After nearly a decade, the sitting members of the Cullman County Board of Education will no longer have the authority to appoint the superintendent position. On Tuesday in a 59.63 percent (13,851) to 40.37 percent (9,376) vote, the majority of Cullman County voters chose to return to the minority of public school districts in the United States that select the superintendent through a countywide election.

Local amendment 1 — sponsored by Representative Corey Harbison — came as a response to community dissatisfaction over the decision of the CCBOE’s request to state legislature to allow them to appoint its superintendent without a popular vote in 2013. Opponents to this decision say that by electing the superintendent, the community is able to hold them more accountable, those in favor say point to the fact the overwhelming majority of school districts in the U.S. favor appointing their superintendents and the districts rising trends in test scores and graduation rates as evidence that the system works.

Currently Alabama and Florida are the only two states that allow elections to decide who will hold a county school board’s superintendent position. Between the two states a total of 77 out of the nation’s 13,800 public school districts elect their superintendents. The most recent district to make the change to an appointed system comes from Autauga County whose first appointed superintendent was hired in January of 2021. In October, the Elmore County Board of Education submitted a request to their local legislatures to allow for a vote to change from an elected position to an appointed one.

Current CCBOE Superintendent Shane Barnette will remain in his position as he finishes out the term of his contract, and voters will decide who they would like to see hold the position during the 2024 general election cycle.

“While disappointed in tonight’s decision, and concerned about what it may mean for the future of our system, I completely respect the vote of our citizens. We will continue to work hard to do what’s right for our children and focus on the continued growth and improvement of our school system,” Barnette said in an official statement sent to The Times.

Those wishing to run for the position will need to meet the minimum requirements outlined in Alabama’s Code Section 16-9-2 that would require only a certificate of administration — experience in an administrative role is not required — and would not require the person seeking election to be a resident of Cullman County.

Alabama Code Section 16-9-2 reads:

Qualifications of superintendent.

(a) The county superintendent of education shall be chosen for his general fitness and character and shall be a person of recognized ability as a school administrator. No person shall be eligible for appointment by any county board of education or for any political party nomination, or for election to the office of county superintendent of education unless such person:

(1) Holds an Alabama certificate in administration and supervision based upon requirements established by the State Board of Education for such certificate;

(2) Has had not less than five years of experience in public school work at the time he assumes office;

(3) Submits proof to the State Superintendent of Education of three years of successful educational experience as a teacher, principal, supervisor, superintendent, educational administrator or instructor in school administration during the five years next preceding his appointment or election;

(4) Submits proof to the county board of education that he holds a degree from a recognized four-year college or university; and

(5) If such person is to be appointed by the county board of education, submits proof to the county board that he is knowledgeable in school administration.

(b) A county superintendent of education, whether elected or appointed, need not be a resident or qualified elector of the county in which he is to serve. In every county where the county superintendent of education is elected by popular vote, he shall be nominated and elected in the same manner as other county officers are nominated and elected under the state election laws.

Barnette has not indicated whether he will seek to be elected in 2024, but when asked if there were any existing or upcoming projects that Barnette would like to see accomplished before the next election, he said: “We have a lot to do over those two years. More than anything just to create more opportunities for young people to be successful.”