Dolly Ridge Elementary Celebrates Grand Opening

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — A new school year always features new beginnings in some form or another, but in Vestavia Hills, this particular school year features the beginning of a new era for the system. Dolly Ridge Elementary celebrated its grand opening this week outside its new building to mark the completion of construction on the two-story classroom and multipurpose learning facility.

City councilors, PTO leaders, and dozens of parents, teachers, and students attended the ribbon cutting and toured the building. Dolly Ridge principal Ty Arendall cut the ribbon and welcomed attendees.

The new building houses classrooms for fourth and fifth graders as well as a multipurpose professional learning room. The building was also built to serve as the school’s tornado shelter.

The school opened in August as part of the school system’s two-year restructuring plan which included the closing of Vestavia Hills Elementary Central and rezoning of some students west of U.S. 280. The second phase of the plan will take place in 2020 when the new Pizitz Middle School opens on Columbiana Road and ninth graders move to a standalone campus.