Council will vote on board issue
By By Leada Gore, Hartselle Enquirer
Hartselle’s City Council is moving ahead with plans to vote on whether to set a referendum on a proposal to change the way school board members are chosen, in spite of one member’s misgivings.
Councilman Don Hall said he’s considering not voting to send a petition containing the names of 788 people on to the Morgan County Legislative Delegation for a referendum on the school board matter. The lack of a unanimous vote means the Delegation won’t set a date for a referendum.
In spite of that, the council has put the issue on its June 9 agenda. A unanimous yes vote would clear the way for a referendum later this year. The council meets at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Hall, who expressed his preference for an appointed school board during last year’s election, said he thinks the current systems best serves the students.
The petition was presented to the council last week. It’s not required by state law, but presenters said they felt it was important to show the council how many people wanted to have their say on the matter.
The city ran into a similar problem last year when former Councilman Bill Drake cast a dissenting vote against scheduling a referendum on a property tax increase to benefit schools. City officials were able to work around the problem then by changing the amount they requested, allowing them to set the referendum date without the Legislature.
No such solution seems to be available this time.
Mayor Dwight Tankersley said he supports an appointed school board but feels the people should be allowed to vote on the issue.
Hartselle has never held a referendum to change its appointed school board to an elected one. Currently, state law requires county school board to be elected. City school boards, such as Hartselle’s, are overwhelmingly appointed. Out of 66 city school systems in the state, 20 have an elected board. Five of those 20 – Cullman, Decatur, Florence, Haleyville, Huntsville and Scottsboro - are in North Alabama.
None of the city systems have an elected superintendents.
If a referendum is scheduled, it will cost the city between $12,000-$15,000.
