Parents Voice Fears Over School Consolidations

By: NBC 13 Staff | Alabama's13.com
Published: May 13, 2008

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- There is certainly still a lot of uneasiness about how everything will work this fall.

From classroom over-crowding, to air conditioning, to problems with neighborhood gangs mixing in school hallways, parents voiced their concerns at a school board meeting Monday evening.

Birmingham city school leaders say they hope Monday’s meeting helped address some of those fears.

Birmingham parents have done their homework on the school consolidation plan, starting with an information fair where parents met teachers and looked at academic programs.

Joe Anne Steele's son will be a junior at Huffman.

With 150 new students slated to enroll at Huffman from schools that are closing. Steele's worried about the quality of his education.

Hattie Wilson's son, a freshman honors student, was going to Hayes. Now he's headed for Woodlawn and his mom is looking for answers.

"I'm worried about making sure in the science and in the math classes - there are not too many students in that classroom," said Wilson.

Overcrowding is a big concern. So are tensions between rival neighborhood groups suddenly pushed together.

School leaders re-assured parents no one will be in an overcrowded classroom and they asked parents to help them spot possible gang activity.

"Lots of times, people are a little hesitant when they don't know what's going on. Tonight is just another way of letting them know things because you feel empowered when you know things,” said Mechelle Rice-Fields of Birmingham City Schools.

Parents Voice Fears Over School Consolidations

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