Takeaways From Northport City School System Feasibility Study

NORTHPORT, AL — Northport city leaders heard the long-awaited results of a feasibility study Monday night as the City Council considers starting its own city school system. Talks are still in their preliminary stages, with Monday's presentation representing validation for supporters of a Northport school system much in the way a similar study conducted eight years ago was received.

John Myrick, who also conducted the initial study nearly a decade ago that failed to gain the necessary traction, undertook the second incarnation of the study along with Wayne Vickers — after both men were instrumental in starting city school systems in Saraland and Alabaster.

The results were nebulous, as data specific to Northport was strictly presented in the hypothetical, based on the model used by the other two cities in forming their own school systems. However, city leaders welcomed the results, with this City Council in particular primed to be the one to finally close the deal.

Here's a look at our five biggest takeaways from Monday night's meeting

1. Startup costs: Just to get the administrative functions of a city school system off the ground, Myrick said it would cost the city roughly $600,000, which would cover legal resources and office personnel, along with salaries for senior leadership. In the four or so summer months that would follow leading up to the hypothetical first year of the new Northport city school system, another $1.6 million would be needed for upgrades, maintenance, utilities and salaries.

2. Estimated budget: Once up and running, Myrick's feasibility study said the estimated budget for a Northport city school system would come out just short of $54 million for the first year. Of that total, $2.5 million would be allocated from the city's ad valorem tax, while another $6.4 million represents the Tuscaloosa County School System's portion of the county's 3 cent sales tax for public schools. The remainder, and largest portion of the budget, would come primarily from state and federal funding sources.

3. To the naysayers: Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon said the biggest pushback from the public will likely come if and when talk turns to raising property taxes to partially fund the city school system. He then said even without the revenue generated from ad valorem taxes and sales tax, the feasibility study underscores Northport's ability to break out on its own and allow its citizens to have more of a say in how their educational institutions are operated.

"Within the next two years, Tuscaloosa County is going to be requesting for ad valorem taxes be raised," Herndon mentioned. "There's going to be talk and there may be discussion about raising ad valorem taxes. But right now, Tuscaloosa County pays the lowest ad valorem taxes that you can pay in the state. Our high school is the poorest 7A school in the state [Tuscaloosa County High School]. We don’t even have an auditorium."

4. Council temperature: While the journey to start its own school system may spur debates in terms of the process, a consensus is readily apparent for the end destination, as each City Council member has more than voiced their support for a seperate Northport school system.

In District 2, Councilman Woodrow Washington III has some of the oldest school buildings in the county system — Matthews Elementary, Collins-Riverside Middle School and Crestmont Elementary. Washington has been key in early talks, along with District 4's Jamie Dykes, and said the city must invest in its education if it wants to see results.

"We would have newer buildings, new classes and just a better way of getting an education," Washington said. "I believe we have to give our kids the best opportunity to strive and make it."

Dykes also pointed to the lack of amenities for Tuscaloosa County High School — a 7A school that continues to lag its peers in terms of facilities and resources.

"I think looking at the numbers, it's definitely something that's feasible, so we would like for some other members to come speak," she said. "We’ll hopefully have a special called council meeting where some of the board members from Saraland and Alabaster can come to give firsthand information."

5. What's next? Northport city leaders were all quick to say the process is still in the earliest of phases. Herndon told Patch he would like to see Council members and others involved to come together to discuss the results of the study and formulate any possible next steps.

In terms of the reaction of the Tuscaloosa County School System, which stands to lose several schools as its footprint will be drastically impacted, there has been little, if any. City officials confirmed to Patch that the results of the study had not been furnished to TCSS administrators or County Board of Education officials, and had only been seen by the Northport City Council as of Monday night.

Have a news tip or suggestion on how I can improve Tuscaloosa Patch? Maybe you're interested in having your business become one of the latest sponsors for Tuscaloosa Patch? Email all inquiries to me at ryan.phillips@patch.com