Dr. Mark Sullivan stepped out of the commission chamber just before Thursday’s meeting of the Jefferson County Commission. The superintendent of Birmingham City Schools strolled to one of the placards that were set on easels and peeked at the other side.

“I just wanted to see what we’re getting,” he said with a wry smile.

Birmingham City Schools received $3,837,613.37 of the $18 million that is earmarked by the state for students in Jefferson County schools.

Sullivan and representatives of a few other school systems were on hand for the ceremonial disbursement of funds, which are based on the population of Jefferson County students attending the schools. Other school systems represented during the meeting and their allotments were:

• Leeds — $370,372.38.
• Jefferson County — $6,638,340.04.
• Vestavia Hills — $1,320,153.35.
• Hoover — $1,949,464.75.

“We at the County Commission are proud to be able to present these (checks) and continue our partnership because our school systems are our future,” Commission President Jimmie Stephens said. “Without working together and recognizing that and helping our school systems, we have no future. That’s our workforce. Those are the people that will be utilizing the resources we’re creating here in Jefferson County.”

School systems recently received their grades from the Alabama State Department of Education, and the Birmingham system improved from a 66 (D) to a 77 (C). Sullivan said the aim next year is to rise by three points to an 80, a grade of B.

“We had 15 schools three years ago that had a grade of an F,” he said. “We have one (Hayes) now. That means that it’s not pockets of schools. All of our district has been lifted. Next year, our goal is no F’s, no D’s and a B as our report card. That means we’ll have all of our schools with a C or higher.

“A few years ago, that was almost unthinkable when we’re talking about Birmingham City Schools,” the Birmingham superintendent said. “But I think that our teachers, our families, our community, they bought into (the slogan) that success can happen here. It should be expected no matter where you live. Whether you live in Gate City, whether you live in Harris Homes, whether you live in what they used to call a brickyard, or whether you come from Honduras, every child, regardless of circumstance, has an opportunity to excel to their fullest potential in Birmingham City Schools.”