Board Of Education Receives Superintendent Finalists

VESTAVIA HILLS, AL — In its final meeting of 2017, the Vestavia Hills Board of Education made strides in two of its most pressing issues: school restructuring and its superintendent search.

The board released its list of the final four candidates for the superintendent position. The list was presented by Terry Jenkins with the Alabama Association of School Boards, who has been supervising the superintendent search since September. The finalists are Ronnie Dotson of Carter County, Kentucky; Michael Freeman of Sylacauga; Patrick Martin of Gardendale and Shawn Wightman of Marysville, Michigan.

The board also discussed the plan for restructuring the school district to redirect some of the overcrowding in the schools.

Interim Superintendent Charles Mason announced his support for "Option 9" on Dec. 6, which would involve making Pizitz a ninth grade-only campus. The plan is contingent on a federal judge's approval of the system's purchase of Gresham Elementary.

The system conducted a survey to gain public opinion on the option. The results showed that 83 percent of respondents are in favor of the new plan to the one the board previously approved in April.

The board voted to approve the plan, though the full plan may not be fully prepared by the time the system selects a new superintendent.

Photo Courtesy of Vestavia Hills High School