Alabama State Board of Education

Responsibilities

The State Board of Education is responsible for the "general control and supervision over the public schools of the state," which includes the power to adopt rules regarding teacher training and certification, administer vocational education programs under federal law, and supervise educational work done in state penal institutions. The Board appoints the Superintendent, who is responsible for enforcing the rules adopted by the Board.

History

The state's 1868 constitution, adopted during Reconstruction, created an elected Board of Education and an elected Superintendent of Public Instruction to manage the state's public school system and higher education institutions. There were twelve members of the Board, with two elected from each of the state's six congressional districts to four year terms. The Superintendent and Governor were also members of the Board, with the Superintendent serving as President and having a tie-breaking vote and the Governor serving in an ex officio capacity. Following the end of Reconstruction, however, the 1868 constitution was replaced with a new constitution in 1876, which abolished the Board of Education and consolidated administrative power in the elected Superintendent.

Voters continued electing the Superintendent until 1970. In 1969, voters ratified a constitutional amendment that restored an elected State Board of Education with the power to appoint the State Superintendent of Education. The Board members were elected by district, but the Alabama Legislature declined to redraw the districts following the 1970 or 1980 censuses. Accordingly, in 1985, Judge Truman McGill Hobbs of the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama adopted a redistricting plan that created a Black-majority district. That year, Ethel Hall and Willie Paul became the first Black members elected to the Board since the 1870s, and Republican Spencer Bachus became the first Republican member elected to the Board in its modern form.

Democrats held a majority on the Board from 1971 to 1997, when Bradley Byrne, who had been elected as a Democrat, switched to the Republican Party. Byrne's switch left the balance of the Board at a 4-4 tie, enabling Republican Governor Fob James to break the tie. In 1998, when Democrat Don Siegelman won the gubernatorial election and all incumbents won re-election, the Democratic majority was restored. In 2002, when Byrne was elected to the State Senate and resigned his seat, Siegelman, who had been defeated for re-election that year by Republican Bob Riley, appointed Democrat Pam Baker to succeed him, giving Democrats an absolute majority on the Board. When Riley was sworn in, he sought to recall Baker's appointment, which threatened a lawsuit. Baker, however, ultimately resigned from the seat, avoiding a court battle and allowing Riley to appoint Republican Randy McKinney later that year. In 2008, when Republican Gary Warren was elected to succeed Democrat Sandra Ray in the 7th district, Republicans won their first outright majority on the Board. They further added to their majority in 2010, when Republican Mary Scott Hunter was elected to replace Democrat Mary Jane Caylor in the 8th district, expanding the Republican majority to 7-2.

Members

Notes

References

1. "Code of Alabama". Alabama Legislature.
2. "Code of Alabama". Alabama Legislature.
3. "Code of Alabama". Alabama Legislature.
4. {{cite constitution. (1868). link
5. Herron, Paul E.. (2017). "Framing the Solid South: The State Constitutional Conventions of Secession, Reconstruction, and Redemption, 1860-1912". University Press of Kansas.
6. Stewart, William H.. (2016). "The Alabama State Constitution". Oxford University Press.
7. Yeargain, Quinn. (2023). "Shadow Districts". Cardozo Law Review.
8. (1986-03-06). "Judge approves district plan". Alabama Journal.
9. Cork, Betty. (1986-11-10). "ADC Chairman Says Lawsuit Helped Bachus". Montgomery Advertiser.
10. Gordon, Tom. (1997-01-09). "Education board's Byrne will join GOP today". Birmingham News.
11. (1998-11-05). "Democrats gain board of education edge". Dothan Eagle.
12. Bryan, Dave. (2002-12-13). "Governor swears in Baker". Opelika-Auburn News.
13. Rawls, Phillip. (2003-03-28). "Governor may go to court over state school board seat". Opelika-Auburn News.
14. Dean, Charles J.. (2003-09-02). "Riley names Orange Beach's McKinney to school board". Birmingham News.
15. Hunter, Desiree. (2008-11-06). "Republicans to have majority on state BOE". Montgomery Advertiser.
16. (2010-11-03). "GOP wins 3 of 4 Ala SBOE seats on ballot". Anniston Star.
17. "State Board of Education".