State Taking Over Birmingham Schools
State Assuming Full Control of Birmingham Schools
ALSDE Officials To Hold A Press Conference Today
By Dan Carsen, June 26, 2012
It appears a deadline means a deadline to the Alabama State Department of Education.
After the Birmingham school board did not adopt a $12-million state-mandated cost-cutting plan
last night, the state education department is taking control of the Birmingham City School System today,
as spelled out in a recent state board resolution.
“I don’t think any of us want someone to come in here, and take care of my business. I don’t want
people telling me what to do, and I’m sure it’s the same in Birmingham,” said Ed Richardson, who’s
leading the team investigating Birmingham City Schools since April. “But [a takeover] was clearly on the
table. They chose to vote [the plan] down.”
The plan, which would include almost 200 personnel cuts, was meant to bring the system in line with a
state law requiring districts to keep a month’s operating expenses in reserve. Birmingham currently has
only about four days’ worth, and that’s before factoring in a coming decrease in state funding due
to dropping enrollment.
Brian Giattina, W. J. Maye, Phyllis Wyne, and surprisingly, Alana Edwards voted for the plan. Edward
Maddox, Tyrone Belcher, Virginia Volker and Emanuel Ford voted against the plan, and April Williams
abstained, effectively killing it with a tie.
The vote came after a long meeting that was heated and erratic even by Birmingham School Board
standards, featuring everything from accusations of racism to name-calling to a citizen using a loud dog
squeeze toy to accentuate his points to assurances of divine retribution,
and finally, an eight-year-old coming up to the podium and asking “Why do we always get rid of our
good teachers?”
The Alabama Education Association and the local chapter of the American Federation of Teachers had large presences in the overcrowded auditorium. They cheered when the plan was not adopted. After that, the board voted to direct its attorneys to “protect the Soon after, Richardson said the threat of a legal battle will have little effect: “Financial intervention has occurred 12 or 15 times. The process has clearly been established. This is not At one point during the meeting, Belcher said something he’s said before: “I’ve served in two wars, and Craig Pouncey, deputy state superintendent, and Richardson have scheduled a press conference for 10
interests of the board.”
something new.”
I’ve never seen anything like this.”
a.m. today, Wednesday, June 27, at the Birmingham City Schools Administration Building at 2015 Park
Place.
Crew of fatal US military crash included Alabama father recently deployed
The six U.S. service members who died in the crash of a U.S. military refueling aircraft included an Alabama father who had just been promoted and deployed. The U.S. government released the identities of the deceased service members Saturday.
Alabama poised to drastically overhaul utility regulation. Will it lower electric bills?
The Alabama Senate unanimously voted to expand the public service commission, and create a Secretary of Energy to address rising electricity prices. A bill in the House would go even further, requiring rate case hearings and limiting utility profits.
Musher from Alabama is going for back-to-back Iditarod wins
Riches and paid appearances haven’t followed Jessie Holmes since he won the world’s most famous sled dog race, the Iditarod, last year. He doesn't mind.
Bill would move Alabama to closed primaries
Right now, any Alabama voter can participate in a primary election. Lawmakers in Montgomery took up a bill this week that would change that system.
Auburn football player uses NIL funds to open a community hub in Birmingham
Jourdin Crawford, a freshman defensive lineman at Auburn, used earnings from a Name, Image, and Likeness deal to give back to his hometown.
Ivey commutes death sentence of inmate whose accomplice fired fatal shot
Charles “Sonny” Burton was sentenced to death for the killing of Doug Battle during a 1991 robbery. However, another man shot Battle when Burton had left the building.
