MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Education Association (AEA) supports the decision by Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of the Birmingham City Schools to retire. It was Witherspoon who, faced with his imminent termination by the former members of the board, took actions to ensure a state take-over to save his own job – costing hundreds of rank-and-file employees to lose their jobs or suffer significant reductions in pay.
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Education Association (AEA) supports the decision by Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of the Birmingham City Schools to retire. It was Witherspoon who, faced with his imminent termination by the former members of the board, took actions to ensure a state take-over to save his own job – costing hundreds of rank-and-file employees to lose their jobs or suffer significant reductions in pay.
MONTGOMERY – The Alabama Education Association (AEA) supports the decision by Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of the Birmingham City Schools to retire. It was Witherspoon who, faced with his imminent termination by the former members of the board, took actions to ensure a state take-over to save his own job – costing hundreds of rank-and-file employees to lose their jobs or suffer significant reductions in pay.
Contact: Dr. Gregory Graves, Associate Executive Secretary, AEA
(334) 834-9790 October 8, 2014 AEA Statement Regarding the Resignation of Birmingham City Schools Superintendent MONTGOMERY The Alabama Education Association (AEA) supports the decision by Craig Witherspoon, Superintendent of the Birmingham City Schools to retire. It was Witherspoon who, faced with his imminent termination by the former members of the board, took actions to ensure a state take-over to save his own job costing hundreds of rank-and-file employees to lose their jobs or suffer significant reductions in pay. It was also Witherspoon who many believe was responsible for bringing Tisha Nguyen to Birmingham for the purpose of aiding in the implementation of transitional charter schools. Why he recommended Nguyen and her compatriot, Vanessa Peterson, individuals with no real public school experience and who were unable or unwilling to gain Alabama certification, for high level administrative positions is still a mystery. Witherspoons departure does not resolve many of the lingering issues that will remain long after he is gone. The Birmingham City School Board still owes the parents, taxpayers, and citizens of Birmingham a detailed and thorough investigation and explanation of everything that has happened in Birmingham in the past few months. AEA Associate Executive Secretary Dr. Gregory T. Graves said, While I appreciate the boards decision to appear harmonious with Dr. Witherspoon throughout his tenure, the facts clearly show that the Birmingham City Board neglected the checks and balances process. Time and time again, the board appeared to serve as a rubber stamp to Craig Witherspoon and his initiatives. This passive approach allowed him to hire obviously unqualified individuals as senior administrators. It was recently discovered that these employees were given pay increases that were not board approved. There are also documented accusations that these administrators were allowed, with knowledge, to spend Title I money for illegal purposes, and to benefit the friends and former employers of those individuals. The Board then accepted what appeared to be a plan for a cover-up using outside funds without demanding a forensic audit and a thorough investigation. Information will be brought forth in the coming weeks regarding the actions of individual board members and the board as a whole. Graves further added, answers will be given either voluntarily or though the legal process. AEA calls on the Birmingham Board of Education to use the three months that Witherspoon is still in office to conduct a thorough and intensive investigation of how Tisha Nguyen and Vanessa Peterson were hired in Birmingham, what they have done while they were here, and if any laws were violated by their conduct. Its encouraging that the community has shown great interest in finding out how and where the Title 1 funds were improperly spent; however, the Boards lack of concern is disheartening. Graves went on to caution, Witherspoons opponents in the community should not celebrate. Instead, they must turn their focus to the board to demand accountability and an open and inclusive search for a new leader. They cannot afford another hand-picked individual selected by the business community. It was the Birmingham board of education that recently gave Witherspoon a contract extension. The same lack of due diligence that led to those actions led to the hiring of Nguyen and Peterson, and the misappropriation of funds. Graves will be meeting with concerned parents in Birmingham on Friday, October 10. While AEA is still in litigation against the Birmingham City Schools over the illegally-conducted RIF that occurred during the state takeover, and on behalf of numerous members who were mistreated by Nguyen, Graves maintained that the meeting Friday does not concern legal matters. It is a meeting established by members of the community that are dissatisfied with the recent activities that have taken place in the school system.