By Adam Smith

The North Jefferson News



Plans for a new Mortimer Jordan High School took one step forward last week with the announcement that land for the project had been found.

The Jefferson County Board of Education entered into a tentative agreement last week to purchase 137 acres for the new school.

The property, which will cost the board $2,055,000, is located on Sardis Road in Kimberly.

Jefferson County School Board President Karen Smith Nix said the price of the property — roughly $15,000 an acre — was too good for the board to pass up.

“We felt like it was a good price,” Nix said. “The board is excited about the fact that we’re able to purchase 137 acres. When you look down the road 15 years from now, that size campus will be perfect for another elementary school or middle school if we need it.”

Smith said the next step will be to have a geotechnical survey done on the site, and then the board will go through the process of closing on the property.

She said once those steps are completed, the architects can begin working on designs for the new school. She said Jim Hartsell, who designed the new Gardendale High School, will also be designing the new school.

Mortimer Jordan Principal Dr. Byron Campbell said he’s excited about the land purchase announcement. He said the students should have a seamless integration into the new school because, unlike Gardendale, the school isn’t being built on the old site.

Campbell said some residents may be sad to see the school end its 90-year history in Morris, but he hoped residents would fully support the new school.

“People are very fond of this place and it’s a wonderful community, but most of us realize the potential offsets tradition in this case,” Campbell said.

Morris Mayor Craig Drummonds said he was also disappointed that the school would not be staying in Morris. He said he would support the project but added, “I’d rather have it stay in Morris.”

He said he had talked with the school board about several different locations in Morris and even keeping the new school on its present location.

Nix said the board had looked at an 80-acre parcel of land in Morris, but decided it would be best to try to purchase something larger.

“We as a town, police and fire department have gotten really involved with the school and were taking a very active role,” Drummonds said. “I hate to see it leave our jurisdiction after all we’ve done, but Jefferson County has to do what’s best, and I want the children to get the best they can get.”

Nix said she had met with Drummonds, Kimberly Mayor Sammy Maze and Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons about the school project and all three voiced support.

“The tradition of Mortimer Jordan High School will continue wherever we build,” she said. “The students, faculty and community are what give Mortimer Jordan its heart and soul. It’s the past, present and future.”

Nez Calhoun, with the board of education’s public information office, said the school wouldn’t even be possible without the taxpayers’ sacrifices. The flurry of new school construction was made possible by the $1 billion tax bond.

“It’s important that we thank the citizens of this county, because they’re footing the bill and we’re grateful they paid that tax,” Calhoun said.

In addition to the new Mortimer Jordan and Gardendale high schools, Corner is also set to receive a new school. Nix said architects are in the process of designing plans for that school.