Birmingham City Schools

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Birmingham City Schools is the public school system for the City of Birmingham, administrated by the Birmingham Board of Education. The system currently operates 65 schools, but is actively combining and closing underutilized facilities as enrollment has dropped. Official enrollment for 2008 is 27,525 students, down from 28,393 at the same time in 2007. The acting Superintendent of Schools, since January 2010, is Craig Witherspoon, who succeeded interim superintendent Barbara Allen.

History

Founding

Main article: Powell School

Birmingham's first public school was the Free School established in 1874 under the leadership of John T. Terry and James Powell. Despite its name, the trustees found it necessary to charge a nominal fee to students for a number of years in order to meet their budgets. That school, renamed "Powell School" became a high school when the next school were constructed in 1883. John H. Phillips became superintendent of schools that year and, two years later, oversaw the formation of the first Birmingham Board of Education, taking responsibility for schools out of the direct purview of the Mayor and Board of Aldermen.

Growth

Norwood School, constructed in 1925

By the 1920s the need for new schools was dire. A 1923 study recommended a city-wide network of neighborhood schools. The city approved a major bond issue and Superintendent Charles Glenn and board chairman Erskine Ramsay charted a building campaign which replaced existing frame structures and temporary rented facilities with massive red-brick school buildings, many of which were designed by noted architects David O. Whilldin and Warren, Knight & Davis. As the growth of the "Magic City" continued through the decade, the building program was expanded to try to keep pace. A second 1927 study led to another bond issue and more new schools. By then, Birmingham's segregation laws had been enacted, creating numerous discrete neighborhoods that soon had their own schools.

A classroom in 1931, courtesy BPL Archives

In 1952 an assessment of Birmingham's school resources found that 95% of children residing in the city attended one of the the 70 schools in the system. The study suggested several new schools be built to accommodate the "baby boom" generation. By 1961 forty-one new buildings had been completed, including several new neighborhood schools as well as auditoria or gymnasiums at existing schools.

Consolidation

The city school system has declined in enrollment since the 1970s when 60,000 to 70,000 students filled the halls. In Fall 2004 the system lost more than 2,000 students from the year previous, then another 1,565 in 2005, 1,080 in 2006, 1,343 for 2007 and 433 for 2008. The number of students determines, in large part, the amount of state funding given to the system.

Superintendent Mims initially said that approximately 10 schools will be recommended for closure before the Fall 2007 school year. In April 2007 it was proposed that L. Frazier Banks Middle School, Curry Elementary School and Kennedy Alternative School would close, along with the McCaw School for students with severe behavioral problems and the Eureka Center, housing the system's Family Literacy Center. Banks closed in December 2006 while Curry and Kennedy were closed during the summer of 2007. Mims said that he would wait until after Labor Day 2007 to make recommendations for further school closures.

In January 2008 Mims presented a revised school-reorganization plan to the board. Under that proposal a total of 18 schools would close over the following four years. Among the changes to the plan, Glenn Middle School and Norwood and Gibson Elementary Schools would remain open while Wilson Elementary School and Putnam and Center Street middle schools would close. Ramsay High School would be converted into a magnet middle school while an expanded Parker High School would accommodate students from Ramsay.

In February 2008 Mims was placed on leave and Barbara Allen took over as acting superintendent. She held further public meetings and then presented a consolidation plan to the board which was approved on February 26. Under the approved plan, Hayes and West End High Schools would close in the summer of 2008 along with Kingston K-8 School, McElwain, and Oliver Elementary Schools. In 2009 Kirby Middle School would close while a new Hudson K-8 School was created and Norwood Elementary School expanded to K-8. In 2010 Wilson, North Birmingham and Gibson Elementary Schools would close while a new K-8 school opened at the Hayes High School site. In 2011 Hill, Going, Arthur, Price, Powderly and Wenonah Elementary Schools would close, along with A. G. Gaston K-8 School. Meanwhile, new schools would be created in Oxmoor Valley, Wylam, and Jones Valley.

Recent construction

Despite the drop in enrollment and a shortage of revenues for school operations, the system has significant resources for capital projects. Based on its 2004 enrollment, Birmingham City Schools were given a $331 million share of the Jefferson County School Construction Fund, a $1.1 billion bond issue financed by a county-wide sales tax increase.

The Board voted on January 23, 2007 to contract with Volkert & Associates of Mobile to oversee construction management for all capital projects planned using those funds. On April 22 the Board approved a $283 million construction plan which would cover construction of 10 new schools and the renovation or expansion of 13 others. The plan would provide $27.8 million for athletic facilities. $82.5 million would be used for construction 6 new elementary schools. $46.25 would cover construction of three K-8 schools, and $54 million would be spent on a new campus for Huffman High School. On May 13 the Board approved architectural contracts for the projects.

In moving toward construction, the board is eager to settle some property disputes with the City of Birmingham. The city loaned the system $3 million in April 2007 as a bailout to fund teacher buyouts. In return certain unused school properties would be ceded to the city. Agreement on which properties would be transferred has not been reached. At the same time some schools are constructed on land to which the city holds the title and the board wants to take clear ownership before constructing new buildings.

In March 2011 Superintendent Craig Witherspoon outlined challenges and strategies for the upcoming years. At the time, the system was facing a $23 million deficit which he hoped to address with early retirements, cuts to central office staff, and additional school closures. At the same time, he planned to increase participation in Advanced Placement courses; pursue an International Baccalaureate program in the system; and establish career academies with special training in engineering, finance, information technology and teaching. Six of the city's seven high schools were designated as career academies beginning in Fall 2011.

Some of those initiatives paralleled goals of the Blueprint Birmingham regional economic development campaign and were supported by the Birmingham Education Foundation which raises funds for teacher and staff training, as well as programs for parents.

Enrollment

year     students  %change
1960-61 | 70,000 | 
1983-84 | 43,000 | 
2004-05 | 31,774 | 
2005-06 | 30,601 | -3.7%
2006-07 | 29,128 | -4.8%
2007-08 | 27,942 | -4.1%
2008-09 | 27,517 | -1.5%
2009-10 | 26,748 | -2.8%
2010-11 | 25,798 | -3.6%

Superintendents

This list is incomplete. You can help BhamWiki by expanding it.

Schools

Main article: List of Birmingham City Schools

The Birmingham School district is currently composed of 60 schools, divided into 9 districts and 5 clusters. The system's high schools include Carver High School, Huffman High School, Jackson-Olin High School, Parker High School, Ramsay High School, Wenonah High School, and Woodlawn High School.

References

  • Birmingham Public Schools (1931) Report of Progress, Birmingham Public Schools: September 1, 1921 to August 31, 1931 - accessed via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
  • Dillon, Elsie H. (1972) A Brief History of Birmingham Public Schools, Centennial Edition, 1883-1972.
  • Report of Progress on Birmingham City Schools, 1921-1931
  • Birmingham Historical Society (February 2008) "Cataloguing School Closures." Birmingham Historical Society Newsletter.
  • Hickerson, Patrick (July 28, 2006) "Pupil loss may cost schools $3 million". Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (January 24, 2007) "Board extends Volkert contract for construction management." Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (April 24, 2007) "Birmingham school board OKs closing buildings, may fire 176 on Monday." Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (August 22, 2007) "System loses 1,000-plus students." Birmingham News
  • Nance, Rahkia (November 1, 2007) "City schools lose students; slight changes in other areas." Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (December 24, 2007) "14 buildings for sale in '08." Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (January 31, 2008) "Birmingham city school closing plan changes for third time." Birmingham News
  • Leech, Marie (February 27, 2008) "Birmingham Board of Education approves plan to close 16 schools, narrowly avoids state takeover." Birmingham News
  • Stock, Erin (April 23, 2008) "New schools, construction slated for Birmingham schools." Birmingham News
  • Stock, Erin and Joseph D. Bryant (May 20, 2008) "Birmingham mayor, council, school system feud over property issues." Birmingham News
  • Crawford, Cindy F. (March 22, 2011) "Witherspoon reflects on first-year challenges, future opportunities." Birmingham Business Journal

External links

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