Baldwin County Board of Education

30°53′29.03″N 87°47′7.74″W

Baldwin County Board of Education
Location
Bay Minette, Alabama
United States
District information
TypePublic
MottoBuilding Excellence
GradesK-12
SuperintendentEddie Tyler
AccreditationSouthern Association of Colleges and Schools
Budget$201,000,000 (2007)
Students and staff
Students24,869
Teachers1,913
Staff3,400
Student–teacher ratio13:1
Other information
Websitebcbe.org

The Baldwin County Board of Education oversees most public schools in Baldwin County, Alabama, and is based in Bay Minette, Alabama. The Board serves the entire county. Over 30,000 students are within the supervision of the Board. 3,400 employees including 2,100 classroom teachers, serve the students at its campuses. The Board of Education is the largest single employer in Baldwin County.

History

In 2017, Gulf Shores approved a plan create a separate school district and began breaking away from Baldwin County School System.[1] The city of Gulf Shores broke away from the Baldwin County Public Schools system at the beginning of the 2019-2020 school year. The Gulf Shores City Schools operate 3 schools, one elementary, one middle, and one high school.

On March 15, 2022, Orange Beach voted on a plan to create their own city school district. n breaking away from Baldwin County School System.[2]

Board composition

The board is composed of seven members elected within districts throughout the county. The Superintendent of Education is appointed by the board and is not a member of it.[3]

Board members
  • David Cox, District 1
  • David Tarwater, District 2
  • Tony Myrick, District 3
  • Norman Moore, District 4, Board President
  • Robert Stuart, District 5,
  • Cecil Christenberry, District 6,
  • Shannon Cauley, District 7,Board Vice President

Superintendent

The Baldwin County Superintendent of Education is Eddie Tyler who has been with the school system in various positions for several years. Tyler served as a teacher and athletics coach before retiring to his current position. Robbie Owen of Rockwell Elementary in Spanish Fort, AL was temporarily appointed after the mid-year departure of Dr. Alan T. Lee due to misconduct.

Finances

The 2013-2014 budget is $305 million.[4] Economic difficulties confronted the Board beginning in 2008 when local and state tax revenue tanked and were exacerbated by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Citizens voted twice to approve an emergency one percent sales tax that has kept the system running. Among the innovations is the Digital Renaissance, an initiative that has put Mac Book laptops in the hands of more than 10,000 high school students and 700 high school teachers. Despite tight budgets the school voted to include $2.8 million in the 2014 budget to expand the program to grades 4 - 6.[4]

Baldwin County is one of the fastest growing school systems in Alabama but is ranked 110 out of 134 systems in total funding per student.[5] The system has averaged a growth rate of 2% per year and could soon become the second largest system in the state. Compared to 2012 one elementary school experienced a 10% increase in students.[6]

In 2015, the Board asked voters to approve an additional 8 mills in ad valorem taxes. Officials were criticized for spending in excess of $150,000 to promote passage of the new taxes.[5] The Alabama State Auditor asked the state Attorney General to convene a Grand Jury to examine the expenditures.[7] In April 2015 voters refused to approve the new taxes and defunded $14 million in taxes which were due for renewal.[8]

High School Academic Rankings

Out of 351 statewide high schools, the Baldwin County high schools received the following rankings for the school year 2014-2015:[9]

  • 11th- Fairhope HS
  • 21st- Spanish Fort HS
  • 61st- Daphne HS
  • 168th- Robertsdale HS
  • 207th- Foley HS
  • 244th- Baldwin County HS

School policies

In May 2011, the board decided to abolish corporal punishment,[10] and this change has been in effect since the 2011-2012 school year.[11]

Every student, including kindergarteners, receive some kind of computer or digital device for use in the classroom. The school board is part of the League of Innovative Schools/Digital Promise initiative and terms its local program as the Digital Renaissance.[12] The program began in 2013 with an initial payment of over $15 million paid to Apple. A $9.6 million loan supported the expansion of the program to all students in the 2014-2015 school year. Parents pay $64 per student annually for damage insurance. Since the 2016-2017 school year, the board has used Google Chromebook devices as a cheaper alternative and replacement to Apple's devices.[13]

Schools

High schools
Daphne High School
Spanish Fort High School

Middle schools
  • Bay Minette Middle School (Bay Minette)
  • Central Baldwin Middle School (Loxley)
  • Daphne Middle School (Daphne)
  • Elberta Middle School (Elberta)
  • Fairhope Middle School (Fairhope)
  • Foley Middle School (Foley)
  • Spanish Fort Middle School (Spanish Fort)

Elementary schools
  • Bay Minette Elementary School (Bay Minette) (K-3rd)
  • Bay Minette Intermediate School (Bay Minette)(4th-5th)
  • Daphne Elementary School East Campus (Daphne)(K-6th)
  • Daphne Elementary School North Campus (Daphne) (K-3rd)
  • Daphne Elementary School South Campus (Daphne) (4th - 6th)
  • Delta Elementary School (Whitehouse Fork)(K-6th)
  • Elberta Elementary School (Elberta) (K-3rd)
  • Elsanor Elementary School (Elsanor)(K-6th)
  • Fairhope Elementary School (Fairhope) (2nd-3rd)
  • Fairhope Intermediate School (Fairhope)(4th-5th)
  • Fairhope K-1 Center (Fairhope) (K-1st)
  • Foley Elementary School (Foley)(K-4th)
  • Foley Intermediate School (Foley)(4th-5th)
  • J.L. Newton Elementary School (near Fairhope)(K-8th)
  • Loxley Elementary School (Loxley)(K-6th)
  • Magnolia School (Magnolia Springs)(K-6th)
  • Perdido Elementary School (near Perdido)) (K-8th)
  • Pine Grove Elementary School (Pine Grove) (K-6th)
  • Robertsdale Elementary School (Robertsdale)(K-6th)
  • Rockwell Elementary School [Spanish Fort](K-5)
  • Rosinton Elementary School (Robertsdale)(K-6th)
  • Silverhill Elementary School (unincorporated Baldwin, near Silverhill)(K-6)
  • Spanish Fort Elementary/Middle School (Spanish Fort)(K-6th)
  • Stapleton School (Stapleton)(K-6th)
  • Summerdale Elementary School (Summerdale)(K-8th)
  • Swift Consolidated Elementary School (unincorporated Baldwin (Bon Secour))(K-5)

Former schools

Now in Gulf Shores City Schools:

References
  1. John Sharp (October 10, 2017). "Gulf Shores approves formation of city school system". Retrieved March 26, 2018.
  2. John Sharp (October 10, 2017). "Orange Beach votes to create city school system". Retrieved March 15, 2021.
  3. "Board of Education". Baldwin County Public Schools. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  4. Sally Pearsall Ericson (August 19, 2013). "Baldwin County schools' spending plan for 2014: $305 million". Retrieved November 15, 2013.
  5. Dumas, Michael (March 19, 2015). "Baldwin County tax vote: here are the financial arguments given by those for and against referendum". AL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  6. Sally Pearsall Ericson (November 18, 2013). "Baldwin County schools 'running out of space' and sales tax revenue 'maxed out,' financial officer says". AL.com. Retrieved November 18, 2013.
  7. Kirby, Brenden (March 27, 2015). "State auditor asks for grand jury probe of Baldwin's use of taxpayer funds on election". AL.com. Retrieved March 28, 2015.
  8. Sharp, John (April 9, 2015). "Baldwin County Commission, School Board to meet April 30 to discuss next steps following tax referendum defeat". AL.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015.
  9. EL. "High School Rankings". Schooldigger.com. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  10. Baggett, Connie (May 22, 2011). "Baldwin County school board OKs changes, start of progressive reforms". Press-Register. Mobile, AL.
  11. "Student Code of Conduct Handbook 2011-2012" (PDF). Baldwin County Public Schools. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 4, 2016. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
  12. "National Recognition". Baldwin County Public Schools. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
  13. Toner, Casey (March 8, 2015). "A look at the costs behind Baldwin County's Digital Renaissance". AL.com. Retrieved March 20, 2015.
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