Councill Elementary School
| Councill Elementary School | |
| |
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Birmingham City Schools |
| Years | 1926–2012 |
|---|---|
| Location | 1400 Avenue M Ensley, (map) Belview Heights |
| Grades | Pre-K-6 |
| Principal | Steve Brown |
| Enrollment | 429 (2008) |
| Colors | |
| Mascot | |
| Website | |
William Hooper Councill Elementary School (formerly Davis School and Councill Negro Elementary School) was an elementary school in the Birmingham City Schools system located at 1400 Avenue M Ensley.
The original Davis School building, named for Alfred Davis, was constructed in 1898 at the corner of 20th Street and Avenue L (now Avenue P).
The current school building was constructed on a triangular site for 1,040 African-American pupils in 1926 and expanded in 1928. It is named in memory of William Councill, the founder and first president of A&M College at Normal.
In the 1930s jazz bassist Walter Blythe started a band program at Councill, mentoring young musicians including Jo Jones, Nehamiah Stanfield and Jimmy Chappel.
In 2009 plans were made for $7 million in renovations to Councill Elementary, but interim superintendent Barbara Allen suggested joining the student body with that of Bush Middle School in a new K-8 school. That proposal was repeated in 2012 by superintendent Craig Witherspoon.
Principals
- C. Davis, 1898–
- W. R. Wood, 1923–1935
- P. D. Jackson, 1935–1939
- Steve Brown, –2012
References
- Prince, A. G. (1982) Landmarks of Ensley: Past and Present. revised edition. Ensley: Best Printing Service
- Gray, Jeremy (February 23, 2010) "Councill, Bush merger opponents voice concerns." The Birmingham News