the first year of classes, the student body selected the Rebels name and mascot, based on those used by the University of Mississippi, to represent them. These symbols, along with the Confederate battle flag which was commonly used as a rallying flag, have inspired repeated complaints. During his first year as principal in 2006, Cas McWaters, an alumnus and former coach and faculty member, made the decision to prohibit the battle flag from being displayed in the school and to ban all flagpoles from being brought into the stadium.

In 2008 the Vestavia Board of Education awarded a $13.8 million contract to Taylor & Miree Construction for renovations to the school designed by Lathan Associates Architects. The renovations included 29 new classrooms and labs and a dance studio, as well as a new senior dining area in an existing courtyard. Additional interior renovations were completed during the summer of 2010.

Achievements

Vestavia's math team has dominated national competition for more than a decade. The team has earned 15 first-place and 2 second-place finishes in their 17 National Mu Alpha Theta Convention competitions. [1] Most recently, Vestavia's math team won first place recognition in the national competition in Fort Collins, Colorado in July, 2006. Other successes include four victories at the regional Furman University Wylie Mathematics Tournament from 1999-2004 [2]

The debate team, winners of seven national championships, has the distinction of being the first team in history to win both the Lincoln-Douglas Debate and the Policy Debate in the National Forensic League championships. [3] Vestavia is also the only school to have two national champions in Lincoln-Douglas debate.

Vestavia has also produced a legacy of athletic accomplishment. The baseball team, under late Coach Sammy Dunn, won nine state titles in the highest division of competition, including seven straight from 1994-2000. Dunn's 27-year record at Vestavia was 647-146. The football team won state championships in 1980 and 1998. The wrestling, soccer, golf and tennis teams have also enjoyed notable successes.

Faculty

See also Category:Vestavia Hills faculty

Nine of Vestavia Hills High School's teachers have achieved "National Board Certification" with seven more on track to be certified.

Outstanding teaching staff include Kay Tipton, chair of the math department since 1989, who has won Cornell University's "Outstanding High School Educator Award", the "Golden Apple Teacher of the Year Award", and received the White House Commission of Presidential Scholars "Distinguished Teacher Award" three times.

Former Debate Coach, Marilee Dukes was inducted to the National Forensics League Hall of Fame in 2004. [4] She is also in the Tournament of Champions Coaches Hall of Fame. Dukes coached at Alabama’s Vestavia Hills High School for over twenty years and made the program one of the powerhouses of the 1990s. Her students have claimed the championships and top speaker awards at every major national tournament during her tenure, and she has coached debaters to finals at the Tournament of Champions an unprecedented seven times. She is one of ten coaches honored by having a debate round in the Barkley Forum for High Schools at Emory University named for her. [5]

Former Band Director Ted Galloway [6] not only conducted performing groups of consistently high quality, but also brought many legendary jazz musicians, such as Urbie Green to the school for performances.

Principals

Notable alumni

References

  • Whiting, Marvin Yeomans (2000) Vestavia Hills, Alabama: A Place Apart Birmingham: Vestavia Hills Historical Society
  • Wright, Barnett (November 30, 2000) "Vestavia Board lets Rebels, flag, mascot stay." The Birmingham News
  • Singleton, William C. III (July 9, 2008) "Two Vestavia Hills schools undergo renovations." The Birmingham News
  • Colby, Tanner (2012) Some of My Best Friends are Black: The Strange Story of Integration in America. New York: Viking ISBN 067002371X

External links

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