Neal Embry
Vestavia City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman speaks to the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 14.
“Our mission is to learn without limits,” Vestavia City Schools Superintendent Todd Freeman told the Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce at its August luncheon.
Vestavia schools have long enjoyed success in academics and athletics, and students are known for contributing to multiple fundraisers each year. This past year, graduates were awarded more than $30 million in scholarship money, and were set to attend schools in 25 states. Ten teachers won local and state awards, and the school system raised about $360,000 for various charities.
“The way that happens is not by accident,” Freeman said.
The school system has always enjoyed the support of the community, Freeman said, with 96 teachers funded completely by local revenues.
“When we have much given to us, I believe it’s a responsibility to give back,” Freeman said.
In order to help students learn from different age groups — something Freeman said helps them mature and become better adults — the school has partnered to help at the New Merkel House senior center, sent older students to be “student ambassadors” at Vestavia Hills Elementary West and conducted other service activities across the city.
Freeman also touted the school’s academic success, as 96 percent of students graduate, and among those who go to college, 84 percent of them finish in six years or less, compared to the state’s 48 percent average. The school’s 3 percent and 6 percent of students who need English and math remediation, respectively, is also well below the state average.
The school is now moving forward in its Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) programming, offering students in every school a chance to learn about the field and possible careers in STEM.
Freeman also said the school’s diversity is a strength.
“A person’s uniqueness is a gift,” he said.
Across all schools, there are 54 languages, including English, spoken in Vestavia’s school system, Freeman said. The school offers five languages: German, French, Spanish, Latin and sign language, and students can earn the Seal of Biliteracy before graduating.
After several high-profile school shootings in recent years, Freeman said school safety is a concern across the nation, and thanked the community for supporting them with school resource officers from the Vestavia Hills Police Department.
Safety, he said, is more than just protecting the building, but ensuring the wellness of students through the use of school nurses and the school’s child nutrition program. Julie Corley, nurse at Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights, was recently named Alabama School Nurse of the Year.
Freeman also told the crowd about the construction taking place across the school system.
Before school starts in August 2019, the current Pizitz Middle School facility will become a freshman center, while PMS transfers to the old Berry High School campus, in addition to the arrival of Gresham Elementary School, which has been renamed Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge. The existing elementary schools, including VHECH, VHEW, Vestavia Hills Elementary East and Liberty Park Elementary School, will have some new faces after the board of education approved rezoning intended to help spread students out among the schools so no building gets too close to building capacity. Vestavia Hills Elementary Central will be shut down after this school year.
Freeman said construction is on schedule, though a gym at the new Pizitz Middle School will not be ready by the time school starts.
The next chamber luncheon is slated for Sept. 11 at 11:30 a.m. at the Vestavia Hills Country Club. The guest speaker is Jay Seawell, the head coach of the University of Alabama men’s golf team.
