Birmingham City Schools Free From State Control

| June 11, 2015 

 ========= Old Image Removed =========Array
(
    [_wp_attached_file] => Array
        (
            [0] => 2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school.jpg
        )

    [_wp_attachment_metadata] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:5:{s:5:"width";i:640;s:6:"height";i:423;s:4:"file";s:44:"2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school.jpg";s:5:"sizes";a:10:{s:6:"medium";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-336x222.jpg";s:5:"width";i:336;s:6:"height";i:222;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:9:"thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-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:42:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-80x80.jpg";s:5:"width";i:80;s:6:"height";i:80;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-600x338.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:338;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-600x423.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:423;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-471x311.jpg";s:5:"width";i:471;s:6:"height";i:311;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-401x265.jpg";s:5:"width";i:401;s:6:"height";i:265;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:28:"ab-block-post-grid-landscape";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-600x400.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:400;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:25:"ab-block-post-grid-square";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-600x423.jpg";s:5:"width";i:600;s:6:"height";i:423;s:9:"mime-type";s:10:"image/jpeg";}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:4:{s:4:"file";s:44:"a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-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:{}}}
        )

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

    [_imagify_data] => Array
        (
            [0] => a:2:{s:5:"stats";a:3:{s:13:"original_size";i:174013;s:14:"optimized_size";i:108806;s:7:"percent";d:37.469999999999999;}s:5:"sizes";a:9:{s:4:"full";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:72:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:49152;s:14:"optimized_size";i:30567;s:7:"percent";d:37.810000000000002;}s:9:"thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-140x140.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5973;s:14:"optimized_size";i:4251;s:7:"percent";d:28.829999999999998;}s:6:"medium";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-336x222.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:15319;s:14:"optimized_size";i:9974;s:7:"percent";d:34.890000000000001;}s:9:"wbhm-icon";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:78:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-80x80.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:2771;s:14:"optimized_size";i:2084;s:7:"percent";d:24.789999999999999;}s:13:"wbhm-featured";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-600x338.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:32082;s:14:"optimized_size";i:18682;s:7:"percent";d:41.770000000000003;}s:20:"wbhm-featured-square";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-300x300.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:17592;s:14:"optimized_size";i:11234;s:7:"percent";d:36.140000000000001;}s:18:"wbhm-featured-home";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-471x311.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:25610;s:14:"optimized_size";i:15062;s:7:"percent";d:41.189999999999998;}s:22:"wbhm-featured-carousel";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-401x265.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:20444;s:14:"optimized_size";i:13231;s:7:"percent";d:35.280000000000001;}s:14:"post-thumbnail";a:5:{s:7:"success";b:1;s:8:"file_url";s:80:"https://news.wbhm.org/media/2015/06/a1fdf59db8921cc4_640_free-school-125x125.jpg";s:13:"original_size";i:5070;s:14:"optimized_size";i:3721;s:7:"percent";d:26.609999999999999;}}}
        )

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

)
1670464919 
1434046194

Birmingham, Alabama’s school system is now free of state control. The state had taken over after financial mismanagement, corruption, and fighting among local board members so intense it sometimes got physical. Voters have since elected a very different school board. And now, Birmingham’s schools are independent again.

Alabama’s school board voted unanimously Thursday to release Birmingham’s 24,000 student system from state control. In 2012, after some local board members publicly begged for help, the state stepped in, citing among other things the system’s illegally low four-day cash reserve. Other board members fought the takeover in the public eye and in court but lost. Since then, staff have been cut, school zones realigned, and the system has well more than the required one-month operating reserves.

Alabama State Superintendent Tommy Bice calls it a “success story” and the “most aggressive intervention” his department has ever done.

 

 

Light from satellites will ruin majority of some space telescope images, study says

Astronomers have long been concerned about reflections from satellites showing up in images taken by telescopes and other scientific instruments.

Defense Department is reviewing boat strike video for possible release, Hegseth says

In a speech on Saturday, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth defended the strikes, saying: "President Trump can and will take decisive military action as he sees fit to defend our nation's interests."

Bama, Miami in, Notre Dame out and Indiana No. 1 in College Football Playoff rankings

Nobody paying attention for the past 24 months would be surprised to see Indiana – yes, Indiana – leading the way into this year's College Football Playoff.

McLaren’s Lando Norris wins first F1 title at season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix

Red Bull driver and defending champion Max Verstappen won the race with Norris placing third, which allowed Norris to finish two points ahead of Verstappen in the season-long standings.

A ban on feeding pigeons ruffles lots of feathers in Mumbai

The pigeon population has exploded — a result of people feeding the birds. For some it's a holy duty and a way to connect to nature. Critics point to health risks tied to exposure to pigeon droppings.

UN humanitarian chief: world needs to ‘wake up’ and help stop violence in Sudan

The UN's top humanitarian and emergency relief official has told NPR that the lack of attention from world leaders to the war in Sudan is the "billion dollar question".

More Education Coverage