Education

City Relinquishes Power Over Old Powell School, Raising Concerns About Historic Preservation

After a contentious discussion, the Birmingham City Council voted Tuesday to relinquish its interest in the historic Powell School building, which has been vacant for more than two decades. Though developers of the property told councilors that historic preservation is their priority, they expressed doubts that they’d be able to save most of the 134-year-old structure. Now, with the city stepping out of the way, they won’t be compelled to. Councilors split over the discussion. District 3 Councilor Valerie Abbott said she was “aghast” at the idea of “giving the property away” to a developer with no guarantee of historical preservation. Mayor Randall Woodfin retorted that it made less sense to leave the dilapidated school building standing. “It is clear blight,” he said. Read more.

by Sam Prickett

Preparing for the ‘Experience of a Lifetime’: Birmingham Students to Sing at Carnegie Hall

The choir at Ramsay High School is heading to Carnegie Hall this May. It’s an opportunity to boost school pride and to give some students the experience of a lifetime. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

A Local Hip-Hop Education Group Teaches Kids Life Skills

The education collective Knowledge Rhythm and Understanding, known as K.R.U., is using the music genre to teach life skills. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Some kids in Birmingham dodge trains and cars walking to school. More buses could help.

Alabama only has to provide bus access for families that live within two miles of their school, which leaves some families having to walk in dangerous conditions. Birmingham City Schools is trying to add new routes to address these concerns. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Hoover City Schools canceled Derrick Barnes’ visit. He says it’s political.

Hoover school officials say they canceled the Black children's book author's visit due to a controversial social media post. Officials never saw the post after an anonymous parent reported it. Read more.

by Richard Banks, WBHM

Birmingham Schools Get More Than $600K From Scales’ County Account

Eleven Birmingham schools were to be presented with checks totaling more than $600,000 donated through Jefferson County Commissioner Lashunda Scales’ county discretionary funds. “I have been a Partner In Education with Birmingham City Schools since 2004, which is longer than the time I’ve served in an elected position,” Scales said in a statement from the

by BirminghamWatch

JeffCo Funding for BSC Would Be ‘Very Difficult,’ Commission President Says

Jimmie Stephens said Tuesday that it is very difficult to give public dollars to a private institution.   The Jefferson County Commission president was asked by media after Tuesday’s committee meeting whether there was any update on Jefferson County possibly allotting funds to help Birmingham-Southern College, the private liberal arts college in Birmingham’s Bush Hills Neighborhood.   “Our position hasn't changed,” he said. “The county has not considered that and I don't know that they have any plans to.   “I can say at this time, based on our past pattern and practices, that it is very difficult to give public dollars to a private institution,” Stephens said. “If that were to happen, it would be something that we've never done before.”   Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

Birmingham-Southern President Says He’ll Do Everything Possible to Keep the College Open

Birmingham-Southern College, a private institution, is asking the state to help bail it out after financial troubles. School President Daniel Coleman shared with WBHM what he sees as the path ahead for the college. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

Students and Faculty Nervous About Birmingham-Southern’s Financial Stress, Possible Closing

Students, alumni and faculty of Birmingham-Southern College are nervous after school officials revealed the campus could close as early as next year. The private college is now asking for $37 million in public money, most of it from the state, to keep the doors open. Read more.

by Kyra Miles, WBHM

School Grades in Jefferson County Run the Gamut

If all the schools in Jefferson County were graded together, they would have a solid B average. But of course, children don’t attend an amalgamation of schools. The spread of grades that schools in Jefferson County scored on the Alabama Department of Education State Report Card ranges from the top to the bottom. Read more and find scores for your individual schools.

by Virginia Martin