A Recap of the State Board Of Education's
July 2007 Meeting

STATE BOE ELECTS BYERS AS VP, MCKINNEY AS PRESIDENT PRO TEM

State Board of Education member David Byers took the gavel Tuesday during the board’s annual K-12 meeting as its new vice president. Byers, who was nominated for the position by Gov. Bob Riley, replaces Sandra Ray.

Byers presides in the absence of Riley, who is the ex-officio board president. The attorney and Birmingham resident began his board service in 1995. This is his third term representing District 6. Though the other members spoke in favor of Byers’ nomination, two members, Stephanie Bell and Betty Peters, voted against it.

“Attendance has been an issue, and Mr. Byers served once before and had to (step) down,” Bell said. When Byers served as vice president in 2004, he stepped down in mid-term due to the sudden death of his father and two close business associates.

Also on Tuesday, the board re-elected Randy McKinney to a third term as president pro tem. McKinney presides in Riley’s and Byers’ absence and was appointed to the board in 2003. He began serving his first full term representing District 1 in 2005.

In other business, the board adopted emergency rules pertaining to the annual apportionment of education dollars, which is done annually to reflect recent legislative action.

The board also announced its intent to amend rules governing online courses and local mechanic certification. Both issues will be voted on in a future meeting.

Also on Tuesday, the board ratified the National School Boards Association’s election results and praised state board member Betty Peters for reaching the first level in AASB’s School Board Member Academy.

School accountability reports are expected to be announced and released to the public at the board’s Aug. 6 meeting in Montgomery. The board’s next work session is Aug. 23.

—Denise L. Berkhalter