Virginia Martin, Author at BirminghamWatch - Page 339 of 480
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Virginia Martin

Reading Proficiency, Third Grade Holdback Bill Approved in House Committee

A bill approved Wednesday by a House committee would provide resources to get more Alabama third graders reading proficiently and requires that those who aren't be held back. Bill sponsor Rep. Terri Collins, R- Decatur, said during a public hearing: “I’ve read estimates that only 35% of our children are reading proficiently, that is 65% that are not. So I hope that shows the urgency of which we need to deal with this issue.” The state Department of Education estimates it would cost about $90 million annually to implement the proposal, according to a fiscal note on the bill. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Formerly Imprisoned Lawmaker’s Campaign Finance Report Raises Questions

State officials have questions about a campaign finance report filed this month by former Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon, who spent three months in federal prison last year for using campaign money on personal expenses. On April 2, Hammon turned in late his 2017 campaign finance report, a document required of public officials that details spending from their campaign funds. The report lists one expenditure: $52,533 to Hammon in January 2017. Under the explanation of expense section of the form, “to be determined” was typed. “That’s a problem,” Alabama Secretary of State John Merrill told Alabama Daily News when asked about the report. He said his office would reach out to Hammon. Hugh Evans, general counsel for the Secretary of State, said he is attempting to speak with Hammon’s attorney. “I don’t know what the story is, but you can’t use campaign funds for your personal use,” Evans said. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News

Bill Would Put Charter Funding on Par With Traditional Schools

MONTGOMERY — Legislation in the Alabama Senate would prevent local school systems from limiting the flow of per-student tax dollars to public charter schools. Senate Bill 311 is sponsored by Senate President Pro Tem Del Marsh, R-Anniston, who said it clarifies that money for a child’s education stays with that child, no matter what school he or she attends. Marsh was the sponsor of the 2015 legislation that allowed for the creation of charter schools. “It was always intended that on a local level the local funds that were allocated per child would also follow the student to the public charter school,” Marsh said this week. Marsh said some existing public school systems have failed to cooperate with the charter school law. Read more.

by Caroline Beck, Alabama Daily News

Bassmaster Classic Returns to Birmingham and Lake Guntersville

Eleven days after announcing a name for the new downtown stadium, the executive director of the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Center was again at a podium, this time announcing that the 50th Bassmaster Classic presented by Dick’s Sporting Goods will be in Birmingham and on Lake Guntersville on March 6-8, 2020. “I want to have announcements every day. I'll never complain about that,” Snider said after an afternoon press conference. “But yeah, this is exciting.” Bruce Akin, CEO of Bass Anglers Sportsman Society, said it is more than appropriate for the company to bring its “super bowl of fishing” to Alabama, the state where B.A.S.S. was born. This year’s announcement is a bit later than normal, he said, as organizers wanted to be sure construction on the Interstate 59/20 bridge through downtown Birmingham would be done in time. This will be the 13th time that Alabama has hosted this event out of 50. Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

All Aboard!: JeffCo Will Pay to Start Bus Service to Several Small Cities

Jefferson County is picking up the tab for bus service for some unserved areas through the end of the current fiscal year. Commissioners passed a resolution at their meeting on Thursday to provide transit for people living in Adamsville, Forestdale, Brighton, Lipscomb, Fultondale, Gardendale and Fairfield. “This isn’t about MAX (Metro Area Express),” Commission President Jimmie Stephens said. “This is about citizens and being able to serve the citizens. These citizens in these communities have been bypassed and the doors were shut. We’re going to give them the opportunity to receive the benefits from MAX to go to the doctor, to go to and from work, and to go to and from getting their medication. If they utilize this, it will be $100,000 very well spent.” Read more.

by Solomon Crenshaw Jr.

In Teacher Shortage, Educators Support Bill for Non-Certified Teachers

Roanoke City Schools Superintendent Chuck Marcum needs more teachers. Specifically, he needs more educators who are certified in the subjects they’re teaching. But during a teacher shortage that some say has reached a crisis level in parts of the state, Marcum and others hope lawmakers will let them keep non-certified educators in their classrooms longer. “The education colleges are turning out great teachers, just not enough of them,” Marcum said Friday. “Even if we hired all of them, it wouldn’t be enough.” Hundreds of schools each year hire educators on a one-year emergency contract. The educators must have a bachelor’s degree, but no education training or experience. After that year, the individual can’t have another emergency contract with a school anywhere in the state. Senate Bill 304 would change the word “emergency” to “urgent” and allow the contracts for up to six years. Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, said he sponsored the bill after watching his daughter’s high school struggle to fill a physics teaching position. His bill would make it easier for professionals with real-world experience and ability, but not a certificate, teach for longer, Chambliss said. Read more.

by Mary Sell, Alabama Daily News
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