Birmingham Hires New School Superintendent
Birmingham City Schools have a new leader. The school board voted last night to hire Lisa Herring of Louisville, Kentucky, following days of controversy after no candidates from Birmingham or Alabama were named finalists for the job.
Herring will start work immediately at a salary of $202,000, following Tuesday’s 6-3 vote. Herring currently is chief academic officer for Jefferson County Public Schools in Louisville, Ky. She was a finalist two years ago to replace former Superintendent Craig Witherspoon. Now she is replacing Dr. Kelly Castlin Gacutan, who got the job that year and was fired 14 months later.
April Williams, search committee chairperson, said Herring received high marks from parents, teachers and community residents who viewed the finalists’ presentations online.
She also read part of Herrings’ recommendations: “She has experience in many facets of running schools. She always clears the clutter from a meeting or a crisis and gets down to the real problem quickly.”
Tuesday’s meeting was contentious, with police threatening to remove some audience members because of outbursts. Board President Wardine Alexander stopped the meeting several times to quiet the audience.
Board member Sherman Collins said Herring is a good candidate, but he was disappointed with the process. He and board members Cheri Gardner and Daagye Hendricks had asked that the search be delayed so the board could address community concerns about lack of local finalists.
“This whole entire process has been out of order,” Collins said. “Out of line, and I am surprised that my colleagues would put their reputations in the way of defending a process that they know is not right.”
Before voting, the board went into executive session to discuss potential litigation as a result of their actions on leadership. After the closed-door meeting, the board removed interim superintendent Larry Contri from that job and hired the new superintendent.
Contri, who was not a finalist for the permanent job, sued earlier to try to stop the process.
The board will work out the details of Herring’s contract later. Board member April Williams said Herring will have 30 days of paid leave to transition into her job.
Memory loss: As AI gobbles up chips, prices for devices may rise
Demand for memory chips currently exceeds supply and there's very little chance of that changing any time soon. More chips for AI means less available for other products such as computers and phones and that could drive up those prices too.
Brigitte Bardot, sex goddess of cinema, has died
Legendary screen siren and animal rights activist Brigitte Bardot has died at age 91. The alluring former model starred in numerous movies, often playing the highly sexualized love interest.
For Ukrainians, a nuclear missile museum is a bitter reminder of what the country gave up
The Museum of Strategic Missile Forces tells the story of how Ukraine dismantled its nuclear weapons arsenal after independence in 1991. Today many Ukrainians believe that decision to give up nukes was a mistake.
Jeffrey R. Holland, next in line to lead Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, dies at 85
Jeffrey R. Holland led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, a key governing body. He was next in line to become the church's president.
Winter storm brings heavy snow and ice to busy holiday travel weekend
A powerful winter storm is impacting parts of the U.S. with major snowfall, ice, and below zero wind chills. The conditions are disrupting holiday travel and could last through next week.
Disability rights advocate Bob Kafka dead at 79
Bob Kafka was an organizer with ADAPT (American Disabled for Attendant Programs Today), a group which advocates for policy change to support people with disabilities.
