State and community leaders weigh in on BOE state intervention - ABC 33/40 - Birmingham News, Weather, Sports
Member Center:
Here in Birmingham, some people are hopeful that the state's intervention plan will work.
Birmingham PTA president, Donna Thomas weighed in. Thomas has been a member of the PTA for 38, so she's seen the ups and downs of the Birmingham school system. In her opinion, this is definitely another low point.
Says she's hopeful that the intervention plan will work. At the same time, she says she's not holding her breath.
Thomas says many parents are losing faith in the school board and the school system as a result everything that has taken place.
She says she most concerned about the cuts and how they will impact the classrooms.
If stability is not brought back into the Birmingham school system, Thomas fears they will see an exodus of students.
"I'm hoping that they will go ahead and do what they need to do. As parents, we feel like they are playing games with our children's education. Because I feel like this is something that could have been done from the beginning, other than them sitting there arguing and fighting each other," said Thomas.
Thomas says she, if the intervention does not work, she is not opposed to a complete state takeover. She says, if that's what it takes to get the BOE back on track, then so be it.
ABC 33/40 called all members of the board today. Some of them never returned our calls. Others declined to do an on camera interview. We were told by many of the board members they weren't even aware of the details concerning the intervention plan. But one person who did have a lot to say was State Representative John Rogers.
Rogers says he spoke with Dr. Tommy Bice three times. He says, after much reassurance from Bice, he's optimistic that the intervention plan will work.
Rogers says, during his conversations with Bice today, he expressed his concerns about the cuts that will be made. He says he would rather see cuts come from the top of the Birmingham school system, rather than the classrooms.
"You come in and do the heavy lifting and get the personnel size right and come in and make it financially solvent, you can come back and do some local taxation perhaps and get some money. However, at no time should we do something that could hurt or impact the classroom or the school kids. He said he would work with us to make sure that the impact on the classroom will not be there," said Rogers.
Rogers says, in his opinion, a state takeover is not the answer. He had this to say about a takeover: "if you want to take it over, send a letter and take it over and get it over with." But he feels like it won't come to that.
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