Flint Northern graduate looks back on history of school - ABC 12 – WJRT – Flint, MI

(03/14/13) - Parents and staff members throughout the Flint School District are still trying to digest the changes just approved as part of a school consolidation effort.     

The Board of Education voted last night to close four schools and re-purpose two more.

Interim Superintendent Larry Watkins says the district is facing an $11.5 million deficit and declining enrollment.

He says the changes are just a start to solving their financial problems. One of the moves will turn Northern High School into the district's alternative education center.

We spent time with a proud Northern Alum who reflected on the school's history, but is also looking forward.

"That was one of the highlights of my life," said Norm Bryant, who graduated from Northern in 1955.

It's been nearly six decades, but Norm fondly remembers pep rallies and football games from his days at Northern.

"Back in those days, football was probably your number one sport," he said.

Norm now owns Bryant's Barber Shop on Clio Road, and he showed us around. His walls are dedicated to the great athletes that came from Flint.

"The Northern I went to is tore down," he said. "Back then, there were only two high schools."

Some of his favorite memories surround Thanksgiving Day football games, and the camaraderie everyone shared.

"You went to the football game at Atwood Stadium and you didn't eat no turkey until after the game," he said. "And of course that gave you bragging rights."

It's clear to anyone that times have changed. Northern is closing, and Norm says we can't live in the past.

"I've always said this, 'You can look back but you can't live back,'" he said.

While keeping Flint's history alive is important to Norm, he applauds the superintendent for consolidating schools and adapting to our modern-day challenges.

"I commend him for what he done, what we need to do is go ahead on, go back to two high schools," Norm said.

All of these changes will go into effect at the end of this school year.