Suburban Alabama school district appears headed toward state oversight

BESSEMER, Ala. (AP) — A suburban Alabama school district appears headed toward state oversight.

The board for the Bessemer City Schools District voted unanimously Monday to approve a resolution to “fully acknowledge, agree and consent” to state intervention, al.com reported. If a takeover is approved by the state school board, which meets Aug. 8, state intervention would start as soon as the next day — the first week of classes for Bessemer City.

The system, located west of Birmingham, enrolls about 3,000 students.

On July 3, the board received a letter from State Superintendent Eric Mackey threatening takeover if the district did not resolve major financial and governance issues. Mackey said he was aware of problems in the district for a couple of years, but was spurred to action after reviewing the district’s latest audit.

“Things were as bad as I thought they were, and maybe a little worse,” Mackey told AL.com in a recent interview.

After a lengthy meeting with the district officials on July 17, Mackey said he believed the majority of the district’s board understood its situation and “that Bessemer needs some help, some outside assistance, and that we can lend that assistance.”

“I know they wish they were not in this position; nobody wants to be taken over by the state,” he said. “But I think they also understand we’re to this place, and let’s go ahead and take the help the state’s offering. Let’s work together to improve outcomes for students.”

The board described the possible intervention as a “partnership.”

“We are committed to ensuring that our students and staff have what they need to be successful, so if that’s working with the state department, we will be working with them cooperatively to make sure that they have what they need to help us be successful,” Board Vice President Terry Dawson told reporters after the vote.

If the state approves the takeover recommendation, Mackey said intervention work would begin Aug. 9. He said he will appoint a chief administrative officer to oversee day-to-day matters and issues that need urgent attention.

If approved, the takeover would be the third under Mackey’s supervision. Montgomery’s takeover lasted from 2017 to 2021. Officials intervened in Sumter County last summer.

State takeovers are a last resort, Mackey said, and typically come after a number of efforts to remediate problems. No other districts are in danger of intervention at this time, he said.