Alabama State Board of Education raises construction‑review threshold, confirms charter commission nominee; routine items pass

MONTGOMERY, Ala. — The Alabama State Board of Education on Aug. 13, 2022 adopted a change to the state administrative code that shifts which school construction projects receive a full review by the State Division of Construction Management, confirmed a charter‑commission nominee and approved routine business items.

The board voted unanimously to amend Alabama Administrative Code 290‑2‑2‑.01, the rule governing approval of school construction and capital improvements, raising the threshold for a full review to $750,000. The board also confirmed Ryan Kendall to the Alabama Charter School Commission after a vote in which one board member abstained; other routine votes on the agenda and prior minutes were approved without objection.

Board President Doctor Reynolds opened the meeting and members approved the agenda and the minutes of the July 14, 2022 meeting by raised hands. A resolution commending Christie Mead of the Albertville City School System as the recipient of the Robert L. Morton Award was adopted unanimously.

State Superintendent Eric Mackey explained the rule change to the board. "Any project that is $750,000 or more goes through the standard full review by the state division of construction management in the Department of Finance," Mackey said. He summarized that projects under the new $750,000 threshold would instead go through a shorter review focused on life, health and safety code compliance, whereas design details such as colors and other aesthetic choices would not require full DCM review for smaller projects.

Board members discussed the process for confirming appointments to the Alabama Charter School Commission after Senator Greg Reed submitted nominations for two seats. Board materials included resumes for the nominees. One board member said they would abstain from the confirmation vote, citing concerns about the nomination process and limited opportunity for interview or review. Board President Doctor Reynolds responded that, per legal advice, the board functions as the appointing authority when nominees are presented and that nominees with fewer than four votes would be returned to the nominating senator.

Ryan Kendall was selected in the confirmation vote. The board did not further amend the Charter School Commission law during the meeting; members said some of them had communicated with the legislature about potential statutory changes.

Votes at a glance

- Approve agenda for Aug. 13, 2022 board meeting — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Approve minutes from July 14, 2022 — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Adopt resolution commending Christie Mead (Robert L. Morton Award recipient) — outcome: approved (unanimous). - Adopt amended Alabama Administrative Code 290‑2‑2‑.01 (school facilities, approval of construction): motion to adopt passed (unanimous). Key effect: raises full‑review threshold from $500,000 to $750,000; projects at or above $750,000 receive full review by the State Division of Construction Management in the Department of Finance; projects below that threshold undergo a shorter review focused on life/health/safety code items. - Confirm Ryan Kendall to the Alabama Charter School Commission — outcome: approved; tally recorded in the meeting as six yes, one abstention; nominee declared selected.

Board actions described in the meeting were procedural confirmations and approvals; no new statutory language was enacted by the board itself during the session. Several members said they will continue to discuss legislative clarifications to the Charter School Commission appointment process outside the meeting.

The board adjourned after announcing its next meeting and work session for Sept. 8, 2022, at 10 a.m. in the Gordon Persons Building.