State Superintendent Finalists Announced; Board Approves 10th Grade Pre-ACT, Discusses SDE Reorganization

Gov. Kay Ivey chaired a special-called State Board of Education meeting today during which members began the selection process for Alabama’s next state superintendent of education. Board members spent most of the morning scoring candidates, ultimately narrowing a field of seven semi-finalists down to four finalists after reviewing candidate packets provided by the superintendent search firm, Ray and Associates. The four candidate finalists who have made it to the interview phase are:

• Dr. Craig Pouncey, Jefferson County Schools superintendent and former deputy superintendent/CFO at the Alabama State Department of Education
  
• Dr. Eric Mackey, executive director of School Superintendents of Alabama and former Jacksonville City Schools superintendent
  
• Dr. Kathy Murphy, Hoover City Schools superintendent and former Monroe County Schools superintendent
  
• Robert Scott, J.D., Texas Star Alliance principal and former commissioner of the Texas Education Agency 
  

In all, 41 applicants from across the county responded to the national superintendent search. The board will conduct interviews of the four finalists during a special-called meeting on April 20; a vote is planned the same day.

At its regular meeting Thursday, the board voted to approve Alabama 10th graders taking the pre-ACT assessment before the end of the current school year. While board members voiced concerns about the burden school systems will face in administering the assessment on such short notice, Richardson described the situation as the best solution under current circumstances. The decision to discontinue the ACT Aspire test left this year’s 10th-grade students without an assessment or baseline upon which to measure academic growth for the next school year. That default would put high schools at risk in the state-mandated accountability report card scores. Richardson also explained the pre-ACT will provide 10th-grade students an opportunity to identify and address deficiencies prior to taking the ACT in 11^th grade.

The board also adopted a resolution to grant the state superintendent the authority to recommend, and the state board to approve, certain ALSDE positions. In effect, the resolution rescinds a former resolution authorizing the state superintendent to make at-will hires and set salaries without board oversight, a practice that ultimately caused inefficiencies and disparities in the personnel and salary structure.

At the board work session following Thursday’s meeting, Richardson provided an update on the ALSDE personnel reorganization he has implemented. The reorganization eliminated and reclassified a number of positions, reducing the number of at-will employees as well as reducing some salaries. Richardson explained that the standard number of at-will employees at similarly sized agencies is about five. At-will employee salaries fall outside the state salary schedule, and the adjustment was needed to put overall personnel and salary structure back in line with agency standards. Richardson said his goal was to make these changes now so the incoming superintendent won’t have to address the issue.

Chief State School Financial Officer Dr. Andy Craig provided an overview of the recently enacted education budget for the upcoming FY19 school year. Between the new Education Trust Fund budget and supplemental appropriations, K-12 will see a $168.8 million increase in state funds, with $113.3 million dedicated to the Foundation Program. Also included is a 2.5 percent pay raise for education employees and a $24.4 million boost to classroom instructional needs.

Nick Moore, the governor’s education policy advisor, updated the board on Gov. Ivey’s newly formed Securing Alabama Facilities of Education (SAFE) Council. Formed by an executive order, the Council is charged with making recommendations and implementing

school safety priorities. Moore thanked Dr. Richardson for his leadership chairing the Council which has met with diverse stakeholder groups from across the state, including law enforcement, information technology, the Department of Education and the Department of Mental Health.

The Council voted April 9 to include10 recommendations in its draft report. While the recommendations are not available to the public, Moore said they focus on three main areas: physical safely, threat assessment and coordinated training and planning for schools. The plan will include a request to increase the presence of school resource officers and to implement a threat assessment system. Moore referenced a Colorado model for threat assessment as a likely prototype. The Council plans to vote to adopt the recommendations at an April 19 meeting and release the report, action plans and additional background materials prior to the April 30 deadline set in the governor’s executive order.

Next State Board Meeting

The board’s next special-called meeting is scheduled April 20.

The next regular State Board of Education meeting will take place May 10 at 10 a.m. in Montgomery, with a work session immediately following.

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