Northport a step closer to building school system

By WVUA 23 News Reporter Gracie Johnson

Northport is taking the next step toward implementing their own school system by giving the OK to hire an outside attorney who can guide the city through the separation from the Tuscaloosa County School System.

On Monday, City Administrator Glenda Webb was given the authority to find and hire an attorney. Northport is the third-largest city in Alabama without its own school system.

While the city has explored its own school system in years past, the movement began in earnest in March with a feasibility study on whether or not the city could support its own system. The study’s results, released in June, indicated it can.

“We had a feasibility study done 10 years ago, and one done about seven or eight months ago just to update the first one,” said Northport Mayor Bobby Herndon. “Both feasibility studies said yes, we can do it, and it’s time we did.”

Herndon said he’s grateful for the Tuscaloosa County School System, but believes Northport is heading in the right direction by building its own system.

“I appreciate everything the Tuscaloosa County School System has done for us, but it is time for citizens of Northport to put our big boy pants on and say hey, we are not somebody’s suburb,” said Herndon. “We are a strong growing vibrant city, and we need to take care of our children.”

There’s still a long road ahead, but Herndon said hiring an attorney will help them decide if it’s the right course of action in the coming months.