Ala. AG, State School Board, sue Birmingham School Board - WSFA.com: News Weather and Sports for Montgomery, AL.

Ala. AG, State School Board, sue B'ham School Board

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Source: File Photo - WBRC Source: File Photo - WBRC

Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange and the Alabama Board of Education have filed a lawsuit against the Birmingham's school board and its members. Strange, the state school board and State Superintendent of Education Thomas Bice filed the lawsuit Friday.

The lawsuit claims Birmingham's school board is in a state of financial and political crisis. The lawsuit asks the court to affirm that Bice and the state school board have complete authority and the responsibility to manage the financial operation for Birmingham's school board.

The board on Tuesday was expected to consider a state financial plan that would have cut more than $12 million from the district's budget, mostly through layoffs and demotions. Instead, the board heard from audience members, then fired the superintendent Craig Witherspoon. Witherspoon was reinstated by a judge Wednesday.

Attorney General Strange said, "As the State's chief legal officer, it is my responsibility to ensure that public officials follow the law.  The Birmingham Board of Education has not only failed to follow the law, but they have further openly challenged state authority.  In so doing, they have created chaos and have put the interests of school children at risk. Relief from the court is requested to affirm the constitutional and statutory authority of the State Board of Education and the State Superintendent of Education, and to end the Birmingham Board's continued interference with state mandates."

Superintendent Bice said, "It is regretful that our attempts to achieve a collaborative resolution with the Birmingham Board have reached a point of impasse that calls for legal action.  However, this step has been taken in order to ensure that the educational interests of the students of the Birmingham City Schools are met."

(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. WSFA 12 News contributed to this report. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)