Jeremy Vice says Hoover schools meeting student needs now, favors maximizing capacity before third high school

Jeremy Vice, an applicant for the Hoover City School Board, told the Hoover City Council on Oct. 12 that he believes the district is "meeting the needs of students today" while urging the board to focus on staff recruitment, special-education funding and maximizing current school capacity before considering construction of a third high school.

Vice made the remarks during a council-run interview of applicants for a school-board vacancy. Councilor McClinton led much of the questioning; Councilor Murphy asked several questions through McClinton because Murphy had stepped away, and Council President Lyda also posed questions.

"I do believe that we're meeting the needs of students today," Vice said, citing his experience as a parent whose eldest son recently began college. He added that the district faces "increasing pressures on special education funding and other areas of programming and curriculum," and said the board should continue to "be very focused" on those areas and "demonstrate that progress."

On the prospect of a third high school, Vice said, "My initial reaction is, before we would consider building a third high school, we should figure out how to maximize the existing capacity that we have." He called construction of a new high school a "capital expense" requiring careful stewardship of resources.

Vice prioritized recruitment and retention of teachers and support staff. "We have to stay well positioned to continue to attract the right talent," he said, identifying teachers, bus drivers and custodial staff as areas where the district should think creatively about hiring and support.

Asked about regulation of books and instructional materials in K–12 libraries, Vice said materials "need to be age appropriate," and that guideline should be consistently followed. On a question about eliminating the U.S. Department of Education, he said he would "need to think a little bit more" and do "a bit more research," noting possible state-level implications but stressing the need to weigh pros and cons.

On state school-choice legislation that allows districts to opt in to accept students from failing districts, Vice said he was not yet familiar with the bill's details and would "definitely need to read up more" before taking a position. He acknowledged potential merits in the legislation but urged a weighed decision.

Vice told the council he has not attended any Hoover City School Board meetings in person but has watched a few online. He described his approach to heated public meetings as preserving decorum while respecting speakers: "You've got to maintain the decorum of the meeting...there's a way to hear them out and to respect them and respect what they have to say and their opinion while not losing control of the meeting."

In a closing statement, Vice said he was "honored" to apply, called Hoover "an amazing city and such an amazing school system," and said he would "roll up my sleeves" and commit to learning what is necessary to be a valuable contributor if selected.

No formal council action or vote on an appointment took place during the interview session recorded in the transcript.