WINSTON COUNTY - The issue to be decided through the vote on Amendment 1 - the only statewide amendment on the ballot for the March 3, primary election, has caused quite a stir among educators, who that a government-appointed state board of education would have negative effects on local school systems.
Educators are sporting the “Vote No” logo as preparations are being made by voters to head to the polls next week.
Amendment 1, also known as Act 2019-345, which will appear on both the Republican and Democrat ballots in the primary, reads, “Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, to change the name of the state board of education to the Alabama Commission on Elementary and Secondary Education;
“To provide for the appointment of the members of the commission by the governor, subject to confirmation by the Senate; to change the name of the state superintendent of education to the Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education.
“To provide for the appointment of the Secretary by the commission, subject to confirmation by the Senate; and to authorize the governor to appoint a team of local educators and other officials to advise the commission on matters relating to the functioning and duties of the state department of education.”
In short, the state board of education would be renamed the Alabama Commission of Elementary and Secondary Education, with members appointed by the governor and subject to Senate approval instead of the current method of being elected by the public--if Amendment 1 passes.
Instead of the state superintendent of education, the renamed Secretary of Elementary and Secondary education would be appointed by the commission and approved by the Senate.
This commission would be required to adopt education standards instead of the current Common Core standards as set forth by the current state department of education.
The governor would be authorized by the amendment to create a team of local educators or other officials to advise the commission.
The most significant effect of Amendment 1 would be eliminating elections for members of this newly renamed commission, with appointed members limited to a maximum two-year term.
Governor Kay Ivey has voiced her support for Amendment 1, stating it removes the state board from the “whims” of the election cycle.
“Currently, Alabama is one of only six states without an appointed board,” Ivey said.
“It’s time we finally align ourselves with the other high-achieving states.
“We need education leaders and a structure that works in the best interest of students, and Amendment 1 offers a bold plan that Alabamians can support,” Ivey added.
State Representative Tracy Estes pointed out Amendment 1 is no longer a debate in the legislature, but is now left for voters to decide.
“Regardless of one’s opinion, something must be done to address our state’s educational shortcomings,” Estes said.
“This is a difficult decision for the public, as there is an argument to be made on either side,” Estes pointed out. “Should the voters decide to retain the current system, that is certainly their choice.
“But I would ask, how can we continue to do what we have been doing for years and expect different results? None of the states with the highest educational results have an elected board.
“Would an appointed board remedy all of our state’s educational issues? No, but I would like to see what improvements might be made as a result,” Estes continued.
The executive committee of the Alabama Republican Party voted last August to oppose Amendment 1. That opposition is being shared by educators at Haleyville City Schools, who are joining other educators in encouraging a no vote on Amendment 1 March 3.
Haleyville City Schools Superintendent Dr. Holly Sutherland mentioned several points of concern in the proposed legislation for Amendment 1.
“Right now, we have people who are educators and have been educators...Gary Warren was on the state board of education. People from our district have been on the state board of education,” Sutherland began.
Warren was on the state board of education after having retired as center of technology director for Haleyville City Schools.
“When they go to Montgomery, they have been an educator. They have been in our system....So when they represent our teachers, they are not politicians,” Sutherland said.
“When you are relying on a politician to decide what’s best for educators, there is no way you can take the politics out of that,” she added.
Sutherland also expressed concern that if the governor changes during an election, how would that affected the status of a board appointed by the previous governor.
“Who’s to say that in four years, if we get a whole (new) group of people in that they are going to be pro-education,” Sutherland reasoned. “...That person determines our fate.”
“If the governor appoints those people, we really have no control over who is making the decisions that impact our classrooms and our kids,” Sutherland also pointed out.
Across the state, different districts have different needs, stressed Haleyville Elementary School Principal Christy Bice.
“It’s important that the people of our district have an opportunity to elect someone who is going to represent them and their schools on the board,” Bice noted.
“It needs to be someone who is going to invest in our community, invest in our kids and also turn around and represent us and fight for us when that is what we need,” Bice added.
High School Assistant Principal and Center of Technology Director John McCullar added, “the thing that worries me the most is not having a representative I can contact that has been in my shoes.”
Haleyville Middle School Principal Bo Wilcoxson added, “A yes vote could take away local control. That’s one thing we don’t want to do. We’re fortunate to be where we are at.
“All cities, all schools, all children are not the same, and our goal is to help these students and our people in our area know what’s good for our students,” Wilcoxson added.
“At all times, people need to have a voice. You do that through an election,” stressed Haleyville High School Principal Davey Reed.
Reed said that all local board members have a vested interest in HCS.
“It’s the unknown,” Reed said. “We do know what we have. We have a good supportive system that is invested in Haleyville City Schools. They have been elected by the people, and it’s working pretty well right now.”
Winston County Schools Superintendent Greg Pendley noted he feared that an appointed board may give more attention to larger school districts than those in more rural areas.
“I guess I could argue either way,” Pendley said. “But in saying that, I am an elected superintendent, obviously, one of only 17 in the state.
“Would it streamline things? Absolutely. Is it something that is going to be beneficial for Winston County? I don’t know that it would be.
“Sometimes you need a different entity out there, but is the governor going to listen to her council and do what she would need to as far as our school systems?
“...A local entity, the governor, appointing those positions could get into a situation where all of those people came from larger systems,” Pendley continued. “When that would happen, the functionality of what we have to do, and what Hoover has to do is totally different.”
State Representative Proncey Robertson noted that he is discouraged that Alabama is ranked between 48th and 50th nationally in multiple areas of education.
“We need a change,” Robertson said. “When we look at those who are ranked in the top 10, they all have appointed state school boards who are qualified and committed to the education of children rather than the political winds.”
Robertson added he was not saying that Amendment 1 would fix all of Alabama’s educational issues overnight.
“It’s time to consider new ideas and new approaches to an old problem,” Robertson said. “I’m glad the people will have an opportunity to consider this opportunity for change.”
Representative Tim Wadsworth voiced his support for the process of letting voters elect a local school board and local superintendent.
“The amendment on the ballot is whether the voters want an elected or appointed state superintendent and elected or appointed state board,” Wadsworth said.
“The purpose of the bill is to bring stability to the position of state superintendent. We have had three state superintendents in the last four years,” Wadsworth pointed out.
“An appointed state school board would result in appointees who have educational qualifications and stability,” he continued.
See complete story in the Northwest Alabamian.
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