ELBERTA, Ala. — Elberta Town Councilman Michael Hudson believes he has a suggestion to ease overcrowding at Foley High School — building a high school in Elberta.

“Everybody wants one, but nobody wants to do anything about it,” he said.

Hudson said Elberta’s own population should make it a higher priority than plans to build a high school in Gulf Shores.

“Elberta should be at the top of the list for a new school,” he said, explaining that more than 420 students at the elementary and intermediate school levels live in Elberta. “We have the population here to support a high school. Our schools are top notch.”

Hudson’s complaints include the long bus rides Foley High students take to and from Elberta.

“At some point, they need to alleviate some of the stresses on the system,” Councilman Jim Hamby said. “That could be us.”

However, Councilwoman Betty Wood said making such a change might be met with opposition.

“Foley’s not going to want 420 students from Elberta not to attend,” she said, “and students from St. Benedict’s are going to want to go to the new Catholic high school.”

Hudson said he has approached the Baldwin County Board of Education about an Elberta high school on several occasions.

“Dr. Lee is tired of hearing it from me,” he said. “No one else is complaining about it.”

Hudson asked for Elberta residents to attend the school board’s community meeting that will be held 6 p.m. April 29 at Foley High School to discuss issues pertaining to schools in the South Baldwin area.

Upon further discussion, the Council agreed to form a group to look at the issue and possibly attend the BOE meeting.