Community worried about imminent closure of R.A. Hubbard

Apr. 27—NORTH COURTLAND — A court ruling that will allow Lawrence County Schools to close R.A. Hubbard High left the community concerned Tuesday about the impact on self-esteem, businesses and population, with some parents indicating they'll enroll their children in other counties.

Shalonda Hampton has twin boys, Myle and Kyle Hampton, who are star athletes as juniors for the Hubbard Chiefs. She said they won't enroll for the fall at other Lawrence County schools.

"My boys have their driver's licenses and they'll be going out of this county next year," said Shalonda Hampton, a former teacher at R.A. Hubbard. "They're getting calls from schools from surrounding areas who want them to enroll next year. When the judge ruled to close R.A. Hubbard, it took away any Chief pride. We have nothing to look forward to."

U.S. District Judge R. David Proctor ruled Monday that the Lawrence County school board could proceed with its plan to close R.A. Hubbard High at the end of this academic year and send its students to Hatton High, East Lawrence Middle or East Lawrence High. R.A. Hubbard's graduation, the final activity this school year, is scheduled for May 26.

The ruling said the "court's narrow role" was to determine if closing Hubbard would produce a "dual system of segregation," was racially motivated or would put a "disproportionate burden" on Black students. Proctor ruled the board had produced evidence that its action would have none of those effects.

The school board voted 4-1 at a December meeting to close Hubbard because of the high cost of keeping it operating. The per pupil cost is more than $18,000 per student each school year, according to the board's data.

North Courtland Mayor Riely Evans Sr. called the closure of the Class 1A school with about 145 students in grades 7-12 "very sad and very disturbing. My son and daughter went there."

He said he doesn't favor moving kids from the predominantly Black school to majority white schools.

"Our community is going to take a hit when our Friday night lights football games aren't there. It has been part of the pride of this community. My son played basketball and football here," he said.

In his second term as mayor, Evans said closing Hubbard was pushed by Lawrence County Superintendent Jon Bret Smith.

"Ever since Jon Bret came into office, his main focus, his main goal was to shut down R.A. Hubbard," Evans said. "It's very disturbing. We have talented kids, not just athletically but academically at that school."

Smith could not be reached for comment Tuesday but has said closing Hubbard will save the school system money and allow it to offer the school's students more educational options at other high schools.

The superintendent did comment on the court ruling Monday, saying, "This process and decision was difficult for everyone involved. From the beginning, the majority of people on both sides have wanted what was best for R.A. Hubbard. ... From this point on, we ask that all parties work together to do what is best for students."

Side effects

Town Creek Mayor Mike Parker saw Hazlewood High close its doors in 2009 and his town is still feeling the negative impact 13 years later. He said Hazlewood High's closure has stunted his town's growth and North Courtland is likely headed for the same.

"It hurt us a lot, just the school had many vendors who have to buy a business license, not to mention the school was the heartbeat of the community that helped keep the community together," Parker said Tuesday afternoon. "It has definitely hurt the businesses here. There's not the high school traffic stopping by to get gas or snacks. ... People aren't moving into a community where there is not a school. People, especially young people, want to raise their families with a school nearby."

North Courtland Dollar General Manager Jasmine Smith said R.A. Hubbard students and parents are consistent customers after school.

"We get a good bit of the school business every day," said Smith, a 2012 R.A. Hubbard graduate. "I'm sad. We need the school here. Hopefully our business won't fall off. We'll have to wait and see."

Shawnda Terrell, a cook at Sibley's Food and Fuel Store, also known as RKM, on nearby Alabama 20, said about 25% of the deli's business is tied to R.A. Hubbard.

"Before and after school, teachers and staff come here. Kids eat here all of the time," she said. "We were going strong before the paper mill closed (in 2013) and now the school is closing. That'll be more damage to our business."

Parker said he feels the closure of Hazlewood led to the closure of Hubbard.

"When they closed Hazlewood, it became evident that R.A. Hubbard would be next," he said. "We saw some of the former Hazlewood High students go to school in Colbert County or Muscle Shoals. The (Lawrence) school district should have left the schools alone. Maybe one day we will have one large high school here in the Valley."

Colbert County High School is about 7.5 miles from Hazlewood Elementary in Town Creek, while Hatton High School is roughly 9.2 miles away from Hazlewood.

'Totally devastating'

Lawrence County NAACP Chapter Vice President Bobby Diggs said he is hearing parents talking about taking their students to school outside of Lawrence County.

"I do expect some students to leave the county," he said. "You have a lot of parents who are not in favor of the judge's ruling. (Other school districts) have the right to accept the Hubbard kids. It has happened in the past with Hazlewood. I don't see that changing this time either."

He said he was stunned by the court ruling.

"I knew it would be 50-50 chances going in," he said. "It was totally devastating. You always have to be prepared for the good and the bad, but it was heartbreaking because my heart goes out to the parents and kids. It's going to have an adverse effect on everybody in the community."

North Courtland residents Teresa Hampton, 61, and Linda Young, 63, said the school system should make special diplomas for the students who attended R.A. Hubbard but are forced to finish high school at Hatton or East Lawrence.

"They need to recognize them for their time at Hubbard," said Young, a 1976 graduate of Courtland High School, which became R.A. Hubbard High in 2004. "It's going to be very strange when the Friday night lights are out."

Teresa Hampton also expressed concern about long bus rides for students from Town Creek and North Courtland to Hatton and to Caddo, where the East Lawrence campuses are located.

"This is one of the worst decisions a judge can make, closing Hubbard," she said. "What about those kids with asthma? They'll be hot riding those buses for that long. Nobody should have to be put through that."

Diggs urged the school board to let the students have a say in things at their new schools.

"Whatever happens, the board should listen to the students," he said.

— mike.wetzel@decaturdaily.com or 256-340-2442. Twitter @DD_Wetzel.