By NEAL WAGNER / City Editor

Several Alabaster residents shared their thoughts on a proposed city school district Sept. 14 during the City Council’s second meeting on the matter.

During the meeting, two speakers explicitly said they would be against the city breaking away from the Shelby County School District, and four explicitly said they would be in support of a city school district. Several other speakers urged the council to thoroughly examine the issue before voting on it.

The meeting came a week after Dr. Ira Harvey, who was hired by the city several months ago to conduct a feasibility study of the city school district, told council members an Alabaster board of education likely would have about $2,302 in unencumbered funds to spend per student.

Harvey said the Shelby County School District currently has about $2,078 per student in unencumbered funds.

“That is the magic key to the financial advantage Alabaster would get if it split,” Harvey said.

Ward 6 Alabaster Councilman Scott Brakefield said he would like to see heavy technological enhancements in each school in Alabaster, and Alabaster Mayor David Frings said he would like to see advancements in the science and reading programs.

Harvey said the City Council likely would have to raise the city’s sales tax by 1 percent or hold a referendum vote to raise the city’s property tax millage to fund the city school district.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Alabaster resident Barbara Gore said she would not support raising taxes in the current economic climate.

“Seems to me this is mighty risky as far as our kids are concerned. We don’t know where the national economy is going, and we are talking about raising taxes,” Gore said, noting the city has not completed work on a proposed new City Hall and senior center.

“The town needs to get its city buildings in order. The image of Alabaster is real low every time I go outside the city,” Gore added.

Ward 3 Councilman Adam Moseley said he would not support a tax increase for city buildings, but would support an increase for the city’s schools.

“I’m not going to vote on a cent sales tax for us to have a better place to meet, but I will vote on it if it means we can improve the quality of education for our children,” Moseley said.

Thompson High School head baseball coach Pat Hamrick said a local school board would be able to better serve the city’s students.

“The city of Alabaster could provide what is needed for the kids in Alabaster. Alabaster knows what’s best for Alabaster,” Hamrick said. “We are getting neglected because we are different. I think Alabaster can do better for our kids than Shelby County.”