FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
July 20, 2012
For More Information, contact:
Luther Strange
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Alabama Attorney General
Suzanne Webb (334) 242-7351
Jeff Sommer (334) 353-2199
Page 1 of 1
AG, STATE SCHOOL BOARD, STATE SUPERINTENDENT
FILE LAWSUIT AGAINST BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL BOARD
(MONTGOMERY) – Attorney General Luther Strange, the Alabama State Board
of Education and State Superintendent of Education Dr. Thomas R. Bice today filed a
lawsuit against the Birmingham City Board of Education and its members. The lawsuit
seeks a court order instructing the Birmingham school board to adhere to the directives
from Superintendent Bice and the State Board of Education. The lawsuit became
necessary due to the local board’s failure to comply with state law and its open defiance
and obstruction of state education directives.
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.”
The officials’ lawsuit explains that the Birmingham Board is in a state of financial
and political crisis. The local board, however, has openly challenged and impeded the
properly-invoked statutory authority of the State Board of Education and
Superintendent Bice. Such a situation is untenable and jeopardizes the immediate and
long-term educational interests of the Birmingham City school system.
Furthermore, the lawsuit asks the court to affirm that Superintendent Bice and
the State Board of Education have full and complete authority and the responsibility to
manage the financial operations and related functions of the school board. The State
officials seek a permanent court injunction to stop the Birmingham board from taking
any action contrary to the authority of the State Superintendent of Education and the
State Board of Education.
501 Washington Avenue Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 242-7300
www.ago.alabama.gov
