Harvey then took questions from the group.
1) What would the city system look like?
Harvey said there are no school "districts" in Alabama: they are called school systems here. There are, however, school tax districts (tax area): Baldwin County having two. (Bob Callahan later explained that actually everyone is in District 2, 1 being north county "swamp land where nobody lives.") Harvey: "When a city forms a new system, the boundaries of your municipality form its (new) tax district . . . but the attendance zone (how many kids outside city limits come in) will be set by the new City School Board. If you decide to go ahead, the first thing you do . . . is appoint (by City Council) a 5 member School Board . . . (who will) have legal authority to hire administrators, superintendent, finance officer, central office staff, etc. Your Board will set the policy who may attend your system . . . can let as many folks as they want to come in (from outside city limits)"
Dr. Harvey went on to explain that by Alabama law, all current Baldwin County school property within the city limits (buildings, land, equipment) will automatically become the property of the new city school system. [Harvey added that if there is any current debt associated with the buildings/property, that debt "will become your (city's Board of Education) debt as well."] Harvey: "You may very well wind up with excess capacity (not enough students to fill all the buildings) but they're your buildings . . . your Board will make choices about their (buildings) future." (Bob Callahan later estimated that presently "its about 50/50"--the ratio of number of students living outside the city limits to those living inside city limits.) Harvey added: "Will you be responsible for all the personnel (currently) attached to those buildings? Yes--the county may want to keep some though. You may want more kids to come in (from outside the city)--because of your excess capacity and excess employees . . . a decision for your Board . . . a lot of financial decisions will have to be made."
He explained that a decision to separate/form a city system is not irrevocable: "You can change your mind. If say, in 5 years you're unhappy, . . . or the next (political) administration is unhappy . . . can change your mind . . . Alabama law provides you can be restored . . . back into the county system."
Harvey then asked the group what school systems in the state would be their (ideal) "model" (what type system would you like to have?) and mentioned possibilities like the City of Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Jefferson County's. Harvey: "We'll look at the tax revenue per student for each of those (you suggest) . . . need you to tell me what you would like your system to be like."
Mayor Kant replied: "Why go through the process just to stay the same? I want to do better . . . keep children at present level . . . or even higher."
Bob Callahan mentioned the City of Auburn, Homewood, Hoover, Trussville, and Madison County's as possible good examples to follow.
to be continued
Harvey then took questions from the group.
1) What would the city system look like?
Harvey said there are no school "districts" in Alabama: they are called school systems here. There are, however, school tax districts (tax area): Baldwin County having two. (Bob Callahan later explained that actually everyone is in District 2, 1 being north county "swamp land where nobody lives.") Harvey: "When a city forms a new system, the boundaries of your municipality form its (new) tax district . . . but the attendance zone (how many kids outside city limits come in) will be set by the new City School Board. If you decide to go ahead, the first thing you do . . . is appoint (by City Council) a 5 member School Board . . . (who will) have legal authority to hire administrators, superintendent, finance officer, central office staff, etc. Your Board will set the policy who may attend your system . . . can let as many folks as they want to come in (from outside city limits)"
Dr. Harvey went on to explain that by Alabama law, all current Baldwin County school property within the city limits (buildings, land, equipment) will automatically become the property of the new city school system. [Harvey added that if there is any current debt associated with the buildings/property, that debt "will become your (city's Board of Education) debt as well."] Harvey: "You may very well wind up with excess capacity (not enough students to fill all the buildings) but they're your buildings . . . your Board will make choices about their (buildings) future." (Bob Callahan later estimated that presently "its about 50/50"--the ratio of number of students living outside the city limits to those living inside city limits.) Harvey added: "Will you be responsible for all the personnel (currently) attached to those buildings? Yes--the county may want to keep some though. You may want more kids to come in (from outside the city)--because of your excess capacity and excess employees . . . a decision for your Board . . . a lot of financial decisions will have to be made."
He explained that a decision to separate/form a city system is not irrevocable: "You can change your mind. If say, in 5 years you're unhappy, . . . or the next (political) administration is unhappy . . . can change your mind . . . Alabama law provides you can be restored . . . back into the county system."
Harvey then asked the group what school systems in the state would be their (ideal) "model" (what type system would you like to have?) and mentioned possibilities like the City of Hoover, Vestavia Hills, Homewood, and Jefferson County's. Harvey: "We'll look at the tax revenue per student for each of those (you suggest) . . . need you to tell me what you would like your system to be like."
Mayor Kant replied: "Why go through the process just to stay the same? I want to do better . . . keep children at present level . . . or even higher."
Bob Callahan mentioned the City of Auburn, Homewood, Hoover, Trussville, and Madison County's as possible good examples to follow.
to be continued