By Sarah Kuper
High school rivalries are no trivial matter, especially when it comes to Over the Mountain school districts.
For some OTM residents, no rivalry is more dynamic than Hoover vs. Vestavia Hills.
That’s why some Hoover school system graduates are struggling with the recent announcement that the Vestavia Hills school system plans to buy the former W.A. Berry High School campus on Columbiana road for $11 million.
Before Hoover High School opened in 1994, Berry was the main campus for area high schoolers. With its large, one-of-a-kind tile mural and the football stadium named for the iconic coach Bob Finley, Berry is steeped in tradition.
If the sale goes forward, proud graduates will see their alma mater taken over by their biggest rival.
Wayne Wood served as an athletic coach for many years in the Hoover school system and has many special memories of the time he spent at Berry.
“Berry High School has a unique flavor to it. If you spend time here, you will notice it is very serene – like its own little cove of Hoover.”
The Berry school building was first opened in 1959 as an elementary school, but as the area’s population grew, it became a high school. The first senior class graduated in 1965.
While the city of Hoover grew, Vestavia Hills also was expanding its boundaries closer and closer to Berry – only intensifying the rivalry.
“The school is surrounded by Vestavia property, which always helped to rile up the football players,” Wood said.
Currently, the Berry buildings are home to the Crossroads School – an alternative school for Hoover students.
According to a statement by Vestavia Hills Superintendent Sheila Phillips, the Vestavia Board of Education has been looking at acquiring the property for some time.
“Vestavia Hills is growing, thanks in large part to the tireless work of our city leaders and their commitment to our schools,” she said in the statement, “The growth has led to a record number of students, and we expect enrollment to continue climbing.”
Phillips said the school system surveyed parents and held public forums to assist administrators in making the decision to buy Berry.
Wood said he understands the need for Vestavia Hills to expand educational offerings for its growing population, he just wishes it didn’t mean Berry will no longer be a part of Hoover.
“You just don’t want to relinquish it. Many people are very disappointed that Hoover is selling it, but we are coming to grips with it.”
Wood also taught history and geography, and he said his background in those fields has helped him find some consolation.
“If you go back and look at the early history of Berry, you see that it drew students from all over, including from Vestavia Hills,” he said, “it helps knowing there is an original Vestavia connection.”
Wood said he and others connected with Berry are pleased that the buildings are still being used for educational purposes and that it appears the Vestavia Hills school system plans to continue to use them for education.
“We are glad they haven’t been bulldozed and from the superintendent’s statement it doesn’t appear they plan to tear them down. Still, it isn’t a done deal yet; you never know.”
Phillips said she and the school board plan to be sensitive to the legacy of Berry High.
“If Vestavia Hills acquires the Berry campus, we will treat the facility, its historic mural and the Finley name on its stadium with the honor and respect they deserve.”
While Wood said he was reassured by Phillips’ statement, he still worries new ownership won’t take the same pride in the school’s history.
His desire is to see the mural carefully cleaned and the grounds restored to their former glory. He said he hopes new owners will try to understand the significance of the buildings before making changes.
Wood admits he is holding out hope that the sale won’t go through, but ultimately, he is happy the property will still serve the needs of young people in the community, even if that means they are Vestavia Hills Rebels rather than Hoover Buccaneers.
In her statement, Phillips said it is not yet decided which student population the Berry campus might serve, although the board is looking at ways to reconfigure the middle school model into a junior high model.
Phillips emphasized that the sale is not closed yet, and she encouraged residents and stakeholders to contact her with questions or comments through the Vestavia Hills school system website, vestavia.k12.al.us/superintendent.