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Photo courtesy of Bluff Park Drone
Old Berry drone photo 1
The Hoover Board of Education voted to sell the former Berry High School campus on Columbiana Road to the Vestavia Hills Board of Education on Monday, April 18, 2016.
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Photo by Jon Anderson
Old Berry High School 2015
The former Berry High School campus on Columbiana Road now is owned by the Vestavia Hills Board of Education.
Vestavia Hills City Schools addressed potential uses for the Berry campus on Columbiana Road as well as community concerns in a statement issued on April 21.
The Hoover Board of Education voted Monday to accept VHCS’s offer of $11 million to purchase the former W.A. Berry High School campus. The board voted 3-2, and board member Jill Ganus Veitch cited the campus’s potential use for a third high school and the value of the land as problems with the sale.
Phillips said that while the sale is not complete, the school board is “grateful for the opportunity to work closely with our colleagues in Hoover for the good of both school systems.”
Purchasing the Berry campus is not a new conversation, Phillips said, and the Board of Education has worked for years to build its reserves. Purchasing and revitalizing this property is a way to accommodate growing enrollment numbers.
“Vestavia Hills is growing, thanks in large part to the tireless work of our city leadership and their commitment to our schools,” she said. “This growth has led to a record number of students, and we expect enrollment to continue climbing.”
Phillips also expressed gratitude toward Hoover City Schools Superintendent Kathy Murphy and the Hoover Board of Education and acknowledged the sensitive nature of campus and facility purchases.
“That is why we have tried to work collaboratively and with a singular purpose: to do only what is in the best interest of our students. We appreciate Hoover City Schools for working with us in this endeavor,” she said.
She also addressed Hoover residents and Berry alumni in her statement. Vestavia Hills’ goal in purchasing the facility it to meet the needs of students, she said, and not to tear down a facility “that once served both our communities.”
“If Vestavia Hills acquires the Berry campus, we will treat the facility, its historic mural and the Finley name on its stadium with the honor and respect they deserve,” she said.
While there are no set plans for the Berry campus at this time, Phillips said the Vestavia Hills school district is in need of a new facility. Vestavia Hills Elementary Central, Louis Pizitz Middle School and Vestavia Hills High School have operated at over capacity for a while, she said, and the Berry campus could give the option of reconfiguring middle schools into junior high schools.
However, stepping away from the middle school model would require more than renovations or extra space, she said.
“It also requires us to rethink our approach to curriculum and instruction, athletics and extracurricular programs,” she said. “These issues require thoughtful consideration and input from our stakeholders.”
Phillips said plans are still in their infancy, and stakeholders will have the chance to participate in conversations about the property. Any residents or stakeholders with questions or comments can contact Phillips by visiting www.vestavia.k12.al.us/superintendent.
