Comer Elementary School

This article is about the Birmingham City Schools elementary school opened in 1961. For similarly named schools, see Comer School.

Donald Comer Elementary School was a Birmingham City Schools elementary school for grades 1-8 located at 1220 50th Street South in Crestwood South. It was named for Donald Comer, an Avondale Mills executive who served on the Birmingham Board of Education.

The 12-classroom building was constructed in 1961 to relieve overcrowding at the nearby Minnie Holman School. The decision to name the school for Comer threatened to complicate the use of state funds, which in some cases restricted the naming of buildings for living persons.

The new school was designed by Pembleton & Mims. The $250,000 construction contract was awarded to the Robins Engineering Co. Parents donated funds to plant the schoolyard with grass and to pave the driveway.

A major addition to the school, designed by Mims & Gaunt, successors to the original architects, was completed in 1966. The new buildings housed science, art and music rooms, as well as a library, auditorium and gymnasium. The complex of one-story flat-roof brick buildings was connected with paved covered walkways.

After the school closed, the building was used by Meals on Wheels, Community Education South, and the Redmont School, and by the Alabama Waldorf School from 1999 to 2016. It is currently the home of the Renaissance Academy. The Altamont School uses the athletic fields adjoining the former school.

Principals

• Don Henderson, 1961–1964
• Bill Marsh, 1968–1970

References

• "Schools Adding Near $3 Million In New Facilities" (January 21, 1961) Birmingham Post-Herald - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• "Matching funds denied to Crestwood" (December 28, 1962) The Birmingham News - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections
• Bryant, Ted (January 4, 1966) "City School Board OKs Building Plan" Birmingham Post-Herald - via Birmingham Public Library Digital Collections