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Board approves FY2024 operating budget, administrative‑code updates and honors Athens CFO; JAG program reaches national milestone
Summary
The Alabama State Board of Education on Sept. 14 approved the Department’s FY2024 operating budget, adopted administrative‑code updates for teacher preparation and charter conversion operators, proclaimed two engagement months, and recognized a long‑serving school CFO.
The Alabama State Board of Education on Sept. 14 approved several administrative and recognition items, including the Department’s fiscal year 2024 operating budget, administrative‑code updates for alternative teacher preparation organizations and conversion charter operators, two month‑long proclamations, and an award recognizing a longtime school system chief financial officer.
Budget and code actions - The board voted to adopt the Alabama State Department of Education’s FY2024 operating budget. The chair announced a unanimous vote. (The transcript does not list the budget total.)
- The board announced intent and voted to repeal and replace Alabama Administrative Code rule 290‑3‑3‑0.6 pertaining to alternative teacher preparation organizations and to adopt amended Chapter 290‑3‑6 pertaining to charter schools. Staff said the charter‑school change adds a definition clarifying who qualifies as a charter operator for conversion charter schools overseen by local school boards. Both measures were adopted after motions and were recorded as carrying unanimously.
Proclamations and recognitions - The board adopted a resolution proclaiming September 2023 as Statewide Attendance Awareness Month. State officials highlighted that, by one recent analysis, Alabama’s chronic‑absenteeism slide since COVID has been smaller than most states.
- The board adopted a resolution proclaiming October 2023 as Statewide Parent Engagement Month.
- The board read and adopted a resolution commending Serena Owsley, chief school financial officer for the Athens City School System, as the recipient of the 2023 Robert L. Morton Award. The resolution—read at the meeting—recognized her 26 years in public education and cited professional service to peers and community. "I greatly appreciate this," Serena Owsley said when invited to speak.
Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG) milestone - Department staff said Alabama’s Jobs for Alabama Graduates (JAG) program met all national performance goals under revised metrics and achieved a new "6 of 6" standard after a national metric for connectivity (post‑graduation follow‑up) was added. Craig Collins, speaking at the meeting, said the state has expanded from 28 programs two years ago to 47 programs this year and that the additional metric measures specialist contact with graduates during the year after they finish high school.
Other housekeeping - The board approved the meeting agenda and minutes from the Aug. 10, 2023 meeting by unanimous voice votes.
Next meeting - The board announced the next Elementary and Secondary Education meeting will be held Oct. 12, 2023, at 10 a.m.; location given in the announcement as the Gordon Persons Building Auditorium.
Votes at a glance - Agenda approval: unanimous - Minutes (Aug. 10, 2023): unanimous - Resolution: Robert L. Morton Award for Serena Owsley: unanimous - Resolution: Statewide Attendance Awareness Month (September 2023): unanimous - Resolution: Statewide Parent Engagement Month (October 2023): unanimous - FY2024 operating budget: unanimous - Administrative Code repeal/adoption for alternative teacher preparation organizations: unanimous - Amended Chapter 290‑3‑6 (charter schools): unanimous
