Tuscaloosa Co. School System approves site for new Holt High School

TUSCALOOSA COUNTY, AL (WBRC) - The Tuscaloosa County School System has approved the site for the new Holt High School that sits less than five miles from the current school.

Families have asked for a new building for many years. The current school was built in 1941 and is the oldest facility still in use within the county system.

Tuscaloosa County School Board Vice President Mark Nelson says the Holt community deserves the new high school.

"And we all know what Holt has been through as a community. We all know what happened with the [2011] tornado. And that community was already suffering and to be able to do something like this to give it a shot in the arm. Again it's great for our system, but it's great for the community," Nelson said.

The area is a 62.74-acre plot of land east of Crescent Ridge Road between Keene Drive to the south and extends just past Elm Drive to the north.

The board feels the location will be convenient for movement between Holt Elementary School and Davis-Emerson Middle School.

The board says a law firm with help them acquire the land and hopes to finalize that part of the process by late spring 2016. There are five occupied homes within the site and negotiations are underway with those homeowners.

They hope to start construction by mid-summer 2016 and Nelson says the flat topography could save the as much as $3 million in site preparation work.

Jim Ward Scott Architecture has been hired to design and build the school. Officials hope it will be ready for the 2018-2019 school year.

In the same board meeting Monday, board members accepted the resignation of Holt High School Principal Dr. Rachel McDaniel.

Copyright 2015 WBRC. All rights reserved.