Dr. Mackey previews counseling plan, textbooks, contested teletherapy contract and school recognitions
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Summary
At the Jan. 8 work session, Dr. Mackey told the board the counseling plan and textbook proposals will return in February, a teletherapy mental-health contract (an Ohio vendor) survived a protest and the procurement office said it may move the contract to the legislature, and the department will invite top-performing and most-improved schools for February recognition.
Dr. Mackey used the board’s Jan. 8 off-site meeting in Mobile to preview several agenda items the department will return to the board with in February and March.
On counseling, he said the board will see an updated counseling plan at the February meeting after revisions following public comment and board edits. "You'll see another draft," he told members, and the department plans to circulate the updated document a week before the February meeting to allow time for review.
Dr. Mackey also said textbook proposals will return to the board with two or three options for consideration. "I'm really close," he said of bringing proposals back in February; if members request revisions, a vote could come later.
The department briefed members on a legislature-authorized teletherapy mental-health contract procured by state purchasing. Dr. Mackey said an Ohio-based vendor won the RFP but that a protest delayed progress; he told the board that the "procurement office has said that we can move forward with contract to the legislature." The vendor’s exact name is incomplete in the transcript; the department reported the protest was resolved but legislative approval remains the next step.
Dr. Mackey reviewed the department’s plans to recognize high-performing and most-improved schools, explaining the selection method: the department first identifies the top 25% of schools by ACAP performance and then narrows that group to the top 25 schools for recognition and to 25 most-improved schools. He noted the department will invite those schools to the February meeting for pictures and formal recognition.
He also noted that five Alabama schools had been nominated for the National Blue Ribbon program before that program was canceled this cycle; the department plans to prepare local resolutions and invite those five schools next month so they are acknowledged despite the national program’s pause. On athletics, Dr. Mackey said the department is exploring a voluntary return of the presidential physical fitness test in 2027–28 and is assessing how to collect statewide data without reintroducing extensive paper forms.
Dr. Mackey closed by previewing spring events tied to teacher-of-the-year celebrations and the USA/America 250 anniversary partnership, saying the department will consider a board-level resolution to mark the semicentennial.
