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(OT) Does anyone in Bham area have experience going to a school in different district?
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:31 am
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:31 am
Our oldest child is 2 so we've definitely got a few years before this is actually a thing but I was thinking about it lately. We are in Jefferson county right on the border of Hoover and Vestavia. The "main" road taht you turn off of into our neighborhoos is the dividing line between the two. We are technically/officially in Hoover and are zoned for spain park district. Our drivers license though says Vestavia (although I suspect that was probably just human error on the part of the peole issuing them to us). We are MUCH closer to Vestavia HS than either Hoover school, plus we just really like the Vestavia school system better.
So with all that said it gets to my main question listed in the title...is there ANY way possible to go to vestavia schools even though we are on paper out of the district? I imagine that if I call some generic number I'll get a standard response of "no, you're out of district, if we let you do it we have to let everyone do it" or something like that. This whole process is new to me so I didn't know if we could apply for some kind of waiver or exemption or something.
So with all that said it gets to my main question listed in the title...is there ANY way possible to go to vestavia schools even though we are on paper out of the district? I imagine that if I call some generic number I'll get a standard response of "no, you're out of district, if we let you do it we have to let everyone do it" or something like that. This whole process is new to me so I didn't know if we could apply for some kind of waiver or exemption or something.
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Posted on 5/30/23 at 9:39 am to WG_Dawg
Bill would allow Alabama parents to move students to other school districts
quote:
Marsh’s bill, called the Open Schools Act, would require school districts to enroll students outside their residential zones starting with the 2022-2023 school year, with limitations and exceptions.
quote:
Parents would have to pay the school district where their child is moving an amount equal to the per student share of the local school tax. Students who live inside the district would have priority if there is a shortage of capacity. The districts accepting students from outside their zones would not have to provide transportation.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 10:04 am to WG_Dawg
quote:
I didn't know if we could apply for some kind of waiver or exemption
I actually knew someone who did this to attend Vestavia, and the waiver was granted, but the caveat was that they had already been in that system previously and moved to an area like you're describing, i.e. it wasn't a "new" start.
quote:
is there ANY way possible to go to vestavia schools even though we are on paper out of the district?
Probably a reach, but AFAIK, if you're an employee of a district, your child can attend regardless of actual residence. So, if you or your spouse happen to work in that field somewhere else, or are willing to take on a menial position (like if your wife is a homemaker and wants to help out there a few months out of the year), a job change might do it.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 11:09 am to WG_Dawg
Is Vestavia really that much better than HCS?...yeah probably not. School starts at home anyway.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 11:24 am to paperwasp
thanks all. appreciate the feedback
Posted on 5/30/23 at 11:30 am to WG_Dawg
The cost is 2k, I've some friends that have done it.
Small price to pay for a better school
Small price to pay for a better school
Posted on 5/30/23 at 12:32 pm to WG_Dawg
I don't think the mailing address per se has anything to do with school zones. With few exceptions, you are assigned to one zone. Whether you're in the middle of the zone or on the edge of the zone.
For example of an oddity in Birmingham area, the city limits of Helena do go into Jefferson County. Although, you may have a Helena address. You'll not go to Helena High school, which is in Shelby County. You'll be assigned to McAdory High School, which is Jefferson County.
For example of an oddity in Birmingham area, the city limits of Helena do go into Jefferson County. Although, you may have a Helena address. You'll not go to Helena High school, which is in Shelby County. You'll be assigned to McAdory High School, which is Jefferson County.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 1:47 pm to WG_Dawg
Most likely answer will be paying tuition to Vestavia system. Otherwise, like someone suggested earlier, get a job within the system.
I taught 28 years and these were the easiest two ways to get a child into a certain system. Others try using another address, but they eventually get caught and removed and then automatically get rejected when trying to apply for tuition status.
I taught 28 years and these were the easiest two ways to get a child into a certain system. Others try using another address, but they eventually get caught and removed and then automatically get rejected when trying to apply for tuition status.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 3:23 pm to UAgrad93
quote:
Most likely answer will be paying tuition to Vestavia system
I saw waht others above linked about the tuition but it looked at first glance that there were set requirments for that, like having a HS senior or having just moved out of (or building into) the systme. Does the tuition system apply to anyone for any random reaosn you'd like?
Posted on 5/30/23 at 5:22 pm to WG_Dawg
Move to Homewood. Those schools are even better and so is the community.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 6:01 pm to WG_Dawg
I would call the Board of Education and just lay out your situation and tell them what you are wanting to do.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 7:02 pm to WG_Dawg
It's probably just easier to move into the school system's zoning area!! Good luck.
Posted on 5/30/23 at 8:52 pm to paperwasp
quote:
Probably a reach, but AFAIK, if you're an employee of a district, your child can attend regardless of actual residence.
Depends upon the district. I think nearly all districts allow this but Mountain Brook, as an example, does not.
Posted on 5/31/23 at 9:31 am to solus
quote:
Is Vestavia really that much better than HCS?
No. In many ways, it's much worse, especially if you're zoned for the Spain Park feeder. We're zoned for Hoover High and love it, but Spain Park has the better academics.
The problem that could be coming for Hoover is the activists who are slowly trying to take over the system, so I could understand why someone might want to preemptively get ahead of that.
This post was edited on 5/31/23 at 10:28 am
Posted on 5/31/23 at 10:48 am to imjustafatkid
quote:
The problem that could be coming for Hoover is the activists who are slowly trying to take over the system, so I could understand why someone might want to preemptively get ahead of that.
can you elaborate on that?
Posted on 5/31/23 at 2:28 pm to WG_Dawg
Sure. I'll quote directly from the school system's April 27, 2023 newsletter. If this is allowed to continue unchecked, it won't be long before these initiatives destroy the system. Our city council is working to replace the board members with people who don't approve of this garbage, but that will take some time as they can only replace one member each year.
Only edit I made is that I removed the names of the new parents on the equity committee.
Only edit I made is that I removed the names of the new parents on the equity committee.
quote:
Hoover City Schools (HCS) District Chief Learning Officer Dr. Chris Robbins partnered with the Elam Leadership Institute to lead April’s District Equity Committee meeting and discussed equitable practices in the classroom. Dr. Robbins oversees curriculum and instruction to ensure effective instruction and support teachers.
School administrators and teachers worked in groups to review the Alabama State Department of Education's new Alabama Teacher Observation Tool to identify equitable practices that are included and how the tool can be used to impact the learning of all students.
Some highlights from this training:
Engage all students in the learning process
Use data to meet the needs of all groups of learners
Ensure equitable practices are threaded into the curriculum
Create environments for individual and collaborative learning
Understand differences and cultures
Dr. Donna Elam, the founder of the Elam Leadership Institute, attended the meeting virtually.
“I’m watching magic happen with educators who really know their craft, and they’re integrating equity into the organizational culture of their work,” said Dr. Elam. “So, as they make the observations, the teachers understand it, administrators understand it, and it’s part of your organizational culture now. I’m always so impressed with you.”
HCS has partnered with the Elam Leadership Institute since 2018 to provide diversity, equity, and inclusion training for administrators and teachers across the District.
New Parent Equity Committee Members
The HCS Parent Equity Committee welcomes three new members.
The HCS Parent Equity Committee was established in 2018 to get parents involved in discussions about diversity, equity, and inclusion practices throughout the District and the continued implementation of diversity initiatives.
Blackledge said, “Parents have to be involved because what you want to produce is fairness for all kids and the same opportunities for all kids. You want to see all kids move to the next level of excellence.”
This post was edited on 5/31/23 at 2:30 pm
Posted on 5/31/23 at 10:43 pm to imjustafatkid
If this means what it seems to mean: egalitarianism, it’s sickening.
Posted on 6/1/23 at 8:04 am to imjustafatkid
Well crap. That's exactly the kinda of garbage we were wanting to avoid by getting in a differnet system.
I am completely oblivious and ignorant on local politics. In your opinion, do you think the slow replacement process you mtniond will help stop this and course correct eventually?
quote:
Our city council is working to replace the board members with people who don't approve of this garbage, but that will take some time as they can only replace one member each year.
I am completely oblivious and ignorant on local politics. In your opinion, do you think the slow replacement process you mtniond will help stop this and course correct eventually?
Posted on 6/1/23 at 3:28 pm to WG_Dawg
quote:
In your opinion, do you think the slow replacement process you mtniond will help stop this and course correct eventually?
Time will tell, but this is an overwhelmingly conservative area so I find it hard to believe it won't. They have already rid the school board of 2 of the 4 members who voted for masking during COVID (seems to go hand in hand with support of DIE initiatives). That vote would have gone against masking if held today. It is pretty clear that the Council will be removing the other 2 as well (one of whom is former Alabama All-American football player and current Burr & Forman attorney Kermit Kendrick).
If they aren't able to right the ship, this will be the death of Hoover. It will go the way of Birmingham. Part of the problem is out of their control though. The desegregation case from decades ago that somehow was determined to relate to a school system that didn't exist at that time is driving at least some of this. I'd pay more in taxes if they would simply stop complying and force the judge to rule so they could begin the appeals process. We will never have a more favorable SCOTUS.
This post was edited on 6/1/23 at 3:34 pm
Posted on 6/1/23 at 3:42 pm to imjustafatkid
quote:
If they aren't able to right the ship, this will be the death of Hoover. It will go the way of Birmingham. Part of the problem is out of their control though. The desegregation case from decades ago that somehow was determined to relate to a school system that didn't exist at that time is driving at least some of this. I'd pay more in taxes if they would simply stop complying and force the judge to rule so they could begin the appeals process. We will never have a more favorable SCOTUS.
Good luck with the desegregation case. It has completely ruined Huntsville City Schools just 1.5 hours north of you. The amount of people trying to get into Private School up here is astounding and there are not enough to accept them all. We are pouncing on it the minute we are allowed to get on the waitlist
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