[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6485097,"mediaKeyId","5483904-52da2a2adef096acd27affffdf9b54ea","parentId",5483904,"title","State board votes to intervene in Sumter County schools; superintendent says hires likely, not cuts","audioSeconds",1093,"startMs",345000,"endMs",1438000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483904-52da2a2adef096acd27affffdf9b54ea&start=345&end=1438","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483904-52da2a2adef096acd27affffdf9b54ea/thumbnail_345000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6485097/Alabama/State-board-votes-to-intervene-in-Sumter-County-schools-superintendent-says-hires-likely-not-cuts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485097-dc545eb249fd319bb8cac4d3099887e3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505812&Signature=jM8jokCvA0NSAcgEhktpUH5AEItXf5M3vOPOgr9njcMXzEKxuNawALaaVxCS1L5EORHmeqWiEAmKkPIDLMSQ2FjUVgWlfpD9BqrLkQJSRfu6ebBzPkZPZ99ZNpDGhcY1-KncDIO5x45AohrDcU~CT75dyiYsQDVJO7nSWOMOH5f8vyEitbKWY~b2jZtrd3kXhEtVzv7ncVqzC0V9L7akcwCX93XhkdXNw8pbBm0zCO9VfPQlaViR7d8cN9DFPCvgA-BRdsmnt8SvjOrefS11ZzRp8q5wVnos2UakJPXiLFsifVV~4csqwOrtb93TQRH2-nNyj3T~tT-Zu~XhoNVr0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Alabama State Department of Education","date","2025-07-27T14:40:03.443Z","article","The Alabama State Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution on Aug. 10 authorizing state intervention in the Sumter County School System after members raised concerns about the district's finances, audits and readiness to open schools.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey said the Sumter County board voted 4-0 to accept state support after the department sent an initial letter and held follow-up calls. \"We will not go in and make major personnel changes at this time,\" Mackey told the board, adding that \"we're actually adding people, not cutting people\" to help get the district ready for the school year.

Board member Dr. Chestnut asked how the intervention would affect personnel; Mackey said the resolution authorizes appointing a chief administrative officer (CAO) who will work with Sumter County superintendent Dr. Burrows to assess on-the-ground needs. Mackey said some reorganization could be needed later as federal COVID-era funds decline: \"Those federal funds will disappear in about 13 months,\" he said, and the department will help the district develop a step-down plan.

Nut graf: The intervention aims to address a backlog of financial records, incomplete audits and staffing gaps that left Sumter County unable to adopt an agenda at a recent meeting and delayed the start of school. State officials said the action is intended to stabilize finances and operations so the district keeps federal Title I dollars and can open classrooms.

Mackey told the board the Department of Public Examiners could not complete this year's audit because Sumter County's books were far behind; the department has already placed a bookkeeper in the district and expects to update bills and financial statements so examiners can finish an audit. \"If they don't have a complete and clear audit, then they're in danger of losing their Title I funds,\" Mackey said.

Board members asked about the scale of the district and the likely types of state support. Mackey said Sumter County has roughly 1,000 students across four schools and has about half the student population it did 20 years ago. He noted recent resignations of the superintendent, chief school finance officer and a high school principal, and said the state has already provided a finance staffer and will assign a CAO (a retired superintendent) to lead the intervention. The CAO and state staff will determine whether additional finance, academic or facilities support is needed.

Mackey said the department is prioritizing: getting bills paid, bringing financial records up to date, completing the audit and preventing the loss of federal funds. He said the state will examine facility needs as well; Sumter County has some structural issues at certain schools and \"excess bond capacity\" that might be used for borrowing but the department will avoid encouraging unsustainable debt.

On community engagement, Mackey said Sumter County Superintendent Burrows has been communicating with parents and that the state will hold town halls and other outreach over the next few weeks. \"I'll have three days in the next month\" cleared to go to Sumter County, Mackey said.

The board expressed disappointment that local disagreements left school delayed. Board member Marie Manning said the delay \"interrupts the family. It interrupts employment,\" and the board president recorded the board's disappointment at school not opening on time. Mackey confirmed school had been delayed until the following Monday after a local meeting failed to adopt an agenda.

The resolution passed by unanimous voice/hand vote. The board's discussion established the department's immediate priorities and authorized the CAO appointment and state steps described by Mackey; no detailed staffing or long-term facility commitments were made in the meeting.

Ending: The department will follow up with a CAO-led assessment, immediate bookkeeping support and scheduled town halls; board members said they expect the department to report progress in coming weeks.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Alabama Board of Education Board Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Alabama State Board of Education unanimously adopted a resolution on Aug. 10 authorizing state intervention in the Sumter County School System after members raised concerns about the district's finances, audits and readiness to open schools.","taxTitle","Alabama State Department of Education, State Agencies, Executive, Alabama","taxId",80275,"location","Alabama","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6485094,"State board approves multiple educator-preparation reviews, announces rule change timeline and honors student athlete Gabe Marsh",117,2048000,2165000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5483904-52da2a2adef096acd27affffdf9b54ea&start=2048&end=2165","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5483904-52da2a2adef096acd27affffdf9b54ea/thumbnail_2048000.jpg","/articles/6485094/Alabama/State-board-approves-multiple-educator-preparation-reviews-announces-rule-change-timeline-and-honors-student-athlete-Gabe-Marsh","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6485094-3301059ce5f49f46d45aa95798d19888/orig.mp4?Expires=1770505812&Signature=FcAqNyn21-t8X2km9T9i0ucvOxQroY5HKY2~eUy6HK4wGTs7QRvnvE1CTJWNLWrnv9MgalUMpe9fBNlMryPQUEe110uJ41FZL~p5ogypMLpkhgm7u-b~F90hnUBOdB7hAIKYUpbrYgHXXVI3hHIfz2kneHk6l0xtho8oic2giDPJOkHVv7jK5etzOL429p9Igi93~~cVg96Jlu3Fb3NB4UwgBp1bslxilp7HK~Pjk1ewLXDTd5NnBLG8d0XUw5nyycL6oIQ1yrxXS~Mq6jyUWOOb8uLoG1N3QOXlIw0iWc8ue07B4Z6vf~4YN6UumA8ZFMUI6qlKrwKZQjZRcYChoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Alabama State Board of Education on Aug. 10 unanimously authorized reviews of educator-preparation programs at six universities, announced intent to adopt an administrative code change related to the annual apportionment of foundation program funds and adopted a resolution commending student-athlete Gabe Marsh.

The board approved motions to authorize program reviews at Alabama A&M University, Athens State University, Auburn University, Auburn University at Montgomery, the University of South Alabama and the University of West Alabama. Superintendent Eric Mackey described the reviews as part of implementing the UTeach model and Class B undergraduate programs in STEM subjects at several institutions. \"UTeach is a model that was developed at the University of Texas in Austin...to marry STEM degree programs with teacher certification,\" Mackey said while summarizing the requests.

Nut graf: The resolutions were procedural authorizations to begin formal reviews of educator-preparation programs; board members said substantive vetting occurs during prior work sessions and that final approvals will follow recommendations arising from those reviews.

Summaries of approved reviews and actions

- Alabama A&M University: Authorized review to implement the UTeach model for STEM preparation (motion adopted unanimously).

- Athens State University: Authorized review for Class B undergraduate programs in biology, chemistry and mathematics (motion adopted unanimously).

- Auburn University: Authorized review for undergraduate programs in biology, general science, chemistry and physics (motion adopted unanimously).

- Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM): Authorized review for undergraduate courses in biology, general science, computer science and mathematics (motion adopted unanimously).

- University of South Alabama: Authorized review for undergraduate programs in biology, general science, chemistry, physics and mathematics (motion adopted unanimously).

- University of West Alabama: Authorized review for Class B undergraduate programs in biology, general science, computer science, chemistry and mathematics, and an alternate master's route in those STEM subjects (motion adopted unanimously).

Administrative rule notice

The board also voted to announce intent to adopt amended Alabama Administrative Code Rule 290-2-1-.01, which governs the annual apportionment of foundation program funds and alignment with legislative changes such as teacher pay raises. Dr. MacKenzie said the board will take three procedural steps because of timing: announce the rule now, consider an emergency adoption at the October meeting so the state can make the October payments, and adopt a permanent rule in November. \"You'll actually vote on it 3 times,\" MacKenzie said.

Commendation for Gabe Marsh

The board adopted a resolution honoring Gabe Marsh, a student at Guntersville High School, as the 2023 recipient of the National Federation of State High School Associations Spirit of Sport award. Attorney General Steve Marshall and other guests spoke at the meeting; a video and remarks by Marsh and his adoptive mother were shown to the board. The resolution was adopted unanimously.

Votes at a glance: All items above passed by unanimous board vote.

Ending: The authorization votes send each educator-preparation program into a formal review process; final program approvals will follow staff reviews and recommendations at a later meeting.","The State Board voted unanimously to authorize reviews of educator-preparation programs at six Alabama institutions, announced intent to adopt an administrative rule change on foundation funding, and adopted a resolution honoring Guntersville student Gabe Marsh as the 2023 NFHS Spirit of Sport award recipient.","actionData","errors"]

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State board votes to intervene in Sumter County schools; superintendent says hires likely, not cuts

State board approves multiple educator-preparation reviews, announces rule change timeline and honors student athlete Gabe Marsh