BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS DECLINE: THEFT IN SCHOLS - INTERNAL CONTROLS LACKING

Welcome to Citizens for Better Schools WHAT'S NEW: Ala Ed Budget Crisis - State Takes Fed Stimulus Funds Then Cuts State Funding SCHOOL TAKEOVER CORNER: BIRMINGHAM * DETROIT * SAINT LOUIS School Size and Grade Structure Brown Past 50 Symposium and Education Workshops Contact Citizens for Better Schools Education Statistics & Thumbnail Facts: School size not saving Detroit schools form chopping blocks - Economies of scale B'ham Superintendent Search: Edgecombe County - Birmingham City Schools NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND REAUTHORIZATION UPDATE PAGE - NOW OPEN BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL CLOSING WATCH: MORE SECRET MEETINGS 2007-2008 BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL CLOSINGS (HERE WE GO AGAIN - "DOWN SIZING, RIGHT SIZING, or CAPSIZING" ) Alabama School Districts Without One Month Reserve Fund More Busing in Birmingham With School Consolidations ALA'S #1 PROBLEM: TEACHER SEXUAL MISCONDUCT Blog Ala's Biggest Problem - Teacher Sexual Misconduct BIG SPENDERS - MOST COSTLY SCHOOLS NOT SMALL SCHOOLS The late Henry Sparks made Birmingham the financial envy of the state's education system Education Finance, Economics, & Budget Monitoring Despite Free Space in SomeSchools, Many Packed Classrooms(How are Birmingham Classrooms?) Class Size Comparison Changes For Parents - The Classroom Effects of Closing & Consolidating Schools COMING SOON: ** THE CHOICE: SCHOOL ZONING, BIG SCHOOLS - SMALL SCHOOLS (WHICH EDUCATES THE POOR BEST?) CLASS SIZE REDUCTION Education Research on School Size: School Climate and Academic Achievement Evidence Based Consequences of Increased School Size Curriculum and Instruction  BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS DECLINE: THEFT IN SCHOLS - INTERNAL CONTROLS LACKING Worhtless BOE Guidelines and Frame Work For Superintendent Stan Mims, Lay Citizen Advisory Task Force (BOE Policy 6170) Sabotaged In Education: Big Is Not Better - Research Finds Small Schools Better for Poor and Black Students Links About Birmingham City Schools The Good Common School Journal Thumbnail Facts: Birmingham Enrollment/ Teacher Loss Not Cause of $22 Million Bham BOE Losses Anniston Citizens for Better Schools FAIRFIELD CITIZENS FOR BETTER SCHOOLS Jefferson County (Alabama) School System: Sylacauga Citizens for Better Schools Citizens For Better Schools: Education Management and Leadership Special, Exceptional, and Gifted and Talented Education GOLD FACULTY - BROWN PAST 50 WORKSHOP: BEYOND NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND - FULFILLING THE PROMISE OF BROWN Contact Your School, State, and Federal Representation Here! Favorite Links: Legal Resources - College Funding Opportunity ALL SPORTS Birmingham - ALL THE TIME GENDER EQUITY: Public Schools, Segregated Schools? Phillips Academy - Crisis in Student School Bus Transportation WE ARE "HOKIES" TOO! Topic Index: BREAKING SCHOOL CLOSING NEWS ** Citizens for Better Schools



BIRMINGHAM POST MORTEM: BIRMINGHAM CITY SCHOOLS DECLINE: THEFT IN SCHOLS - INTERNAL CONTROLS LACKING (State Auditors Report) With mounting financial deficits, theft form school children’s funds are rampant in Birmingham City Schools, with woeful internal accounting controls. 

READ THE FULL REPORT HERE:  http://www.examiners.state.al.us/PDFs/Audit06-0485.pdf   

CFBS NOTE: SINCE 2003 CITIZENS FOR BETTER SCHOOLS HAS PRESSED BIRMINGHAM'S SCHOOL BOARD, AND SUPERINTENDENTS (BROWN, SHIVER, AND MIMS) FOR A COMPREHENSIVE FORENSIC AUDIT OF CITY SCHOOLS - THEY  HAVE REFUSED.  EXAMINERS OF PUBLIC ACCOUNTS AUDIT ARE NOT FORENSIC, MERELY COMPILATION AUDITS, AND ARE SEVERAL YEARS BEHIND. BIRMINGHAM SCHOOL FIANCE DIRECTOR ARTHUR WATTS HAS BEEN SILENT ON A REQUEST FOR A FORENSIC AUDIT.  CRIMINAL STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS IN ALABAMA IS THREE YEARS -  GOOD LUCK CATCHING FRAUD AND THEFT IN 61 SCHOOLS WITHIN THE STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS

Savage cuts made to classrooms  After profusely vowing to “protect the classroom,” the Birmingham Board of Education, on a 5 to 1 vote, with two board members absent, and one abstaining, savagely cut its instructional program staff.Job Cuts by the Numbers Certified Employees Fired        Retirements (including Buyout Plan) Teachers                   224           95Principals                   0              2Assistant Principals    2              1Counselors                                    5          5 Misc. positions           (Laborers, program Specialist, Psychometrics)ARI (Alabama Reading Initiative                   1               0Assist. Superintendent  0                  1Deputy Superintendent  1                  0Attendance Officers       1            0 Job Cuts by the Numbers Certified Employees:                  Fired        Teachers                                   224           Principals                                    0              Assistant Principals                      2              Counselors                                  5                Miscellaneous Positions:             Laborers, Program Specialist, Psychometrists ARI Alabama Reading Initiative:       1          Assist. Superintendent                    0                  Deputy Superintendent                   1                  Attendance Officers                         1             Classified Employees:                                Fired                         Bus Drivers              27                               Cafeteria workers      24                             Clerical                     21                              Instructional assist.  (teacher Aides)          30                          Maintenance               4                              Technology                3                              Security                      1                              Finance                      5                              Medical relations        1                              Social Relations         2                            Total Classified           164                          TOTAL EMPLOYEES  398                               Source, Birmingham Board of Education             According to Birmingham school officials, the 398 positions cut (including retirements and school closings) represent approximately fifteen percent (15%) in reductions in the system’s workforce of about 4,000.  An employee “buyout” early retirement plan allegedly will save the system about $8.8 million dollars. Total projected “savings” allegedly amount to $15 - $16 million dollars (operating and maintenance, capital, buyout reductions).