The City Council of the City of Pell City will not participate in a Superintendent search led by the current Board of Education, and it requests that the current Board not appoint the next Superintendent for Pell City Schools.
In a Special Called Meeting on Monday, April 21, 2025, the City Council passed Resolution 2025-36 in a 5-0 vote. The resolution can be read here:
In Resolution 2025-36, the City Council resolves that allowing the outgoing board to appoint the superintendent would undermine the will of the voters who approved Amendment 1018 to the Constitution of Alabama (Local Amendment 1) and disenfranchise the incoming board members from participating in this critical decision. The message is simplified as follows:
- Choosing a superintendent is the most important decision for a Board of Education.
- Under Local Constitutional Amendment 1, the City Council will appoint the next Board in a matter of months.
- The Board composition WILL change, with at least two new members who are County residents.
- This year marks the first time County residents who attend PCSS will have a voice in the selection of their leader.
- A Board that fully represents the entire school community should make this decision.
As stated in Resolution 2025-36, “… it would be unfair and inequitable if the current Board of Education selected the next Superintendent days or weeks before the first Board of Education members from the County portion of the Pell City School System take office. Such a result would clearly undermine the intent of the voters when they approved Local Constitutional Amendment 1.”
The resolution raises other reasons for postponing this decision, including consideration for potential candidates for the Superintendent position. The City Council believes that candidates of the highest quality might not apply since, at this time, they cannot know who they will be working for in November.
In support of Local Constitutional Amendment 1 and its purpose, the City Council opposes any action by the current Board of Education to hire a superintendent for Pell City Schools.
Resources
- Pell City Board of Education Resolution 2024-1 supporting an Appointed School Board: https://pell-city.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/PCBOE-Resolution-2024-1-Appointed-Board-1.pdf
- Article citing further PCBOE Reasoning for support: https://www.annistonstar.com/the_daily_home/dh_news/pell-city-board-of-education-approves-support-for-appointed-board-members/article_885723e8-bc17-11ee-ba36-738a16bd9c0e.html
- Voters approve Local Amendment 1: https://pell-city.com/pell-city-board-of-education-steering-committee-activated-following-certification-of-2024-general-election-results/
- PCBOE hires AASB to conduct superintendent search: https://www.annistonstar.com/the_st_clair_times/stclair_news/pell-city-boe-contracts-with-aasb-for-superintendent-search/article_227bbf98-efb5-4085-a686-3ca84b7f9843.html
