Bessemer City Schools responds to state letter warning possibility of intervention

JUST A FEW MINUTES. ALL RIGHT. THANKS SO MUCH, TAYLOR. WELL, HAPPENING RIGHT NOW. A CAPITOL PLANNING MEETING FOR THE BESSEMER BOARD OF EDUCATION HAS BEEN RESCHEDULED. THIS COMING AFTER THEY RECEIVED A LETTER FROM STATE SUPERINTENDENT DOCTOR ERIC MACKEY OUTLINING SEVERAL CONCERNS THAT HE HAS WITH THE DISTRICT LAST NIGHT. THE LETTER LAYS OUT CONCERNS ABOUT SCHOOL FACILITIES, SAYING THAT MANY ARE IN DISREPAIR. THE LETTER GOES ON TO SAY THAT THEY WERE LATE TO APPROVING A BUDGET. THEIR CAPITAL PLAN, SALARY SCHEDULES AND A FISCAL AUDIT REPORT. THE STATE SAYS THAT STUDENT LEARNING HAS ALSO BEEN IMPACTED FOR THE WORST, WHICH THEY BLAME DIRECTLY ON THE ENVIRONMENT. AT BESSEMER, WE SPOKE WITH BOARD MEMBER MARGIE VARNER ABOUT THESE ALLEGATIONS. I WAS SURPRISED WHEN WE RECEIVED A LETTER BECAUSE WE HAD NOT RECEIVED AN OFFICIAL LETTER FROM DOCTOR MACKEY SAYING THAT HE WAS SENDING ANYONE HERE TO THE SCHOOL SYSTEM. SO I THOUGHT THAT THAT REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST AND TO LET US KNOW WHY HE WOULD HE WAS SENDING AN INDIVIDUAL IN, I THINK THE LETTER IS JUST THE BEGINNING BECAUSE IT’S A IT’S A TWO PART GAME HERE. YOU GOT THE BOARD AND THEN YOU HAVE THE SUPERINTENDENT THAT HANDLES THE DAY TO DAY. WELL, WITHIN THE LAST HALF HOUR WE’VE GOTTEN A STATEMENT FROM THE BESSEMER BOARD OF EDUCATION. IN IT, THEY SAY THEY ARE TAKING THIS STEP. THE STATE’S CONCERN SERIOUSLY, AND THEY WILL GIVE THEM THEIR FULL ATTENTION, ADDING THAT LAST NIGHT’S MEETING WAS THEIR FIRST CHANCE TO MEET AND DISCUSS THESE CONCERNS. THEY SAY THEY WILL BE STARTING THE PROCESS TO PROVIDE THE ASSURANCE THE STATE NEEDS TO ENSURE THEIR ACTIONS DEMONSTRATE THEIR COMMITMENT TO THE ISSUES. NO WORD YET ON WHEN A NEW DATE FOR THAT MEETING, BUT IT COULD POSSIBLY BE NEXT WEEK. AS OF NOW, BESSEMER SCHOOL LEADERS SAY THAT ONLY HAVE THEY ONLY HAVE A COUPLE OF WEEKS TO RESPOND WITH A PLAN OF ACTION. IF DOCTOR DOCTOR MACKE

The Bessemer City Schools Board of Education responded Wednesday to a warning letter from the state department over "several issues of major concern" that could result in the state taking over.The board of education stated that it is taking the concerns seriously and "will give them (their) full attention in advance of the upcoming school year," according to a letter by the board president.Alabama's Department of Education issued a stark warning to the Bessemer City School System Tuesday over "several issues of major concern," stating that they may intervene in the system's day-to-day operations if the problems can't be solved.During a recent review of the Bessemer City School System, several issues that "impede the success of student outcomes and overall district operations" were brought to light, according to a document (Request to Show Cause) sent to the school system by the State Department of Education.>> THE LATEST: Headlines and weather from WVTM 13These concerns include:Board GovernanceThe Department of Education alleges that between January and June of 2024, six meetings of the School Board were canceled due to "losing or lack of a quorum," meaning that the minimum number of board members could not attend or were not in attendance.The Department of Education said the cancellation of these meetings "erodes public trust," led to "critical issues' going unaddressed" and "suggests that the Board is dysfunctional and ineffective in adequately addressing the needs of the system and its students."FinancialsAlthough the deadline was Sept. 15, 2023, the Board did not approve a budget and capital plan until Oct. 23, 2023.The Board did not approve the FY 2022 Audit Report until December of 2023.The Board did not approve the lowest cleaning service bid, opting to use another service at "an elevated cost to the district, possibly violating the State bid law."Bessemer City High School did not have a full-time financial secretary from the beginning of the 2023 school year until Feb. 1, 2024.PersonnelThe Department of Education alleges that "the Board repeatedly failed to fill critical administrative and teacher positions in a timely matter."Several employment contracts were reportedly presented to the Board on Sept. 19, 2023 but were then removed from the agenda and not approved for another eight months.The Board also allegedly hired two principals but failed to approve their contracts.FacilitiesThe State noted that one significant concern is the amount of "clearly dilapidated" buildings in the system, citing "roofing and HVAC issues" that may stem from neglect.The Board reportedly rejected a recommendation to perform an assessment of the system's facilities in Nov. 2023, delaying it until April 2024 and "placing an unnecessary burden on school system staff," to get repairs done by the next school year.Ventilation and lighting projects also went unapproved.Once the assessment was completed, several concerns were revealed includingSevere roof leaksHVAC issuesADA non-compliant hardwareStudent LearningThe State believes that the current academic outcomes "do not reflect the knowledge and skills, nor the creativity and commitment of the students, families, faculty, and staff of the System," stating that the Board has failed to establish an "orderly working environment firmly focused on the well-being of students.">> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for freeThe Board has roughly 15 days to provide a response to the State's letter, as well as a detailed plan on how they will address the current concerns.If no reply is given, or if the State determines that the reply is inadequate, Superintendent Mackey will request that the State Board of Education "intervene in the operations of the Bessemer City School System as provided by law.""This is a serious matter and one I do not take lightly," said Mackey. "Inaction puts our students, teachers and school administrators at risk of continuously falling behind the Department's expectations." This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

BESSEMER, Ala. —

The Bessemer City Schools Board of Education responded Wednesday to a warning letter from the state department over "several issues of major concern" that could result in the state taking over.

The board of education stated that it is taking the concerns seriously and "will give them (their) full attention in advance of the upcoming school year," according to a letter by the board president.

Alabama's Department of Education issued a stark warning to the Bessemer City School System Tuesday over "several issues of major concern," stating that they may intervene in the system's day-to-day operations if the problems can't be solved.

During a recent review of the Bessemer City School System, several issues that "impede the success of student outcomes and overall district operations" were brought to light, according to a document (Request to Show Cause) sent to the school system by the State Department of Education.

>> THE LATEST: Headlines and weather from WVTM 13

These concerns include:

Board Governance

The Department of Education alleges that between January and June of 2024, six meetings of the School Board were canceled due to "losing or lack of a quorum," meaning that the minimum number of board members could not attend or were not in attendance.

The Department of Education said the cancellation of these meetings "erodes public trust," led to "critical issues' going unaddressed" and "suggests that the Board is dysfunctional and ineffective in adequately addressing the needs of the system and its students."

Financials

Although the deadline was Sept. 15, 2023, the Board did not approve a budget and capital plan until Oct. 23, 2023.
The Board did not approve the FY 2022 Audit Report until December of 2023.
The Board did not approve the lowest cleaning service bid, opting to use another service at "an elevated cost to the district, possibly violating the State bid law."
Bessemer City High School did not have a full-time financial secretary from the beginning of the 2023 school year until Feb. 1, 2024.

Personnel

The Department of Education alleges that "the Board repeatedly failed to fill critical administrative and teacher positions in a timely matter."

Several employment contracts were reportedly presented to the Board on Sept. 19, 2023 but were then removed from the agenda and not approved for another eight months.

The Board also allegedly hired two principals but failed to approve their contracts.

Facilities

The State noted that one significant concern is the amount of "clearly dilapidated" buildings in the system, citing "roofing and HVAC issues" that may stem from neglect.

The Board reportedly rejected a recommendation to perform an assessment of the system's facilities in Nov. 2023, delaying it until April 2024 and "placing an unnecessary burden on school system staff," to get repairs done by the next school year.

Ventilation and lighting projects also went unapproved.

Once the assessment was completed, several concerns were revealed including

Severe roof leaks
HVAC issues
ADA non-compliant hardware

Student Learning

The State believes that the current academic outcomes "do not reflect the knowledge and skills, nor the creativity and commitment of the students, families, faculty, and staff of the System," stating that the Board has failed to establish an "orderly working environment firmly focused on the well-being of students."

>> WVTM 13 ON-THE-GO: Download our app for free

The Board has roughly 15 days to provide a response to the State's letter, as well as a detailed plan on how they will address the current concerns.

If no reply is given, or if the State determines that the reply is inadequate, Superintendent Mackey will request that the State Board of Education "intervene in the operations of the Bessemer City School System as provided by law."

"This is a serious matter and one I do not take lightly," said Mackey. "Inaction puts our students, teachers and school administrators at risk of continuously falling behind the Department's expectations."

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

Bessemer City Schools responds to state letter warning possibility of intervention

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