MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) - The state is taking over the Selma school system after an investigation found academic and professional problems.
The state Board of Education voted unanimously Wednesday for the takeover. State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice said his office should have a new leadership team in place by the last week of February.
The takeover follows the arrest of a Selma High School teacher on charges of inappropriate sexual conduct with a student and an investigation by the state Department of Education. That investigation found the Selma system failed to adequately investigate allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior, that administrators tried to get teachers to change students’ grades from failing, and that school officials failed to enforce policies on graduation requirements and testing procedures.
Bice had asked the Selma school board to come up with a plan to correct the problems, but he called the school system’s plan deficient.
“There is no patience for individuals in that school system that are not doing what’s right for children,” he told the Selma Times-Journal.
District Attorney Michael Jackson, who brought the charges against the teacher, said he expected the takeover. “Whatever they can do to help the school system in Selma will be a good thing,” he said.
The former teacher has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled for trial in April.
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