What/who is the problem at the Bessemer School Board?
To begin with, the Bessemer City Schools Board of Education has been under the authority of the State of Alabama Department of Education since August 2024.
Last Thursday, January 29, 2026, it was reported that the Bessemer School Board had been suspended by the Alabama State Department of Education.
Since the August 2024 takeover, the Bessemer School Board has not been allowed to make decisions concerning the operation, personnel, or finances of the Board of Education.
The School Board only served in an advisory capacity and met only when approved by the state superintendent.
It has now been determined that the advisory meetings “offer no meaningful input.”
The suspension of the School Board is the result of the board’s ongoing departure in the function of their duties and responsibilities.
Bessemer City Councilman Chester W. Porter had this to say:
“As elected officials—it is imperative to have a clear and precise understanding of our role—daily administrative duties do not fall within our responsibilities, but rest with the individual hired/elected to perform them. Unfortunately, it appears that this distinction is not fully understood by a person on the board. As a result, it affects the entire Bessemer School Board.”
What/who is the problem at the Bessemer School Board?