Semmes School Split in Early Stages, Mayor Says, as City and County Leaders Share Growth Plans

SEMMES, Ala. — Semmes Mayor Brandon Van Hook says the city is exploring a Semmes school split from the Mobile County Public School System, a move he said would give the community more local control and more local funding but would also eventually mean a new tax for residents. Van Hook stressed that the effort is still in its early stages and that no decision would be made without community agreement.

The mayor shared the update Wednesday morning, Oct. 14, at the annual State of the City & County Breakfast at Pathway Church, where he and Mobile County Commissioner Connie Hudson laid out what is underway in Semmes and across the county, from a new downtown gathering space and a catfish restaurant on Schillinger Road to road funding on the November ballot, mental health services and park projects.

Semmes school split: ‘Local control is better’

Van Hook told the audience the city is working on an effort to separate Semmes schools from the county system.

“We want it because local control is better and with more local control, you have more local funding,” he said.

The mayor was candid about the cost. He said forming a separate system would inevitably lead to a new tax for Semmes residents, but that no decisions would be made unless the community is in agreement. He described the undertaking as still being in its early stages.

Semmes students currently attend schools in the Mobile County Public School System, the largest school district in Alabama. Schools serving the city include Semmes Elementary, Allentown Elementary, Semmes Middle School and Mary G. Montgomery High School.

How city school systems work in Alabama

Alabama law allows cities to operate their own school systems, governed by a city board of education whose members are appointed by the city council. Those systems are funded through a mix of state money, which follows students under the state’s education funding formula, and local revenue, including property and sales taxes. Local funding is where a city system can set itself apart, and it is also why a split typically comes with a discussion of new or redirected taxes, as Van Hook acknowledged.

Breaking away from a county system is a lengthy process. Cities generally must study the financial feasibility, negotiate with the county board over buildings, students and debt, and build the administrative structure needed to run a district. Semmes would not be the first Mobile County city to go its own way: Saraland, Satsuma and Chickasaw each formed their own city school systems after separating from the county system.

Van Hook did not give a timeline for the next steps.

A new gathering space near City Hall

Closer to home, Van Hook said he is excited about plans for a new gathering space and event area near Semmes City Hall. He described a plan that includes:

• Sidewalks
• Restrooms
• Lighting
• Power supply for vendors
• An amphitheater

A space like that would give the young city a central place for festivals, markets, concerts and community events. Semmes incorporated in 2010 and had a population of 4,941 at the 2020 census.

Cock of the Walk coming to Schillinger Road

Van Hook also shared new renderings of a Cock of the Walk restaurant planned on Schillinger Road. The Southern-style restaurant is known for its fried catfish.

The mayor said the project is a step in the right direction for bringing more economic activity to Semmes, part of his push to make the city a destination for shopping, dining and events.

“We want a small town with big town conveniences,” Van Hook said.

He said the property will also serve as a hub for the Semmes Police Department. Van Hook said he expects the restaurant to open next year.

Committees at work

Van Hook also highlighted work by several city committees and groups:

• Beautification: The Mobile Women’s Club has been working on projects to improve the look of Semmes, including new signage and landscaping.
• Parks and recreation: This Christmas season will feature a new tree with light shows every night.
• Community development: The committee started a Junior City Council, in which students operate a full council without adult interference.
• Public safety: The city is working to obtain better vehicles, replace fire gear and update body and dash cameras.

Hudson: Pay-As-You-Go on the Nov. 3 ballot

On the county side, Hudson discussed the Mobile County Pay-As-You-Go road program, which appears on the ballot in the Nov. 3 general election. The program allocates money for specific road, bridge and drainage projects listed in the amendment. Hudson assured the audience that the amendment would not bring any additional taxes or debt to residents.

The Pay-As-You-Go program, first approved by voters decades ago, lets the county pay for road and bridge work as it goes rather than borrowing. This is the 21st time county voters will be asked to continue it. Voters can confirm their polling place and registration status through the Alabama Secretary of State’s website or the Mobile County Board of Registrars.

Expanding mental health services

Hudson said the county is responding to what she called a “mental health crisis” by using federal grant money to expand access to mental health services. She pointed to:

• Mobile County’s Mental Health Court
• New beds at BayPointe Hospital
• Behavioral health services at Franklin Primary Health Center
• Lifelines Counseling Services

Mental health courts are specialized court programs that steer eligible defendants with mental illness toward treatment and supervision rather than jail alone. BayPointe Hospital provides inpatient psychiatric care in Mobile, and Franklin Primary Health Center is a community health center network that serves patients regardless of their ability to pay.

Anyone in crisis can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, available 24 hours a day.

Help with a down payment

Hudson said Mobile County has also taken part in a Home Ownership Down Payment Assistance Program that allows the county to provide up to $50,000 in federal funding to qualified residents. She said the biggest barrier to owning a home often appears to be coming up with the down payment, so the program helps cover the upfront cost of buying a home.

Programs like this typically have income limits and other eligibility requirements, and applicants usually must complete homebuyer education. Residents interested in the program can contact the Mobile County Commission for eligibility details.

Parks and recreation projects across the county

Hudson ran through a long list of park and recreation projects underway or recently completed across Mobile County:

• An aquatic center at the sportsplex
• Improvements at Escatawpa Hollow Park & Campground, including the new Riverside Café & Grill operated by Stevie’s Kitchen
• An additional field at Tanner Williams Park
• New sites and restoration in the Civil Rights & Cultural Heritage District
• Construction of a playground, splash pad and dog park at West Mobile County Park
• The recent opening of the Cypress Creek Golf Course
• Beach improvements at Chickasabogue Park
• Boat launch construction at Cedar Point and Byrnewood Drive
• A marina, boat ramp and green space at the Bayou La Batre City Docks

Escatawpa Hollow, in west Mobile County along the Escatawpa River, is a county park popular for camping and paddling, while Chickasabogue Park north of Mobile offers camping, trails and access to Chickasabogue Creek. The boat launch and waterfront projects at Cedar Point, Byrnewood Drive and Bayou La Batre are aimed at expanding public access to the county’s coastal waters.

Lifetime Achievement Award for Hudson

The breakfast closed with Van Hook presenting Hudson with the City of Semmes Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing her decades of support for the community, including the Semmes Senior Center, the Semmes Community Center and the Semmes Fire Training Tower. Hudson has represented District 2 on the Mobile County Commission since 2010.

The event was catered by Southern Hospitality and sponsored by SERVPRO and Mixon Foundation & Crawl Space Repair.

What comes next

• Semmes school split: The effort is in its early stages. Van Hook said a new tax would be required and that nothing will move forward without community agreement.
• Pay-As-You-Go road program: On the ballot for Mobile County voters on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
• Cock of the Walk: Expected to open on Schillinger Road next year.
• Christmas tree light show: Planned nightly in Semmes this holiday season.

Residents who want to follow the school system discussion can attend Semmes City Council meetings, where the city’s plans and any future votes would be discussed in public.