For Your Information
Vol. 21, No. 11
June 12, 2009
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Ruling Sought to Revoke Imprisoned Teacher's Certificate and Stop Pay
The state Department of Education’s legal counsel will pursue a video-conference hearing before an administrative law judge to seek revocation of an imprisoned teacher’s certification.
A Washington County teacher continues to receive her nearly $52,000 salary and benefits toward retirement though the board terminated her after she began serving 10 years in prison in early 2008 for two federal child enticement convictions. An appeal in the case and state charges of sodomy and rape are pending.
The Associated Press points to a state appeals court ruling that a hearing officer can’t proceed with her case because of self-incrimination concerns.
As state Superintendent Dr. Joe Morton announced at Thursday’s K-12 state Board of Education Meeting, the state department will ask the administrative law judge to rule that she is unfit to teach. SDE Legal Counsel Larry Craven thinks the process, due to what he calls the “extraordinary” circumstances of this case, would take less than 45 days. With a favorable ruling, the SDE could immediately reject her certification, revoke her teaching license and Washington County Board of Education could possibly take her off the payroll.
“This has just incensed me, I guess,” Morton said. “We don’t want to have a teacher that serves 10 years in jail and get paid for it. That’s half a million dollars.”
With the upcoming academic year comes a new requirement for the freshman class of 2006-2007. High school students taking the Alabama High School Graduation Exam will need a scaled score of 445 – from a range of 0 to 999 – to pass a new biology subtest. Reading and math subtests are used for accountability purposes under the federal No Child Left Behind Act, and that doesn’t change. Besides biology, which replaces the science subtest, the graduation exam includes social studies and language. Alabama is offering the subject-area test in biology also to comply with federal requirements.
The state board unanimously approved the committee-recommended pass score for biology Thursday.
Each student will have a unique state-issued identification number this coming academic year. The board approved the use of the unique nine-digit codes instead of Social Security numbers to help shield students from identity theft. Included in the sequence of numbers will be the last digit of the calendar year, the school code, the county code and state-generated numbers.
Each board of education and agency reporting to the state Department of Education must use the identifiers in all record-keeping systems and make student data accessible by the state-issued ID numbers upon the state education superintendent’s request.
In other business, the state Department of Education plans an overhaul of teacher education-professional services. The state board agreed to announce that intent Thursday. However, further board discussion on possible repeal of Administrative Code Chapter 290-3-3 will begin at the board’s June 25 work session and likely continue until the issue comes up for a vote in August.
The state board’s next regular meeting is set for July 14 in Montgomery.
DEADLINE TO PRE-REGISTER FOR
AASB/ACSBA CONFERENCE IS JULY 17
Times are difficult! Don’t miss your opportunity to learn how to manage the downs, plan for the ups and focus on what matters most! Attend the July 26-28 AASB Summer Conference at the Perdido Hotel in Orange Beach. Attendees earn 7 hours in the AASB School Board Member Academy with an optional 1.5 bonus hours of legal training. School board attorneys shouldn’t miss their annual ACSBA Conference set for July 25 and 26. Attorneys will present on the hottest legal topics that affect public education. CLE credits possible. Early registration ends July 17, so register now.
NEW LEADER? ATTEND AASB'S ORIENTATION
School board members for two years or less — and veterans in need of a refresher — are urged to take advantage of AASB’s orientation program July 25-26, prior to AASB’s July 26-28 Summer Conference on “Navigating Rough Waters, Seeking Student Success.” Leadership I topics will cover board basics such as legal issues, ethics, public relations, school finance and governing for improved student success. Pre-registration is $120 and due July 17, and accommodations are available at the Perdido Hotel (800/634-8001, mention 4065). Contact us or call 800/562-0601 to find out if you need the 7 hours of Leadership I credit to advance in the AASB School Board Member Academy.
SUBMIT PROPOSED RESOLUTIONS
FOR DELEGATE ASSEMBLY BY AUG. 14
School board members who wish to propose a resolution for consideration by AASB’s Delegate Assembly in December should submit their proposals in writing by Friday, Aug. 14. Submissions should be faxed to AASB at (334) 270-0000; mailed to P.O. Box 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488; or e-mailed.
Resolutions approved by the Delegate Assembly at AASB’s annual convention set the association’s goals and positions on major education issues.
AASB NOMINATING COMMITTEE SET TO MEET IN JULY
The AASB Nominating Committee will meet in conjunction with AASB’s 2009 Summer Conference at the Perdido Hotel July 26. The deadline for nominations is Monday, June 15 for those interested in serving as AASB vice president or president-elect. Complete the nomination form and send a copy of your letter of interest to Committee Chairman Jim Methvin (448 Crest Drive, Homewood, AL 35209) and to AASB Executive Director Sally Howell, J.D. (P.O. Drawer 230488, Montgomery, AL 36123-0488). President-elect Florence Bellamy will become president at the close of AASB’s convention in December, and Vice President Steve Foster has served the one term allowed under AASB bylaws in his current position.
MAC CHECKS ARE IN THE MAIL
AASB has mailed participating school boards the latest quarterly reimbursements through the Medicaid Administrative Claiming and Direct Bill programs. These checks collectively total $3.6 million and bring the total reimbursement to participating Alabama school boards to more than $87 million thus far. If your school system provides services to Medicaid-eligible students, contact AASB to find out whether you’re entitled to reimbursement or if you may direct bill for those services. Call 800/562-0601.
SALES TAX HOLIDAY SET FOR AUG. 7-9
As belts tighten across the state, communities should be reminded of an opportunity to save on school supplies – the fourth annual Sales Tax Holiday. The holiday starts Aug. 7 at 12:01 a.m. (CST) and ends at midnight Aug. 9. According to the Alabama Retail Association – which has posted a list of participating communities and exempt items online at www.alabamaretail.org – shoppers may purchase specified school supplies, computers and clothing without paying the usual state 4 percent sales or use tax. Nearly 200 local governments have opted to also exempt all or a limited portion of their sales taxes during the holiday.
— Denise L. Berkhalter
publicrelations@alabamaschoolboards.org
Alabama Association of School Boards:
Celebrating 60 years of helping local education leaders improve student achievement.
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