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By NOAH WORTHAM | Managing Editor

ALABASTER – The city of Alabaster is now accepting applications for Place 4 on the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education.

Those wishing to apply can find an application online at the city’s website at Cityofalabaster.com/391/Board-of-Education-Application?. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, March 12 after which the Alabaster City Council will interview selected applicants.

Each year, the City Council votes to either reappoint a current school board member or to appoint a new member to the board on a rotating basis. After the interview process for BOE Place 4, the City Council will appoint one applicant to serve a five-year term starting in June, 2025.

Currently, Place 4 is held by Derek Henderson who serves as the board’s vice president. Henderson was first appointed to the ACS Board of Education at the school system’s inception in May 2013 and has served successive terms since, including reappointment as the board’s vice president. Henderson is a 28 year resident of Alabaster and is a member with the Alabama Trust for Boards of Education. Henderson’s current term expires in June.

Applicants to the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education must be residents of Alabaster.

According to the application, A BOE member’s duties consists of the following and more

• Make clear that the board’s primary role is the establishment of policies
• Delegate to the superintendent responsibility for all administrative functions
• Support the superintendent fully in all decisions that conform to professional standards and board policy
• Hold the superintendent responsible for the administration of the school system through regular, constructive, written and oral evaluations of the superintendent’s work
• Provide the superintendent with a comprehensive employment contract
• Give the superintendent the benefit of the board’s counsel in matters related to individual board members’ expertise, familiarity with the local school system, and community interests
• Hold all board meetings with the superintendent or his/her designee present
• Consult with the superintendent on all matters, as they arise, that concern the school system and on which the board may take action
• Develop a plan for board-superintendent communications
• Channel communications that require action through the superintendent and refer all concerns, complaints and other communications to the superintendent
• Take action upon the recommendation of the superintendent
• Provide the superintendent with sufficient administrative personnel, including the area of monitoring teaching and learning
• Work with the superintendent and the community to develop a vision for the school system.
• Work closely, where appropriate, with other governmental agencies and bodies
• Provide resources for and encourage quality board and staff professional developments.
• Provide for self-evaluation of the board’s effectiveness
• Periodically review all school board policies
• Provide leadership to seek necessary funds for the system and to oversee system financial operations to maintain financial accountability
• Ensure board members understand that, under law, the school board acts as a board and that individual board members have no independent authority

Those interested in learning more about the Alabaster City Schools Board of Education may visit Acsboe.org/page/board-of-education.