College football coming to Phenix City
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Phenix City schools overcrowding
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New Madison High Already the Talk of the Town
In two years, the city of Madison will open a new high school. The project has been a long time coming, as enrollment at Bob Jones has swelled in the last decade. However, as much as the new school is needed, some worry it may end up causing just as many problems as it solves.
"I think traffic is gonna be a nightmare, I really do" said Madison resident Michelle Moyer. "It's already a nightmare in the mornings and evenings. So unless they do some road expansions, they're gonna have a lot of problems."
However, several other folks we spoke with say they're willing to put up with that problem to alleviate the overcrowding. "I am all for it, because I know our middle schools are crowded with 9th graders" said Amy Walton.
Dr. Dee Fowler, the superintendent of Madison's City Schools agrees. "Bob Jones (High School) is reaching critical stages, with 22 hundred children in grades 10, 11 and 12." Fowler told WAAY 31's Tim Reid on Thursday. "We're also critical at our middle schools that house grades 7, 8 and 9."
The new high school site, located along County Line Road, is expected to house 2,000 students. Work has already begun on the 83 acre site.
Meanwhile, several other school projects are moving along around the Valley. Earlier this week, officials in Albertville held a ribbon cutting ceremony for a new facility. Hartselle school leaders tell us that their plans for a new high school are also moving along. Funding for that project was secured this spring, and a project manager was recently hired. Hartselle School Superintendent Mike Reed tells us that a final design could be done soon, though no construction date has been set yet.
In New Market, work continues on the new Buckhorn Middle School, which is adjacent to the high school along Winchester Road. However, due to the cold conditions last winter, the project is running behind and it will not open on time.
Pope John Paul II Catholic High School on Old Madison Pike is also almost complete. It expects to open in October.
And in Huntsville, the work on the new Lee High is moving along on schedule.
Reporter : Tim Reid, treid@waaytv.com