State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey's contract renewal was a primary focus during Thursday's meeting of the Alabama State Board of Education (SBOE). The board voted 7-1 to approve a revised contract extending Mackey’s tenure through 2029 and including a $35,000 raise over his current salary, with District 1 Rep. Jackie Ziegler casting the lone dissenting vote.

The approved contract extension raises Mackey’s salary from the current $290,000 to $325,000, a reduction from the $90,000 raise proposed last month which drew public scrutiny. Explaining her no vote, Zeigler said her opposition stemmed not from Mackey's leadership but from procedural concerns, noting she received the revised contract at 7 p.m. the night before the vote. 

“I think the process of how the contract procedures were laid out could have been done in a much better way,” Zeigler said, adding that she had fielded hundreds of constituent complaints about the matter since last month. 

The contract issue prompted Vice President Dr. Tonya Chestnut to open the work session with a call for reform. "I believe it's prudent for us to establish comprehensive written guidelines for future contract processes," she said, stressing the need for clear roles, responsibilities and protocols to improve consistency and transparency. 

Federal Funding and Civil Rights Compliance

ESSER III/ARP Funds
During the board work session, Mackey discussed the sudden March 28 announcement from the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) canceling unspent ESSER III/ARP funds. The decision contradicted the USDOE’s earlier commitments allowing extensions through March 2026, placing roughly $9 million in jeopardy. A significant portion of those funds had been earmarked for Selma City Schools' construction project, which was delayed by tornado damage in 2023. 

Mackey said the state is preparing two separate appeals: one prioritizing Selma's construction needs and another seeking approximately $5 million for the Struggling Readers Beyond Grade Three initiative. The Legislature already has approved $10 million for third-grade reading initiatives, and through the appeal, the state hopes to increase this amount to $15 million. 

The additional funding would support a grant program for local education agencies with the greatest needs to provide targeted interventions such as tutoring and summer reading camps for fourth and fifth graders Mackey described as being “on the bubble,” scoring just above the minimum assessment cutoff score. He said an upcoming memorandum will provide details for highest-need schools.

Title VI Civil Rights Assurances
Mackey also updated the board on recent USDOE correspondence regarding Title VI civil rights assurances. He explained the state has received a request to sign new compliance documents related to an executive order on race-based admissions decisions.

Specifically, the executive order states "any violation of Title VI—including the use of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion ('DEI') programs to advantage one's race over another—is impermissible." The order also warns schools implementing such practices risk losing federal funding and could be subject to lawsuits and financial penalties. 

"We've read it every way—backwards, forwards—and we don't think it affects any of our schools at all because we don't use race-based decisions for admissions," Mackey explained, noting the order appears primarily geared toward higher education.

Complicating matters, Mackey shared the department received a follow-up email attempting to explain the previous correspondence regarding Title VI assurances but said that explanation differed from the original text. The deadline to sign the assurances has been extended by 10 days, and a legal review currently is underway by the department and the attorney general and governor’s offices. 

Gonsoulin, Purple Star Schools Celebrated

A highlight of Thursday’s meeting included recognition of Jefferson County Schools Superintendent Dr. Walter B. Gonsoulin, Jr., as the 2025 National Superintendent of the Year—the first Alabama superintendent to receive this prestigious honor. 

Since April is Military Student Month, the board also celebrated Alabama's Purple Star Schools program, which recognizes schools for exceptional commitment to supporting military-connected students and families. RELATED: Be sure to sign up for AASB's upcoming April 17 webinar on supporting military-connected students and families (contact your board secretary or AASB to register).

Other Board Action 

• The board unanimously approved adjustments to Praxis assessment cut scores for initial teacher certification, aligning Alabama’s cut scores with national standards outlined by the Education Testing Service.
• Three specific Praxis exams were updated: social studies content knowledge; technology education; and family and consumer Science.

Textbook Committee Appointments

• The board unanimously approved textbook committees for Arts and Social Studies, following last year’s approval of new courses of study standards for both subjects.
• Committee members were recommended by superintendents and deans of higher education; Gov. Kay Ivey and Mackey will appoint additional committee members.

Other Recognitions

• Mary Travis, a fifth-grade math teacher at Dr. Robert W. Gilliard Elementary School (Mobile County Schools), was honored as Alabama’s 2024-2025 National Milken Educator Award. Known as the “Oscars of Teaching,” the prestigious national award honors exemplary K-12 educators, providing recipients with an unrestricted $25,000 cash prize as well as membership in a nationwide network of education leaders working to shape the future of teaching.
• April 2025 was recognized as School Library Month

Additional Work Session Discussion

Educator Preparation Programs

• Auburn University at Montgomery (AUM) officials presented a program for teaching students with visual impairment. If approved, this would become the only such training initiative in Alabama and serve approximately 1,000 students statewide. The board next month will vote on a resolution authorizing review of the program.
• Huntington College highlighted its growing education programs, with 108 declared education majors, focusing particularly on rural education in the Black Belt region with support from Gov. Ivey and private philanthropy. The board next month will vote on a resolution to approve these programs.

America 250 Celebration

• Alabama will participate in the semiquincentennial celebration commemorating the 250th anniversary of American independence and marking the July 4, 1776, signing of the Declaration of Independence.
• The state will work with American Village on a full-year celebration starting this summer through July 4, 2026.

Looking Ahead

Next month’s SBOE meeting will feature a host of recognitions, including the 2025-2026 state teacher of the year, alternate and district teachers of the year, as well as celebrating Alabama’s Green Ribbon Award nominees. Following May's celebrations, Mackey said the board will shift gears to reviewing ACAP assessment scores in June and begin budget discussions for the next fiscal year in July and August.

Next SBOE Meeting and Work Session:

The board’s next regular meeting will take place during Thursday, May 14, 2025, at 10 a.m. in Montgomery with a work session immediately following:

• Gordon Persons Building Auditorium
• Livestream viewing: https://www.youtube.com/user/aldeptofed/live
• Archived meeting and work session recordings: https://www.alabamaachieves.org/state-board-of-education/meeting-videos/

Dana Vandiver
AASB Director of Public Relations