Auburn City Schools announces name for new High School
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) — Auburn's identity as the 'Loveliest Village on the Plains' has long been tied to the opening line of Oliver Goldsmith's 1770 poem, The Deserted Village. Just as Goldsmith's Auburn was depicted in full bloom, Auburn, Alabama, has flourished for decades thanks to the efforts of its families, businesses, and government leaders.
As the city's population continues to grow, Auburn City Schools has been preparing for expansion, including the addition of a second high school to complement Auburn High School. The new school represents a major step in ensuring the district's ability to serve students while maintaining the high academic and extracurricular standards Auburn is known for.
To select a name for the new school, a survey was distributed in phases—first to staff, then to students, and finally to the community. The response was overwhelming, with more than 1,200 submissions and nearly 250 unique, viable names proposed. These suggestions reflected Auburn's history, geography, and community spirit.
The Naming Committee carefully reviewed the list, considering how the school's identity would shape the experiences of future students. The goal was to establish a distinct yet complementary name alongside Auburn High School while maintaining the legacy of excellence expected within the district.
After thoughtful deliberation, the Auburn City Schools Board of Education has officially approved the name: Plains High School.
Auburn Schools' $383M expansion includes second high, middle, rebuilding elementary schools
Plains High School and Auburn High School will now stand as sister schools, each carving out its own unique identity while contributing to Auburn's rich educational landscape. In keeping with Goldsmith's poetic vision, the hope is that both schools will foster a sense of 'humble happiness' for generations of students and families to come.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Auburn Sustenance Project feeds hundreds of hungry K-12 students
AUBURN, Ala. (WRBL) – When school lets out in Auburn, hunger sets in. While most families are planning vacations or sleeping in, hundreds of Auburn City School children are quietly going without meals—because when the cafeteria closes, so does their only reliable source of food. It's a crisis most people don't see. And in a city like Auburn, many don't even realize it's happening. In Auburn, one small act of kindness is growing into something much bigger. The Auburn Sustenance Project began with a question. 'And a student asked, 'Hey, what happens during school breaks in Auburn city?'' said Dr. Caroline Payne-Purvis, faculty advisor for the Auburn Sustenance Project. 'We had just moved here. COVID was wrapping up sort of and so the question was becoming, what's happening normally? There was some, but very little. And so they decided they wanted to adopt a few families for that Thanksgiving.' What began as a class project feeding a few families over Thanksgiving has grown into a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit now serving hundreds of local children during all breaks from school, including holidays. 'We fed over 250 kids this time,' Payne-Purvis said. 'Our highest summer numbers are usually about 150.' Now, the need is greater than ever—and so is the call for volunteers. 'The project welcomes anyone,' said Katie White, a member of the Auburn Sustenance Project. 'You don't realize how impactful something can be. I feel like people don't think you can do it yourself, and people don't think that Auburn is in need. But the need is great. And the impact, organizers say, is real. 'From the high school senior who is taking care of her younger siblings now because she was able to get them out of foster care,' Payne-Purvis said, 'to the mom who was able to get out of, you know, rough situations because she was able to get food and be able to put the down payment on a deposit for a rent.' White added: 'Because I know we're not the final answer, but we might be like a little band aid to help them get through a hard time.' Their next food packing and distribution event is scheduled for June 18 at First Baptist Church of Auburn. Packing begins at 1 p.m. and distribution runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Volunteers of all ages are welcome, and no sign-up is required. To donate, volunteer, or learn more, visit the Auburn Sustenance Project on Facebook. Monetary donations can also be made via Venmo @AuburnSustenanceProject. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Tommy Smith – Battling ALS one day at a time
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) – When Tommy Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis back in 2012, his family reacted like any family would. Rallying together around Smith, and that gracious support from his community has benefited Smith in more ways than he can express. ALS robs the body of the ability to walk, talk, eat, work, and in the worst cases the ability to breathe. Relatively, Tommy Smith has been lucky. Where most cases of ALS have a 2-5 year life expectancy, Smith is on year thirteen. For Tommy – ALS has so far robbed him of being a little league umpire, playing with his grandkids without a wheelchair, and speaking normally. That said – it has not been easy. Luckily for Tommy Smith, there's Vickie Smith. The couple met when Tommy was nine years old, and Vickie was seven as next door neighbors. They have been together just short of 46 years. Vickie has been Tommy's caregiver ever since his diagnosis, and has done everything in her power to provide for Tommy. Over the past couple of years, Vickie has had her own health problems. Recently being declared cancer-free, after her second fight with Breast Cancer. Obviously with a disease like ALS, the medical bills pile up quickly. The average cost to care for a person with ALS is $250,000. Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate in recent years, recognizing those that suffer from the same disease as Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. Gehrig's name is forever intertwined with the disease, as many refer to it as 'Lou Gehrig's disease'. You can see WRBL's feature of Tommy and Vickie Smith's battle with ALS in the video player above. You can also assist by donating to the Tommy Smith ALS Foundation, on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Yahoo
Hugley's attorney says former city manager will fight termination by Columbus council
COLUMBUS, Ga. () — The attorney for former Columbus City Manager Isaiah Hugley tells WRBL that his client plans to fight his termination. Scott Grubman pulled no punches this afternoon in the first public comments since seven city councilors voted to fire Isaiah Hugley late Tuesday night. According to his attorney, Hugley is weighing his options in the wake of his termination on a 7-3 vote of the city council on Tuesday. Since April, Hugley has been threatening legal action against six of the seven city councilors who voted to fire him. Grubman focused on the role of Councilor Charmaine Crabb. 'Look at the termination letter. Guess whose first signature is right there?' Grubman said. 'It's Councilwoman Crabb. I think it is obvious that this was motivated by racial bias.' Grubman claims Councilor Crabb made racial statements to Sheriff's Office investigators during an investigation of the city's Finance Department. Crabb and other councilors did not respond to a WRBL request for comment. They have not spoken publicly about Hugley's firing. 'Again, you had a councilwoman saying racist things,' Grubman said. 'Apologizing for it. But then a week later firing the long-term city manager based on nothing more than a pretext. That's racism. That's discrimination. That's actionable under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. So, I think a federal lawsuit is highly likely.' Hugley was planning to retire at the end of the year after two decades as city manager. The termination notice says he will paid salary and benefits through Dec. 31st. 'What did I say in every single letter?' Grubman said. 'Please just let Mr. Hugley serve out the remainder of his term without harassment or discrimination. And what did they do in response? They fired him after accusing him of being in the Mafia for going to black churches. That is the legal definition of discrimination. So is it going to get messier? It's going to get a lot messier?' Grubman says Hugley wants to pursue an appeal of his firing. Though his office is conflicted out of the case involving Hugley and council, City Attorney Clifton Fay says Hugley does not have any appeal rights through the city. Grubman understands it differently. 'In addition to any sort of litigation that might be filed under the city code Mr. Huguely is entitled to a public hearing, and we will be requesting that public hearing,' Grubman said. 'But we are going to avail ourselves of the hearing because we think it's very important for the public, for the people of Columbus, to see what's going on here.' All of this comes amid speculation that Hugley, the city's first black city manager, is considering a 2026 run for mayor. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
