Bham Board Fires Witherspoon, But…

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:519;s:6:"height";i:388;s:4:"file";s:29:"2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:6:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-336x251.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:251;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-140x140.jpg";s:5:"width";i:140;s:6:"height";i:140;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:27:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-416x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:416;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-354x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:354;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:29:"NowItsNesbittWBHM-125x125.jpg";s:5:"width";i:125;s:6:"height";i:125;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}}s:10:"image_meta";a:12:{s:8:"aperture";s:1:"0";s:6:"credit";s:0:"";s:6:"camera";s:0:"";s:7:"caption";s:0:"";s:17:"created_timestamp";s:1:"0";s:9:"copyright";s:0:"";s:12:"focal_length";s:1:"0";s:3:"iso";s:1:"0";s:13:"shutter_speed";s:1:"0";s:5:"title";s:0:"";s:11:"orientation";s:1:"0";s:8:"keywords";a:0:{}}}
        )

    [_media_credit] => Array
        (
            [0] => Dan Carson
        )

    [_navis_media_credit_org] => Array
        (
            [0] => WBHM
        )

    [_navis_media_can_distribute] => Array
        (
            [0] => 
        )

    [_imagify_optimization_level] => Array
        (
            [0] => 1
        )

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:255057;s:14:"optimized_size";i:147529;s:7:"percent";d:42.159999999999997;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:57:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:114095;s:14:"optimized_size";i:48302;s:7:"percent";d:57.670000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM-336x251.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20812;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15076;s:7:"percent";d:27.559999999999999;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM-519x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:45890;s:14:"optimized_size";i:30853;s:7:"percent";d:32.770000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22257;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16034;s:7:"percent";d:27.960000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM-416x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:29115;s:14:"optimized_size";i:20735;s:7:"percent";d:28.780000000000001;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:65:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/03/NowItsNesbittWBHM-354x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:22888;s:14:"optimized_size";i:16529;s:7:"percent";d:27.780000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:2:{s:7:"success";b:0;s:5:"error";s:77:"WELL DONE. This image is already compressed, no further compression required.";}}}
        )

    [_imagify_status] => Array
        (
            [0] => success
        )

)
1657303626 
1342569600

People who’ve been saying they could no longer be surprised by the Birmingham school board were surprised Tuesday night, for several reasons.

The most important was the fact that, though expressly forbidden by the state team currently administering the district, the board voted five to three to terminate the contract of Superintendent Craig Witherspoon.

Some members of the public had come to the packed meeting in the large auditorium of Carver High School to express disapproval of Witherspoon, but far more attendees and speakers criticized the state’s $12-million cost-cutting plan, which will improve finances mainly by cutting personnel. That plan had been on the agenda, as was setting a school-start date, but after the board voted to fire Witherspoon and before handling any other business, the board voted to recess the meeting until Friday. Board president Edward Maddox told Witherspoon to leave, which he did with his wife. The board then instated an interim superintendent, Samuetta Drew, the system’s Chief Operating Officer.

State Superintendent Tommy Bice has already rescinded the action legally, and the state team currently in Birmingham will deal only with Witherspoon, but several employees said they were confused as to whom to report.

The continued battling will likely further delay the start of school, and could spill into the courtroom. The school system is currently in violation of a state law that mandates a month’s operating expenses be kept in reserve. Birmingham should have $17 million, but has only $2 million, and will lose roughly $6 million in state money next year because of dropping enrollment.

Ed Richardson, the state’s lead investigator and currently the CFO of Birmingham Schools, said buying out Witherspoon’s contract and initiating a legal fight wouldn’t exactly help the system build up the required funds.

Board member Phyllis Wyne, normally a Witherspoon supporter, was not at the meeting. The other three regular Witherspoon supporters — Brian Giattina, W. J. Maye, and April Williams — voted against the termination. Voting in favor of removing Witherspoon were Maddox, Emmanuel Ford, Virginia Volker, Tyrone Belcher, and Alana Edwards.

After the vote, Richardson tried to speak from the public podium, but Maddox shouted “You’re out of order” and had security make sure Richardson didn’t speak. Richardson did take the public podium later as scheduled in the agenda. He gave his first report to the board as CFO, but after several minutes of speaking, Maddox moved to recess the meeting, and the motion passed.


Ed Richardson isn’t allowed to respond out of order to the board’s controversial vote.

According to Witherspoon’s personal attorney, former federal judge U.W. Clemon, the board’s vote is meaningless and violated his contract anyway. The board did not give Witherspoon 60 days’ notice before placing him on immediate leave, which Clemon said is required by the contract.

But on the big picture of state-versus-local-board authority, board member Ford said, “They didn’t send me here from District Five to be a rubber stamp.”

And ten minutes later, board member Williams told the crowd, “No matter what happens here today,
there are no winners.”

 

Q&A: How a conservative Mississippi mom became an advocate for legalizing drugs

Christina Dent talks about founding End It For Good, her journey to rethinking drugs and addiction and how Mississippi can change its approach, too

With Indus Waters Treaty in the balance, Pakistan braces for more water woes

In an unprecedented move, India held the water treaty in abeyance after blaming Pakistan for a deadly attack in April. Pakistan denies involvement in the attack and accuses India of "weaponizing water."

IRS says churches can now endorse political candidates

Since 1954, an IRS rule had barred houses of worship from explicitly endorsing political candidates.

A Planet Money guide to 5 fascinating new econ papers

The Planet Money newsletter rounds up some new economics studies.

Trump says U.S. will resume sending weapons to Ukraine after pausing last week

With Russian attacks escalating, Ukraine is dependent on air defense systems and munitions supplied by western allies to protect Ukrainian cities.

100 years after evolution went on trial, the Scopes case still reverberates

One hundred years ago, the small town of Dayton, Tenn., became the unlikely stage for one of the most sensational trials in American history, over the teaching of Darwin's theory of evolution.

More Education Coverage