Plan to board up vacant Byrd school with art-filled panels stalls

A Selma artist has a plan to protect vacant Byrd school with art-filled window panels, but he’s going to have to wait to put the panels in place.

The Selma City Council on Tuesday discussed applying for a $10,000 State Council on the Arts grant to cover part of the costs of painting murals on wood panels that will cover the windows at the closed Byrd school. Tres Taylor and his organization Making Art Connections Across Selma will paint the panels to protect it from vandals that have done major damage inside the school that closed in 2019 and is city-owned property.

Councilwoman Jannie Thomas asked to hear more about the plans during the public buildings committee that she chairs and see if developers are interested in buying the property. She also asked to see plans for the art project and possible renovation. 

Councilman Clay Carmichael said Taylor can come to the committee meeting and outline his dreams for the property. He added Taylor had a crew clean out Byrd school recently, but vandals caused a mess after the cleanup.

The painted window panels were meant to be “a creative way to board it up and get it secured,” Carmichael added.

The plans for the window panes will make the consent agenda at the next council meeting for approval that should be in time to apply for the grant that is due June 1.