State will announce fate of Birmingham Schools next week - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

The man in charge of the investigation into the Birmingham School System says he would recommend a financial takeover of the system.

The Birmingham Board of Education voted Tuesday night against recommendations for making cuts to the system. Dr. Ed Richardson, the head of the investigation team and a former state superintendent says the decision disappointed him.

"It confirmed to me that the majority of the board, which impeded the schools systems progress, once again took a very short sighted view; one in which the 26,000 Birmingham students will get short changed," said Richardson. "It creates a certain aura of embarrassment around the Birmingham City schools."

Richardson told Fox 6, "It's another delaying tactic. We presented the plan on two occasions to the board and they did not make any changes or alternates. They chose not to do that."

The Birmingham School System is required to keep $17 million in the reserve fund. The investigators' cuts, if they had been approved, would have set the system along the path to that requirement, but would have closed two elementary schools and made numerous job cuts. Thirty-one other systems in the state fell also fell short of their required reserve funds, but have agreements in place to meet the requirements.

"I would recommend that formal intervention be implemented for financial reasons," said Bice about Birmingham BOE's refusal.

In a letter sent to Dr. Bice Wednesday, Birmingham BOE President Ed Maddox said that the board will create its own plan to increase revenues in the school system. He welcomes input and cooperation with the state but said the board will continue to exercise its legal authority.

If a financial takeover was implemented, it would mean a Chief Administrative Officer and a Chief Financial Officer would be appointed, according to Richardson. These officers would make an assessment of what needs to be done financially in the system. If those recommendations are turned down by the board, they would appeal to the State Superintendent.

After Richardson and his investigators met with Dr. Bice on Wednesday morning, Bice said that he would review the situation and make a formal recommendation at the next regularly scheduled Birmingham BOE meeting Thursday, June 14.

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