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Alabama Republican Party Chairman John Wahl said he “100%” agrees with the characterization that the Alabama Education Association (AEA) would metaphorically “slit the throat” of Republican officeholders if it helped Democrats politically.

Wahl made the remarks during an appearance on WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show.”

Jackson posed the provocative metaphor about party politics within the Alabama Legislature’s composition and Wahl embraced it: “Oh, 100% look, let’s be honest about where we’re at this,” Wahl said.

“This is not my defense of NEA or AEA because I’m the guy who literally went through the party and passed a rule for the state party saying AEA and NEA could not donate to state school board candidates or County School Board candidates because [it’s] a conflict of interest, and I wanted them out of influence with our school,” Wahl said.

“Has that been enforced? It has been enforced. And I was the guy who passed that rule… This is not a love affair with the AEA, okay?”

Wahl defended his recent dialogue with AEA after news media sounded the alarm on new regulations that might target homeschool families. He said the point was to lock in a no-regulation pledge without giving anything in return.

“This is about honest conversation. I didn’t go in you, know, and have a grand meeting with them. I went, I called them, [and] said, ‘Look, you say you believe in parental rights – prove it. Like, let’s talk about this issue.’ This is something that’s concerning homeschool families. Good leadership goes out and fights for things before they become issues and get in front of it. And I got a commitment they wouldn’t do it. That’s a great deal.”

Wahl said if AEA backtracks, he will make it a point to tell lawmakers the group “lied to me,” and reminded listeners that AEA is boxed in by Republican supermajorities in both chambers.

“I think this puts them in an extremely bad position if they don’t do it. I will go down to the halls of Montgomery and I will talk to legislators about how they lied to me. So I do. I think they keep this not necessarily because they want to – but because they have to put the parties in a position where we have a super majority in both the House and the Senate of Alabama,” Wahl said.

“They have to work within that political structure, whether they like it or not, because that’s the current reality in Alabama. And I think when you look at it through that context, it puts them in a very hard position to try to now come back and lie once they’ve made that commitment.”

Grayson Everett is the editor in chief of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @Grayson270.

As Alabamians, we pride ourselves on being supportive of our neighbors, communities, and most importantly, our children. Doing the best we can for Alabama’s children is a topic that usually brings even the most polarized individuals together for the common good.

“A rising tide lifts all boats” is what we believe when efforts are debated to bring opportunity and hope to Alabama’s students. As the Executive Director of the Alabama Education Association, maintaining the status quo has never been the focus of our association. Our mission is to always innovatively advocate for the support of rank-and-file educators who dedicate their lives to educating the next generation. Surrounding Alabama’s children who attend our local schools with the most capable educators and professional staff helps prepare them to compete in a global market while pursuing the American Dream.

AEA has been very engaged in the debate on the CHOOSE Act, which was passed by both houses of the Alabama Legislature and signed by Gov. Kay Ivey last Thursday. While the bill could be better in some significant ways, our team helped lead the effort to improve it while substantively engaging with members of the Legislature. Sometimes, being at the table to make legislation more effective, especially when it focuses on the needs of students, is better than reflexively being in opposition.

AEA supports parents in making choices for their children that may impact the rest of their lives. Our association passionately advocates for all families to have that ability.

However, AEA also believes Education Trust Fund (ETF) resources should be used to provide more funding for pre-K enrichment, equip all public-school buses with air conditioning so our students don’t suffer during hot summer months, and ensure Alabama’s teachers are compensated at levels reflecting their critical importance to our children’s development.

Let’s focus on what matters most for our children enrolled in public schools to overcome the current challenges many school systems face. Gov. Ivey has boldly stated her desire to make Alabama one of the best states in America for teachers to work and live. Currently, Alabama teachers fall behind their neighboring peers in compensation, and now is the time to match their commitment to our children with better compensation.

AEA supports Gov. Ivey’s recommendation for a minimum compensation level for all teachers of $47,600. Raising the minimum salary for teachers to this level will aid in recruitment, retention, and longevity.

Today, more is expected of our teachers than ever before. Managing multiple classes, processing mountains of paperwork, and making schools safe places for children is not a job; it is a calling. Providing better compensation for our teachers is the right thing to do at the right time for so many unsung heroes in our Alabama classrooms.

Let’s do what is long overdue for those who give so much to our students. Let’s choose to do what is right by supporting Gov. Ivey’s push to prioritize teacher compensation while strengthening all of our local school systems. The real choice is ours to make.

Amy Marlowe is the Executive Director of the Alabama Education Association

The NEA/AEA will attempt to scuttle school choice forever.

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN, on Talk 99.5 from 10-11 a.m., and on Talk Radio 103.9 FM/730AM WUMP from noon to 1 p.m.

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These people are ensuring the Minor High School band director gets fired.

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 to 11 a.m.

7. Major League Baseball’s journey to Alabama will carry the super-catchy branding of “MLB at Rickwood Field: A Tribute to the Negro Leagues.” It’s pretty fitting that this unveiling had to be moved off the field to under the bleachers.

6. In Alabama, public loitering to beg for money and solicit work on the side of the road is now illegal. Let’s see if police actually enforce it.

5. The city of Huntsville is going pretty hard at Airbnb owners for not getting business licenses and paying lodging taxes. This is being met with claims that a certain alleged law-breaking city councilman is allegedly operating an unregistered Airbnb of his own.

4. ALGOP vs. AEA fight goes on, with ALGOP Chairman John Wahl saying this is about ending the “indoctrination” of children while AEA Executive Director Amy Marlowe says her group is focused on Alabama and adds 72% of their members are “identifying as conservative Republican voters.”

3. Subpeonas coming in Space Command HQ snub. U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers, chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, is calling out Gen, James Dickinson of the Space Command, “Your refusal to abide by the Committee’s repeated requests for responsive documents and transcribed interviews can only be considered obfuscation and purposeful delay.”

2. The Moms for Liberty/Kirk Cameron/Riley Gaines event at the Madison Public Library has reportedly been canceled by the library after claiming the facility cannot hold the 300 expected people. But a recent photo showing the facility can accommodate that crowd is calling that excuse into question. Legal action has been threatened and Cameron says this is part of a strategy to deny the authors access to public spaces.

1. Former President Donald Trump pleads not guilty to charges related to the 2020 election right before he prepares to head to Alabama for the ALGOP summer dinner which should raise a ton of money and make a lot of news.

Listen here:

Dale Jackson is a thought leader for Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

The Alabama Republican Party and Alabama Education Association leadership have become increasingly at odds with one another over rules and legislation that has been proposed recently.

The rule change at the center of the latest debate has been suggested by ALGOP Chairman John Wahl. The new rule, if enacted, would prohibit campaign contributions from state and national teachers groups for some GOP candidates.

“The Alabama Republican Party is strongly committed to protecting our children from indoctrination in the classroom by left wing groups like the NEA (National Education Association) and its affiliated organizations,” said Wahl. “Parents should decide what their children learn about divisive concepts, not education unions that have lost touch with the values of the American people.

“Transgender ideology and other woke policies have no place in our schools, period.”

Wahl said that he wants Alabama educational representatives to be beholden to parents, not special interest groups.

“It’s a blatant conflict of interest, and something that needs to be addressed,” he said. “Our elected school representatives must be responsible to Alabama parents, not special interest groups. My proposal would stop this conflict of interest, and is no different than the state’s prohibition on members of the Alabama Public Service Commission accepting donations from the utilities they regulate.

“The bottom line is it’s time to get woke agendas out of our curriculum and out of our classrooms.”

In the past 24 hours alone though the argument has increased with AEA Executive Director Amy Marlowe disputing Wahl’s “false accusations.”

“It is irresponsible of ALGOP Chairman John Wahl to make false accusations of the Alabama Education Association’s standards and mission,” she said. “The ‘A’ in AEA stands for Alabama – and we take pride in Alabama’s values. Our voluntary membership comprises almost 90,000 Alabamians, with 72% identifying as conservative Republican voters.

“Our focus is on education with no partisan perspective or fringe ideologies. We do not feed into the narrative of the baseless culture wars expressed in Wahl’s press release – and we ask that he or other party leaders bring forth any person who has said they have been lobbied by AEA advocating for the concepts referenced in his release.

“Republican leaders have expressed a desire for the party to be focused on the ALGOP’s core values and the upcoming 2024 election. As always, AEA will continue with its primary mission to advocate for all Alabama teachers and educators.”

Wahl, however, questioned if the organization was truly interested in promoting “Alabama values.”

“It’s ironic that the AEA would take offense to my comments regarding woke policies, considering they are affiliates of the NEA (National Education Association), who make no secret of their promoting transgender and woke policies,” he said. “If they are serious about supporting Alabama values, they are free to disassociate from the NEA at any time.

“It’s also important to remember that just a few weeks ago, they sent an update to their members promoting that a divisive concepts bill was defeated, and bragging about how they killed school choice, and opposed the Republican-led effort by the state legislature to cut the state grocery tax.”

Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

7. A black former President of the United States and a black U.S. senator are engaged in a public spat over whether America is inherently racist or the land of opportunity.

6. Some good news for former President Donald Trump on the legal front: a two-year-long investigation into the tax valuation of a Westchester County golf club has been closed. This is part of the American Left and their lawfare against Donald Trump. Trump is almost out of the clear with only 30-plus felony charges pending.

5. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), once again, says that he will not drop his hold on DoD promotions until the Pentagon either follows the law or changes the law on taxpayer-funded abortions. His fellow Republican senators are not thrilled but some support him and others are following his lead. Either way, promotions can still be voted on individually.

4. U.S. Sen. Katie Britt (R-Montgomery) has been named to be an advisor to the Senate Republicans’ agenda-setting team. Britt says her goal has always been to, “ensure Alabama has the best possible seat at the table in the Senate, so our state’s people, values, and interests can be represented effectively and strongly.”

3. Criticism of programming of the state-funded Alabama Department of Archives and History is being likened to “fascism” by Maigen Sullivan, who hosted the “Invisible No More: Alabama’s LGBTQ+ History.” The reality is that citizens are tired of funding liberal social engineering with their tax dollars, government employees refuse to see this.

2. The AEA says it won the legislative session, they are right. In their latest newsletter, the teachers union takes credit for killing REAL school choice, weakening charter school expansions, and making you pay more for groceries. Teachers did get big raises though, even as fewer kids are reading at grade level than last year. Take a bow, guys.

1. President Joe Biden is the “Big Guy” he knows it, you know it, the FBI knows it, and now the American media is finally starting to take notice of it. When Biden was asked, “Why did the Ukraine FBI informant file refer to you as the ‘Big Guy,’ President Biden? Why is that term continuously applied?” by New York Post reporter Steven Nelson, he tersely responded, “Why do you ask such a dumb question?” If a certain previous president did this, the media would be calling it an attack on the First Amendment and call to violence.

Listen:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.

7. A record low for Alabama’s unemployment rate is set with a record low 51,462 people listed as unemployed. Labor participation is an issue but people looking for work have options. Alabama Department of Labor Secretary Fitzgerald Washington is touting the increase in wages, “Wages have yet again set a new record high, rising by more than $30 a week since last month alone.”

6. Of course, threats are why this weird sex event for kids at a local library was canceled. Who made the threats? Shut up, there were threats, OK. Birmingham PD says they were not told of threats stemming from the event.

5. The calendar has snuck up on lawmakers again, the tax cut on the sales tax on food and tax rebate attempt to get over the finish line.

4. Will politics, abortion, or national security decide where the Space Command HQ is based? Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall said the decision will totally be about national security, like he would say anything else, and state laws and political battles over abortion will not be included in the decision. The concern is real, and now Republican and Democratic legislative leaders in Montgomery are making a video about it.

3. Advocates for school choice in Alabama are lamenting the fact that AEA is flexing its muscle through its wallet. Emily Schultz, executive director of the pro-charter school Alabama Families for Great Schools, noted that AEA dollars are flowing to Republicans who oppose school choice while a clear majority (65%) of Republican voters within the state favor school choice.

2. U.S. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) is in the 2024 presidential GOP primary race and former President Donald Trump is not happy with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Trump says, “Tim is a big step up from Ron DeSanctimonious, who is totally unelectable.” Gee, I wonder if anyone can figure out who Trump is worried about through his world-class poker face.

1. The state’s online sale tax is making a ton of money for Alabama with $634 million in new revenue being collected in 2022. Complaints are starting to surface that local education is missing out on some of this funding because of how the sales tax dollars are allocated. Also local sales taxes are higher than the online tax which is putting physical stores at a disadvantage.

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Political action committees have been a standard part of the legislative process for more than a century.

While it is standard for PACs to lobby politicians, these groups sometimes wield enough power to convince legislators to vote a way that is in line with the organization’s goals or beliefs. Most of the time this power comes from monetary donations to the legislators’ campaigns.

The Yellowhammer State is no different, especially when it comes to the Alabama Education Association (AEA). The group has contributed massive amounts of money to Republicans and Democrats throughout the state for years.

And, it’s not unusual for one party to receive more money than the other from the AEA, but a recent hot-button issue – school choice – has found more money going to Republican legislators over Democrats by a 2-to-1 margin.

In a recent election cycle, Republicans received $1,066,475.69, while Democrats collected $519,147.22.

Now, many conservatives are concerned the AEA is exercising its power over Republican legislators and would lead them to vote against school choice legislation.

State Rep. Terri Collins (R-Decatur), who has introduced school choice legislation, wants to address “funding issues.”

“I would like to see us maybe continue to push ahead with funding issues that have been needed for charters or for the scholarships and grow the choices that we have there,” said Collins, a member of the House Education Policy Committee. “But also really fund and be smart with our funding to make sure that we are implementing the Literacy and the Numeracy acts all over to make sure that we’re growing that, that we continue to fund our First Class Pre-K because we know it makes a difference, we saw great gains in our literacy with our students, and that needs to continue.

“It’s just a continuous push forward.”

Emily Schultz, executive director of the pro-charter school Alabama Families for Great Schools, said while the money flowing from the AEA to Republicans can’t be regulated, it is clear that the vast majority of Republican voters within the state favor school choice.

“We can’t control how much AEA gives to Republican candidates or whether or not Republican lawmakers accept contributions from AEA,” said Schultz. “What we do know is that 65% of Republican voters are supportive of school choice and we trust lawmakers to be responsive to their constituents.

“The public charter school sector is focused on creating more high quality options for Alabama families and empowering parents to make choices that are right for their kids.”

Others are not so convinced about school choice legislation, citing the monetary cost of the legislation, the possibility of massive amounts of funding being pulled from the states education trust fund, and also the new problems it could create for educators in the state.

The AEA’s Allison King said the proposed school choice legislation creates a “lack of accountability and oversight” and also allows for the possibility of fraud by parents and the “educational venders” they choose.

Dr. Arthur Watts, finance director of the Montgomery City School System, is also among those concerned.

“This bill could cost $600 million,” Watts said. “The typical teacher costs about $70,000 -t hat includes $10,000 in benefits. Just one-fourth of that, $150 million, divided by $70,000 would be a loss of over 2,080 teachers. Half that would be $300 million – that would be a loss of 4,160 teachers.

“If it cost all of that $600 million, that would be a loss of 8,320 teachers.”

Perhaps most succinctly, Eagle Forum Director Becky Gerritson said, “Education dollars should go to educate the children.”

Republicans who received the most money from the AEA in 2022 
1. State Sen. Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) – $50,000*-Defeated, however, still received the most money from the AEA out of both parties in 2022.
2. State Senate District 12 candidate Keith Kelley (R-Anniston) – $45,000
3. State Sen. Donnie Chesteen (R-Geneva) – $35,000
4. State Rep. Mike Jones (R-Andalusia) – $35,000
5. State Rep. Gil Isbell (R-Gadsden) – $34,228.42
6. State Sen. Randy Price (R-Opelika) – $32,604.66
7. State House District 40 candidate Julie Michelle Borelli (R-Anniston) – $30,000
8. State House District 15 candidate Leigh Hulsey (R-Helena) – $30,000
9. State Sen. Chris Elliott (R-Josephine) – $30,000
10. State Rep. Phillip Pettus (R-Killen) – $30,000
11. State Rep. Tommy Hanes Jr. (R-Bryant) – $25,000
12. State House District 20 candidate James Lomax (R-Huntsville) – $25,000
13. State Sen. Tim Melson (R-Florence) – $25,000
14. State Rep. Debbie Wood (R-Valley) – $25,000
15. Former State Sen. Cam Ward (R-Alabaster) – $25,000
16. State Rep. Proncey Robertson (R-Mount Hope) – $20,000
17. State Rep. Cynthia Lee Almond (R-Tuscaloosa) – $20,000
18. State Rep. Corey Harbison (R-Cullman) – $20,000
19. State Sen. Andrew Jones (R-Centre) – $20,000
20. State Rep. Jamie Kiel (R-Russellville) – $20,000
21. State Rep. Ritchie Whorton (R-Owens Cross Roads) – $20,000

* – lost his race

Democrats who received most money from AEA in 2022

1. State Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D-Mobile) – $45,000
2. State Rep. Dexter Grimsley (D-Newville) – $30,000
3. Former State Sen. Hank Sanders (D-Selma) – $30,000
4. State Senate District 56 candidate Ontario Tillman (D-Bessemer) – $30,000
5. State Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) – $25,000
6. State Sen. Linda Coleman-Madison (D-Birmingham) – $25,000
7. State Sen. Merika Coleman (D-Pleasant Grove) – $25,000
8. State House District 57 candidate Patrick Sellers (D-Birmingham) – $20,000


Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News.

7. The Inflation Reduction Act was a lie, that becomes more apparent every day. It did not reduce inflation and the green subsidies could now cost $1.2 trillion or 3 times what Democrats claimed.

6. Alabama U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) is reintroducing his ban on men competing in women’s sports. In good news on this front, the official body overseeing track and field competitions banned men from women’s sports and taxpayer-funded liberal activist group, National Public Radio, has been forced to retract an errant story claiming there is “limited scientific evidence of physical advantage” for biological males over females.

5. As predicted here, Alabama was bounced out of the NCAA Tournament during the Sweet 16 after losing to No. 5 seed San Diego State 71-64. Star Brandon Miller is expected to go pro but believes Alabama is the best team in the nation and knives are out for Nate Oats.

4. At the end of last week, it was reported that Space Command may not come to Alabama after all because of pure politics. Alabama’s delegation and north Alabama leadership have punched back and let it be known that the fight is on.

3. Former President Donald Trump held his first big event of the 2024 election season over the weekend in Waco, Texas, and the media predictably is unhappy about it for many reasons. Meanwhile, new polling shows Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in the up and tied in two key early states.

2. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals has overturned the murder conviction of Huntsville Police Office William Darby on a technicality after he shot a suicidal man in the face . Former U.S. Attorney Jay Town responded by saying, “(f)olks should take caution to declare ‘victory and vindication’ here. Another trial jury looms.”

1. When Republicans took over the Legislature, they stripped the Alabama Education Association of its ability to deduct dues directly from teachers’ paychecks, this weakened the AEA significantly. Now, while the battle of school choice and many education issues loom, State Sen. Shay Shelnutt (R-Trussville) has introduced a bill to give the AEA the power to raise money with paycheck deductions again.

LISTEN HERE:

Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 5-9 a.m. weekdays on WVNN and on Talk 99.5 from 10 a.m. to noon.

7. There’s yet another variant

6. $10 billion more for COVID-19 spending; Many upset we aren’t spending more globally

5. Teacher wants the whole district to take needless precautions for her

4. Push to increase defense budget

3. Blanchard alleges that Ivey has a ‘liberal record’

2. Brooks is focusing on RINOs

1. Biden deems Putin a war criminal; U.S. sending in tanks

Local board of education employee Mary Crosby earlier this week received a cease and desist letter from the Alabama Education Association (AEA) after she took to social media to express her dissent with the National Education Association (NEA) and the union’s official position regarding Critical Race Theory (CRT).

Crosby, on Facebook, shared an article published by Fox News which reported that the NEA’s official position regarding Critical Race Theory is that the controversial academic concept is “reasonable and appropriate” to incorporate in social studies curriculum. In her post, the North Alabama educator acknowledged that the AEA and NEA aren’t entirely the same entities, but noted that dues payments may be shared between the local, state and national organizations.

Nearly two weeks later, Crosby received a letter from the AEA general counsel threatening to take legal action against her if she failed to retract her comments.

“I received the cease and desist letter from AEA in my office mailbox,” said Crosby. “I learned later that our UniServe Director had been in contact with my superintendent advising him to ‘inform me to stop campaigning and publishing false information’ and my superintendent had also received a copy of this letter.” (more…)

The AEA is back, baby!

That’s what the Alabama Education Association and their part-time political commentators will tell you.

Probably worth pointing out that AEA has won the 2021 session. Could be a sign of things to come. #alpolitics

— Josh Moon 🇺🇸 (@Josh_Moon) May 18, 2021

The AEA retweeted that tweet.

So, what does that victory look like? The AEA has some thoughts. (more…)

7. Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council issues silly report

6. Tuberville: We’re ready for U.S. Space Command (more…)

The Alabama Education Association (AEA) board of directors on Monday announced the unanimous selection of Amy Hubbard Marlowe to serve as executive director of the state’s de facto teachers union.

Marlowe has been serving as AEA interim executive director since January 2019.

She reacted to being appointed on a permanent basis in a written statement.

“I appreciate the vote of confidence the AEA Board has given me,” stated Marlowe. (more…)

The global coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on our way of life, our economy, our politics, and with school about to start for most Americans, it is about to change how that institution works as well.

Reportedly, one-third of Alabama’s school systems will start fully online and two-thirds of schools will open with in-class options.

Each school system has these options at their disposal, and the local systems should do what they feel is best.

Parents, however, are at the mercy of elected officials and school administrators who more often than not will defer to the whims of the all-powerful education associations that still dominate local, state and federal elections. (more…)

For decades, the single most powerful entity in Alabama politics was the Alabama Education Association (AEA), which represents teachers’ interests across the state.

The organization rose to prominence in the early 1970s under its former head Paul Hubbert. However, the AEA’s influence waned after the 2010 elections, as Republicans took control of the Alabama Legislature for the first time since Reconstruction.

However, during an appearance on Huntsville radio WVNN’s “The Dale Jackson Show,” State Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur), the chairman of the Senate Finance and Taxation Education Committee, predicted that could soon be changing.

(more…)

7. Trouble in Alabama for the DNC

6. Democrats really want the power to punish their foes (more…)

The Alabama Supreme Court has dealt school choice opponents a significant blow in their efforts to keep charter schools out of the state.

In an opinion with a wide-ranging impact released on Friday, the court cleared the way for the opening of the first charter school within Montgomery County.
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7. Montgomery County Schools joins Baldwin County in wanting to keep kids from transferring out of failing schools — The AEA wants to help

— Board members passed the resolution by a 5-1 margin, asking lawmakers to repeal the Alabama Accountability Act, which the Alabama Education Association says has cost the district $5.8 million since 2013 out of a budget of over $200 million a year.

— Some sanity was expressed by the vice president of the school board, Lesa Keith, who said, “When you have a government giving you a chance to come out of poverty to be a part of the learning system, would you not buy into that? And why would a board of education try and stop that?”

6. ICE responds to Democrats and the media claiming Latinos fear the immigration enforcement agency will be at polling places for some reason (more…)

According to a report by WSFA, the Montgomery County Board of Education on Wednesday passed a resolution calling for the repeal of the Alabama Accountability Act by the state legislature.

This act allows students in a failing school to transfer to a non-failing school using state tax dollars.

In a 5-1 vote that was supported by the Alabama Education Association (AEA), Montgomery Public Schools’ board said that it “strongly recommends to the Alabama legislature that the Alabama Accountability Act be repealed when the legislature meets in regular session in 2019.”

However, the lone dissenting voter and board vice president Lesa Keith expressed how misguided that recommendation is. (more…)

Yellowhammer News on Wednesday learned that Dr. Brenda Pike, the executive director of the Alabama Education Association (AEA), is leaving the organization.

Pike has landed a new job in the same role for the Virginia Education Association after a national search. She will begin working at the VEA on October 29.

Per Ashley McLain, a public relations director for AEA, Pike has family in the Virginia area and that motivated the move. McLain emphasized that the AEA wishes Pike nothing but the best and is happy for her being able to spend more time with her family. (more…)

Last week, the Alabama Education Association (AEA) teachers’ union lost a pivotal case at the Alabama Supreme Court. Specifically, the court dismissed the AEA’s challenge of interim State Education Superintendent Dr. Ed Richardson’s authority to close and sell the Montgomery Public School (MPS) system’s underutilized property.

To recap, elements of the MPS system have been under intervention by the State Board of Education since last year because of the system’s “low performing” grade. That included struggling finances, lackluster standardized test scores, poor attendance and student transportation safety concerns.

Under Richardson and his predecessor, former State Education Superintendent Michael Sentance, the state school board sought to implement a series of reforms to the Montgomery system, including staff reductions, the closure of underutilized schools and the sale of properties, including the Georgia Washington Middle School to the nearby Pike Road school system.

(more…)