Vestavia School Construction: Superintendent Gives Update

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — Dr. Todd Freeman, superintendent for Vestavia Hills City Schools, gave an update this week on the ongoing construction projects this year in the school system, specifically at Dolly Ridge Elementary and Berry Middle School.

Freeman said the move into the new classroom addition at Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge will begin later this week. "This is a beautiful facility our community can be proud of," Freeman said.

Construction continues on the renovation and additions at the Berry campus, Freeman said. He added that the project is on schedule for completion prior to the end of this calendar year. The project to add turn lanes to Columbiana Road and the project for new baseball and softball fields are in their early stages. Freeman said both projects will take several months to complete.

"Earlier this year, we delayed moving to the Berry campus because of complications brought about by several factors," Freeman said. "At that time, we determined we would monitor the projects and make a decision as soon as practical on when to move Louis Pizitz Middle School to the new campus. In the preceding months, I’ve considered a number of possibilities for when best to move and am appreciative of the feedback that has been helpful to me throughout this process."

Freeman said the most important factor in determining a timeline on when to move to the new campus should be what is best for our students and staff. "Accordingly, we will not move at any point during this school year," he said. "Instead, the new Louis Pizitz Middle School campus will open in August, 2020. This timeline gives us the opportunity to fully prepare the campus for more than 1,200 students and staff and to celebrate this new addition to the Vestavia Hills City Schools family."