Alabama voters will decide next month whether to approve a constitutional amendment that would give county school boards the option to consolidate. The measure, known as HB 380, was sponsored by Rep. Terri Collins, a Republican from Decatur, and passed the House of Representatives 96-2 and unanimously in the Senate this spring.
According to Rep. Collins, the amendment would allow two or more county school boards to explore consolidation primarily to save money. In an interview Tuesday, Collins explained that the legislation would enable boards to combine without losing their existing system, particularly benefiting small counties with fewer than 1,000 students. She noted that this could allow them to put "less money in administration."
Lawmakers previously approved a separate bill that applied a similar principle to schools within a city. However, a constitutional amendment is required to permit the consolidation of school boards outside municipalities.
Should two county boards of education wish to merge, they would each need to approve merger resolutions. The specific details of consolidation, such as debt obligations, timelines, and operations, would be left to the discretion of the boards involved.
Before any county school board votes on a consolidation resolution, the State Board of Education would be required to publish the results of a study. This study, which evaluates the merger's impact on students, families, programming staff, and the various operations of the school district, must be released at least 30 days prior to the resolution's adoption. Under the bill, the State Board of Education would not have any other powers regarding the consolidation process.
There is also a mechanism for public input through a potential referendum. If 25% of registered voters submit a written protest within 30 days of the school boards authorizing a merger, the affected districts would be required to convene a referendum. In such a scenario, a consolidation could only proceed if a majority of voters in each affected county approve it, in addition to an overall majority of voters across all the affected counties.
Education groups have offered varied responses to the proposed amendment. The Alabama Education Association (AEA) has declined to take a public position. Allison King, government relations manager with the AEA, indicated that if there were less local decision-making in the process, their position might be stronger. However, she emphasized that the current parameters only allow consolidation if it is deemed in the best interest of the local area, requiring agreement from several entities.
The Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) has also chosen to remain neutral on the proposal. Chad Holden, executive director with the AASB, stated that the organization is "not aware of any county school system that is currently considering consolidation." While acknowledging that consolidation could reduce administrative costs, Holden cautioned that other expenses should also be considered, noting that "transportation costs might actually increase." He added that all potential costs would need to be thoroughly taken into consideration.
In contrast, the League of Women Voters of Alabama opposes the amendment. Kim Bailey, president of the League, cited concern over the high threshold required to set a referendum, which mandates 25% of electors. Bailey highlighted that often, voter turnout for such initiatives does not even reach that percentage, making it a significant barrier.
