Barber et al v. Bice et al

Filing 49

MEMORANDUM OPINION. Signed by Judge R David Proctor on 8/29/2014. (Attachments: # 1 Judge Brown's Findings of Facts)(AVC)

FILED
2014 Aug-29 PM 06:30
2013 Dec-04 AM 09:27
U.S. DISTRICT COURT
N.D. OF ALABAMA

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE
NORTHERN DISTRICT OF ALABAMA
SOUTHERN DIVISION
ALBERT BARBER, JR., et al.,
Plaintiffs
Civil Action No.
2:13-CV-00296-RDP

v.
TOMMY BICE, in his official capacity
as State Superintendent of Education, et
al.,
Defendants.

EXHIBIT B

OPPOSED

ELECTRONICALLY FILED
8/13/2012 2:19 PM
CV-2012-902271.00
CIRCUIT COURT OF
JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA
ANNE-MARIE ADAMS, CLERK

IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY, ALABAMA
BIRMINGHAM DIVISION

CRAI.G WITHERSPOON,

)
)
)

Plaintiff,
~

)

SAMUETTA llRICW, et al.,

)
)

Defendants.

·)

CIVIL ACTION NO.:
CV 2012-000936 HLB

)

)

STATE OF ALABAMA BOARD OF
EDUCATION, DR. THOMAS R. HICE,
in his capacity as State Superintendent
of Education, LUTHER STRANGE, in
his capacity as Attorney General of the
State of Alabama,

.

"·

Plaintiffs,
.

BIRMINGHAM CITY BOARD OF
EDUCATION, EDWARD MADDOX,
President, Birmingham City Hoard
of Education, ALANA W. EDWARDS,
Vice President Birmingham City Board
of Educati9n, et al., .

)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)

CIVIL ACTION NO.:
CV 2012-902271 EAF

)
)
)
)
)

Defendants.

)

FINDfNGS OF FACT
The above referenced matters came on for hearing before the undersigned on

August l; 2012, and on August 2, 2012, having been previously consolidated by Order
entered in both cases due to the interrelated issues raised in each case. The Court heard
the ore

terms testimony of EDWARD MADDOX, SAMUETTA DREW, DR.CRAIG

WITHERSPOON, DR.CRAIG POUNCEY and DR. THOMAS R. BICE and accepted
into evidence and reviewed multiple exhibits offered by the parties herein, as well as, all

pertinent and applicable statutes related to and touching upon the allegations. and
assertions made herein.
L

Defendants, EDWARD MADDOX and SAMUETTA DREW, are aware

that under Alabama law, the State Board of Education ("SBOE") has general control and
supervision over the public schools of this State. (Rough Trial Transcript ("Tr.") at 32,
126~127.);

Ala. Code§

2.

16~3~1

l (1975).

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, is also aware that the State

Superintendent of Education ("SSOE") may review actions of City Boards in matters

relating to finance and other matters seriously affecting the public interest. He is also
aware that in such matters, the order of the SSOE is binding. (Tr. at 32.); Ala. Code§ 164-8 (l 975).
3.

Defondant, EDWARD MADDOX, is also aware that the Birmingham Board

of Education ('~BBOE") is not free to disregard, defy, or ignore orders or directives of the
SSOE.

4.

For students emolled in the Birmingham School System, the continued

accreditation of the schools in the District is of paramount importance. Earlier this year,
Plaintiff

School

SUPERJNTENDENT

DR.

CRAIG

WITHERSPOON

("WITHERSPOON") initiated the process for system-wide accreditation of all the
schools in the Birmingham District. (Tr. at 24 7.)

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5.

If Birmingham schools were to lose their accreditation, Birmingham high

school graduates would be ineligible for various college scholarships, loans, and 'grants.
They would be denied admission to many of the nation's better institutions of higher
learning.

(Tr. at 247, 248.) Effoctively, if the Birmingham City Schools are not

accredited, many of its students will be ineligible and unable to go to college.
6.

The Governance and Leadership category is the second most important of the

five accreditation standards utilized by AdvancED, the accrediting arm of the Southern
Association of Secondary Colleges and Schools. (WITHERSPOON's Request for
Judicial Notice, Attachment "B," at 1-4.)

7.

Lack of governance and stability have· long plagued the Birmingham

School System. In the last twelve ( l2) years, the Birmingham School System has
employed five (5) superintendents. (State School Board Exhibit (''State Exh.' 1) 17 at 15.)
The superintendent turn-over rate for Birmingham School System is the highest in the
State. Tr. at 369. This lack of stability in leadership has a direct relationship to the
financial condition of the Birmingham School system. It adversely affects public
confidence in the system Tr. at 369, 370. A new superintendent would have difficulty in
implementing a financial recovery plan as required by the SBOE. Tr. at 371, 372.
8.

The operating costs of Birmingham City School System are considerably

out of line. Its excess costs are in its staffing of its Central Office and support personnel,
its facilities and operations, and its underutilization of schools. (State Exh. 17 at 5.) The

following are examples of such disproportionality:

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Each Shelby County coordinator/director/supervisor/manager ("director")
serves 125 students, while each Madison County director serves 146
students. Each Montgomery County director serves 36 students. But in
Birmingham, there is a director for every 20 students! Id. at 9.

•

9.

Shelby County, with 28,432 students; employs 622 support personnel.
Montgomery County has 915 support personnel for its 31,368 students. On
the other hand, the Birmingham City School System has 1,020 support
personnel for 25,005 students. Id. at 7.

Birmingham pays $855.00 per student in operations and maintenance costs
per student, while si.rnilar costs for each Shelby County student is $622,00.
Similar costs for each Montgomery County student are $400. 19. Id. at l.

The School Fiscal Accountability Act, Ala. Code § l6-l3A-l et seq.,

(''Accountability Act") requires SSOE, DR. THOMAS R. BICE to oversee the financial
integrity of local boards of education, and the State Chief Education Financial Officer
(SCEFO) Dr. Craig Pouncey, to assist in this oversight. Ala. Code §§ 16-13A-l to l13A-l3;

§16-13A~2

(1975). In addition, the Accountability Act requires local boards of

education to provide the SCEFO certain financial reports, including an annual projected
budget. Ala. Code §16-l3A-6, 7. In addition, local boards must establish and maintain a
minimum reserve fund equal to one month's operating expenses. Ala. Code§ 16-13A-9.
10.

At the end of Fiscal Year ("FY") 20 ll, the SCEFO determined that 31 of

Alabama's 134 school systems did not have the required minimmn reserve fund equal to
one month's operating expenses. (State Exh . .l.) The Birmingham City School System
was one of those that did not meet the requirement.
11.

The BBOE began the 2011 ~ 12 school year with a monthly reserve balance

of approximately $6.5 million. Id. According to SCEFO Dr. Pounceyj because the BBOE

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lost approximately 800 students in the 2011- 12 school year, for the 2012- 13 school year
the BBOE's allocation of state funds will be cut by approximately $4.S million. Taking

into account this revenue deduction, the HBO.E's actual monthly reserve balance was
only approximately $2 million. (State Exh. 17 at 3.)
12.

In FY 2012, the BBOE's monthly operating expenses were approximately

$1 7 million. (State Exh. l at line 114.) Because the BBOE is required to maintain a

monthly reserve balance of $17 million, and because its monthly reserve balance was
only approximately $2 million, the BBOE was approximately $15 million short ofthe
monthly reserve balance required by Ala. Code § 16- I3A-9 (1975). Id.
13.

On February 13, 2012, SCEFO Dr. Pouncey met with representatives of the

31 non-compliant boards. The purpose of this meeting was to he lp the local boards
prepare plans to build and cna.intain the required mini11mm reserve fund. See State Exh.
2. A local board that does not have the required reserve balance, or does not have an
approved plan to build and maintain a reserve, cannot receive State funds, according to
.

.

the SCEFO.

Consequently, it is literally essential for a non-compliant board to act

promptly to adopt and implement a financial recovery plan. Otherwise, the SBOE will be
unable to fund public education in the local school system.
14.

Pursuant to his authority under the Accountability Act, the SCEFO required

each of the 31 non-compliant local school boards to submit by April 2, 2012, a draft plan
in the nature of a broad outline. Ala. Code §16-13A-9(a) (1975). The draft plans were
the first step in an :interactive and collaborative process whereby the local boards and the
SCEFO's office would develop a unique financial recovery plan for each local board.
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Each financial recovery plan was required to be approved by the State Department of
Education and passed as a resolution by the local school board. ld.
15.

The resolutions were due by May 31, 2012. (State Exh. 2.) The SCEFO

had the authority to vary this deadline as needed by local school boards. However, the
late May deadline was intended to give local school boards ample time to implement their
plans over the summer, well in advance of the August start of the 2012~ 13 school year.

16.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, is the President of the BBOE. Although

he owns and rents out a duplex house at 914 53rd Street North, in the City of
Birmingham, he has actually resided for more than a decade at 5440 Carrington Circle, in
the City of Trussville, Alabama. (Tr. at

79~87 .)

Tbe Court does not credit his testimony

that he and his wife separated eight years ago. (Tr.at 13.)
17.

Defendant, SAMUETT A DREW, is the Chief Operations Officer for the

Birmingham School System. (Tr. at 96.) She is directly responsible for the operation of
seven (7) departments including: athletics, child nutrition, facilities arid maintenance,
information technology, safety and security, and transportation. (Tr. at 106.) She could
not recall the name of the other department over whose operations she has responsibility.
(Tr. at 106, 107.)
18.

Defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, has an earned Master's degree, but she

has not earned. the status of Educational Specialist. (Tr. at 99.) She has not taken
courses towards a doctoral degree since 1999. (Tr. at 98, 100.) She has never served as
a school superintendent. (Tr. at 103 .) In her view; it ls not irnportant frw a superintendent
of a school system the size of Binningham to have had prior experience as a
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superintendent. (Tr. at 105.) She has no experience in monitoring the financial condition
of the Binningham School System. (Tr. at 123, 124.)

19.

The respective roles of the BBOE and the Superintendent of the

Birmingham School System are set forth in Board Policy No. 1020. (Tr. at 45.) The
BBOE's primary function is to deal with broad questions of policy. The superintendent
is responsible for the effective administration and supervision of the entire school system.
20.

Meetings of the BBOE are governed by Robert's Rules of Order. (Tr. at

46) (Witherspoon Exh. 9.) According to Section 9 of Robert's Rules of Order: A special

meeting (or called meeting) is a separate session of a society held at a different time from
that of any regular meeting, and convened only to consider one or more items of business

specified in the call of the meet Ing." Id., (emphasis added.) Defendant, EDWARD
MADDOX, is aware of Section 9 of Robert's Rules of Order. (Tr. at 46, 47.)
21.

Under Birmingham School Policy 1120) "Notice of all special meetings

shall be given to the members of The Board at least 48 hours prior to the time stated for

the meeting to convene. Such notice shall indicate. the purpose of said special me.e.ting,
and items considered at such meetings shall be limited to those listed on the agenda."

(WITlIERSPOON Exh. 3.) (emphasis added.)

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, is

aware of this policy. (Witherspoon Exh. 3.) (Tr. at 47, 48.)
22.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, is aware that the BBOE is not

violate or disregard its own policies. (Tr. at 46.)

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23.

Pursuant to an Employment Agreement ('the Contract") effective March

22, 2010, DR. WITHERSPOON was appointed by the BBOE as the Superintendent of
the Birmingham City School Systern. (WITHERSPOON Exh. 10.)
24.

Unless the BBOE provides to DR. WITHERSPOON a notice of its intent to

renew the contract by. April 11 2013, the Contract will expire on June 30, 2014.
(WITHERSPOON Exh. 10 at. 9.)
25.

Upon sixty (60) days' notice to DR. WITHERSPOON, by a vote of the

majority of the Board, the BBOE may, without cause, terminate the contract by payment
of his base salary and benefits due for the remainder of the Contract. (WITHERSPOON

.Exh. 10 at 7 1 § 15.)
26.

The contract does not mention, and does not contemplate, administrative

leave as a substitute for the sixty (60) days' notice. (WITHERSPOON Exh. LO.) (Tr. at
215.)
27.

DR. WITHERSPOON is in charge of the

day-to~day

operations of the

Birmingham City School system. (Tr. at 218.)
28.

. DR. WITHERSPOON regularly communicates with BBOE members. ·He

has set aside the third Friday of eaci1 month for Board members to meet with him; he has
never refused to meet with Board members. (Tr. at 19, 218.) (WITHERSPOON Exh.
11.) According to SSOE DR BICE, there is widespread community support for DR.

I

WITHERSPOON. Tr. at 604.
29.

I

Under BBOE policy, an individual Board member has a duty, among other

things, to refrain from individual efforts fo influence school operations in such matters as
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employment, promotion and purchase; and, after votes are taken, to accei1t the will of the
majority vote in all cases and give support to the resulting Board policy in accordance
with the best interests of the system. (WITHERSPOON Exh. 12.) (Tr. at 219.)

30.

After DR. WITHERSPOON assumed his office, defendant, EDWARD

MADDOX, leaned heavily on him to abort existing plans to build a new Hayes ·
Elementary school, and instead to buil.d a new Hayes High School.

(Tr. at

17~18.)

Because the proposed change would have cost $43 million, DR. WITHERSPOON wisely
resisted the change. (Tr. at 220~224.)
31.

At the time DR. WITHERSPOON assumed his ofllce, plans to construct a

new Parker High School were well underway. These plans included the demolition of the
. old I 927 high school bt1ilding, and because. of this DR. WITHERSPOON did not seek

BBOE approval of a demolition contract from the BBOE as requested by Board Member
Emanuel Ford ("Member FordH). Unable to persuade DR. WITHERSPOON to make a
recommendation to

the BBOE,

Ford then

brought

a lawsuit against DR.

WITHERSPOON in the Jefferson County Circuit Court, Ford v. Witherspoon, CV 201 l
01792.

Although the Circuit Judge initially grat1ted a Temporary Restraining Order

("TRO"), after the TRO dissolved, the Circuit Court denied Member Ford's Motion for a
Preliminary Injunction. (WITHERSPOON Exh. 13.) Member Ford ultimately dismissed
his lawsuit. Id. (Tr. at 225, 226.)

32.

Sometime since the beginning of this year, five members of the BBOE,

including defondant, EDWARD MADDOX,

Vice~President

EDWARDs, Members.

FORD, TYRONE BELC.HER, and DR. VIRGINLA VOLKER ("the Five") have met,
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telephonically and otherwise, and made a decision to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON's
Contract. By the end of March 2012, defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, had knowingly
become a participant in the plan to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON. (Tr. at 132-136.)
33.

The evidence adduced by the Defendants does not disclose or warrant any

cause for the termination of DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract. From the absence of such
evidence, the Court infers that there is no cause for the termination of his contract. Quite
to the contrary, the termination of his contract at the present time and under the present
circumstances would be rather prejudicial to the Birmingham School System.
34.

The first regular meeting of the BBOE for the month of April, 2012, was

scheduled for April 10, 2012. But on April 4, 2012, defendant, EDWARD MADDOX,
caused to be sent a notice of a called meeting for 4:00 o'clock p.m. on Good Friday, April
6, 2012. DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract was the only agenda item for the meeting.
THE FIVE had planned to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract at that meeting.
(Tr. at 20.)
35.

When various citizens learned of the Good Friday meeting and what they

· considered the reason for the meeting, they demonstrated in front of the BBOE offices;
large numbers of citizens called and e-mailed defendant, EDWARD MADDOX,
requesting that the meeting be cancelled. (Tr. at 21.) Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX,

then cancelled the called meeting.
36.

On April 9, 2012, the BBOE submitted its initial draft financial recovery

plan. (State Exh. 2.)

lO

37.

At its regular meeting of Tuesday, April 10, 2012, the agenda was amended

to include a discussion of DR. WITHERSPOON'S Contract. (State Ex.

4 at 1.)

The ·

"Community Voice" portion then ensued,. with statements from various citizens. Id. at 2.
The mt\jority of the speakers encouraged the BBOE to renew DR. WITHERSPOON's

Contract for at least another two (2) years. These included both black and white parents;
business, civic, and foundation leaders and alliances; the Chief Executive Officer of
Alabama AT&T; the head of the Greater Birmingham Foundation; the President of the

Birmingham City Council; and the Mayor of the City of Birmingham. The Birmingham
City Council unanimously adopted a resolution urging the BBOE to renew DR.

WITHERSPOON's contract, and most of its members personally appeared at the
meeting, Id. at 2-4.
3 8. .

Following the Community Voice session of the meeting, BBOE member

W. .f. MA YE, .JR. moved to extend DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract by three (3) years.
THE FIVE voted "nay," and the motion fa.iled. Id. at 4. Board members BRIAN
GIATTlNA, PHYLLIS WYNNE, APRIL M. WILLIAMS, and W. J. MAYE ("Member
MA YE") voted in favor of the motion. Id.
39.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, then· himself made a motion to

terminate DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract in sixty (60) days, and place him on
.

administrative leave immediately.

.

The motion was seconded by Vice-President

EUWARD's. Id. Member MAYE then challenged detendant, EDWARD MADDOX's,
right to make a motion while presiding.

Id. at 5.

On advice of Board Counsel,

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX's, motion and second were withdrawn.

l1

Id.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, subsequently made the statement, "Y'all left me
hanging." Id.

40.

at 9.
The Court finds that defe11dant, EDWARD MADDOXis, "y'all" reference

was to the other three members of THE FIVE: BELCHER, VOLKER, and FORD.
41.

Following other business, SBOE member Richardson addressed the

audience. She· expressed her elation with the vision reflected in the establishment of·
academies and Pre-K programs in all the schools. She concluded by noting that she and

SSOE UR. BICE had observed the meeting, and she wanted the audience to know "that
we will be going back to Montgomery, on tomorrow, to determine the relationship
between the Alabatna State Department of Education and the Birmingham City School
System." ld. at 9.
42.

BBOE Member WYNNE then rnade a motion that the BBOE be

investigated for violations of the Open Meetings Act by . certain BBOE members,

particularly in view of defendant, EDWARD MADDOX's, statement, ''y'all left me
hanging." Id., p. 9.
43.

Vice-President EDWARDS responded: ''Wait a minute. Thank you, Ms.

Wynne, thank you for finally calling for an investigation of the Board. I would actually
like to make a motion to terminate the Superintendent's contract in sixty (60) days and
place him on administrative leave immediately, for sixty (60) days,

~ith

pay." Id. BBOE

Member WILLIAMS challenged the motion, maintaining that it was out of order. BBOE
Board Attorney agreed that the motion was out of order. Id.

There was no further

discussion of DR. WITHERSPOON' s Contract at the April I 0, 2012, meeting.
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44.

In separate remarks at the April 10, 2012 meeting, BBOE Members

WYNNE, FORD, VOLKER, and GIATTINA invited the State Board of Education to
investigate BBOE. Id. at 9-12.

45.

On April 12, 2012, the SBOE adopted a "Resolution for An Investigative

Review of the Governance of the Birmingham City Board of Education." The Resolution
found that the BBOE "has, over the course of recent weeks and months, engaged in a
pattern of decision making, action,. and inaction that has impeded or prevented

implementation of plans, initiatives, and prognuns designed to meet the Birmingham
Board's financial and fiduciary obligations under State law and to ensure the provision of
appropriate educational services

to 25,000 students."

The Resolution also found that

"these circumstances have eroded public and parental confidence in the Birmingham
School System, have created and compounded community division and controversy, and
have threatened to exacerbate a long-term trend of declining enrollment in the
Birmingham School System." (WfTHERSPOON Exh. 2.)

46.

Based on these findings, the SBOE authorized the SSOE to conduct an

·: . '

investigation and review, and to resolve all

di~utes

and matters under his authority

confetTed by the applicable provisions of the Alabama education.statutes. Following the
completion of his review and investigation, and his findings and orders based thereon, the
SSOE was directed to provide copies of his report to the SBOE, the BBOE, and to law
enforcement authorities, if and as appropriate. (WITHERSPOON Exh. 2.)
47.

On April 12, 2012, SSOE DR. BICE wrote to defendant, EDWARD

· MADDOX, notifying him of the SBOE Resolution. The April 12, 2012 letter gave the
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following directives to defendant, EDWARD MADDOX: l) the BBOE should not
interrupt or interfere with the SSOE's investigation or the administrative or educational
functions of the SSOE; 2) the BBOE should not, without the proper written approval of
the SSOE, initiate or approve any adverse personnel action at the senior executive level
during the SSOE's investigation; and 3) without prior consultation with the SSOE or his
designees, the BBOE should not approve any
transaction.

non~routine

administrative or financial

(WITHERSPOON Exh. 1.) The April 12 letter also notified defendant,

EDWARD MADDOX, that the SSOE reserved h.is right to modify or set aside any
conflicting action, order, or decision of the BBOE. Id
48.

Although he testified to the contrary, the Court finds that the defendant,

EDWARD MADDOX, fully understood that the April 12, 2012 letter prohibited him and
the other BBOE members from attempting to terminate DR WITHERSPOON's Contract
without the prior approval of SSOE BICE, and that SSOE BICE had the authority to set
aside any action purporting to terminate the Contract.
49.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, and his attorneys understood that under

the directives of the April l 2, 2012 letter, the BBOE was not authorized to approve the
hiring of an additional attorney, since such engagement would be a "non-routine"
financial transaction.

50.

Dr. Edward Richardson, former SSOE and retired President of Auburn

University, was appointed by SSOE DR. BICE to lead the investigation team on behalf of
the SBOE. He and his team appeared and commenced their work in Birmingham within
a week of the sending of the April 12, 2012 letter.
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51.

SSOE DR. BICE met with the BBOE on April 19, 2012, and explained the

purpose of his investigation. He discussed the financial condition of the BBOE, and the
separate work the SBOE was doing, along with SCEFO Dr. Pouncey's assistance and
oversight, in an effort to bring the BBOE into compliance with the Accountability Act.
52.

As

()f

April, 2012, the BBOE retained both

in~house

counsel (Africa

Parchman) and outside (Waldrep, Stewart & Kendrick, LLC) legal counsel. Nonetheless,

at its meeting of April 24, 2012, the BBOE voted to hire Frederic A. Bolling as additional
outside counsel. (State Exh. 8.)
53.

SSOE DR. BICE subsequently wrote to the BBOE and explained that its

.decision to hire additional counsel was in violation of his April 12, 2012, directive not to
undertake or approve any notHoutine administrative or financial transaction without
prior consultation with SSOE DR. BICE or his designee. (State Exh. 9.) He directed the
BBOE to suspend the hiring of additional outside counsel "until appropriate consultation
with me or my designee occurs." Id.
54.

The BBOE ignored SSOE DR. BICE and his April 12, 2012, directive; the

appropriate and required consultation with the SSOE never occurred.
55 .

On April 24, 2012, the BBOE approved the initial draft ecovery plan.

(State Exh. 21.)

56.

. Throughout April iind May, 2012, DR. WITHERSPOON and his staff,

HBOE members, and SCEFO Pouncey and his staff worked to create a Financial

Recovery Plan that could be approved. Dr. Pouncey met with the BBOE on April l 8, 24,

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and May 21, 2012, to discuss the specifics of the Financial Recovery Plan. (State Exh. 8,
9, and 10.)

57 .

By May 31, 2012, the BBOE' s Financial Recovery Plan was complete .

.SCEFO Pouncey an

DR. WITHERSPOON presented the plan to the BBOE.

The

presentation showed the BBOE ways in which it could save operating funds -- for

example, by closing certain schools or reducing the number of non-certified support
employees -~the BBOE could establish the statutorily required $17 million reserve fund,

and without diminishing the BBOE's educational mission. The Financial Recovery Plan
was to be implemented over two years, with $13 to $14 million in savings occurring
during the 2012 - 13 school year, and the balance realized in the 2013 -14 school year.
(State Exh. 17 .)
The Birmingham City School System was the only one in the State which

58.

failed in its obligation to submit a Financial Recovery Plan to the SBOE by May 31,
2012.
A called meeting was scheduled by the BBOE for June 5, 2012, to consider

59.

an act on the May 31, 2012, Financial Recovery Plan.

(State Exh. 18.)

On the

reconnnendation of DR. WITHERSPOON, BBOE Member WILLIAMS moved to
approve the Financial Recovery Plan.

THE FIVE voted against the Motion, and the

Financial Recovery Plan failed for want of a majority vote. (State Exh. 18.)
60.

At the next regular meeting of the BBOE on June 12, 2012, all of the

BBOE members present voted to adopt the Financial Recovery Plan. (State Exh. 19 at .7.)

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The plan adopted by the BBOE did not .include the implementation aspect, i.e., it did not
identify the specific individuals who would be affected by implementation of the plan.
61.

Due to the BBOE's continued opposition to and defiance of SSOE DR.

BICE's authority, both to require a Financial Recovery Plan and to investigate reports of ·
BBOE's governance problems, on Jline 14, 2012, the SBOE adopted a resolution
authodzing SSOE DR. BICE to appoint a person to provide on-site oversight of the dayto-day operations of the BROE, and to advise and assist with the BBOE' s implementation

of the Financial Recovery Plan. The Resolution further authorized SSOE DR. BICE, in
the event that a Financial Recovery Plan was not approved by the BBOE at its meeting of
June 26, 2012, to intervene into and assume direct control of the .fiscal operation of the

BOE, and further to . appoint a Chief Financial Officer to manage the financial
operations of the BROE towards the end of restoring the system to a sound financial
condition. (State Exh. 22.)
62.

DR. WITHERSPOON cu1Cl his staff, assisted by SCEFO Dr. Pouncey and

his staff, prepared the implementation phase of the plan and presented it for approval by

tlie BBOE at its meeting of June 26, 2012. The implementation phase (i.e., "Persorinel
Actions Associated with Reduction in Force") was not approved by the BBOE. This
time, BBOE Vice-President Edwards broke ranks with THE FIVE, and voted in favor of
the implementation phase of the Financial Recovery Plan. But with an abstention by

BBOE Member WILLIAMS, four of THE FIVE voted against the plan and only three
voted in its favor. Thus, the passage of the implementation phase failed for lack of a
majority vote.
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•. :.•-i.:.:·· •••

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63.

SSOE DR. BICE then intervened, pursuant to Al<t. Code § 16-6B-4, and

appointed Dr. Richardson as the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") for purposes of the
· intervention.
64.

As part of the intervention, SSOE DR: BICE required that the proposed

agenda for any meeting of the BBOE be submitted to and approved by him prior to any
such meeting.
65.

During the week of July 9, 2012, de: ondant, EDWARD MADDOX,
f

announced a specially called meeting for Tuesday, July 17, 2012 at 6:00 p.m., at Carver
High School. Prior to the meeting, a proposed agenda including consideration of the
Financial Recovery Plan, was sent to SSOE DR. BICE. This agenda was approved by
him. The proposed agenda, however, did not include as an agenda itern any action on
DR. WITHERSPOON' s Contract.
66.

Before the July 17, 2012 meeting, THE FIVE and defendant, SAMUETTA

DREW, met, in person or by telephone, and agreed to proceed with the firing of DR.
WITHERSPOON and the instatement of defendant; SAMUETTA DREW, as Interim
Superintendent, with full knowledge of the prohibition against their taking any such
personnel actions.
67.

When defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, convened the July 17, 2012

meeting, only then did he add DR.WITHERSPOON's Contract as an agenda item. The
newly-addeditem was approved by a majority of the members of the BBOE.
68.

On motion of defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, seconded by BBOE Vice-

President EDWARDS, THE FIVE then voted to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON, effective

18

. . . . ! ,:.'1'·

:~,, ' .

~~· .

..

i
', i

immediately, with sixty (60) days of administtative leave; THE FIVE, joined by BBOE

· Member WILLIAMS, then voted to employ defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, as the
Interim Superintendent.
69.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, then ordered DR. WITHERSPOON to

leave the meeting platform and for defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, to take his place on
the auditorium stage. CFO, Dr. Edward Richardson, went to the floor microphone and
started speaking, but defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, told him that he was out of order

and summoned Security Otficers to remove him from the microphone. (State Exh. 25 at
4.)

70.

DR. WITHERSPOON left the platform, and he and his wife departed from

the auditorium. After assuming DR. WITHERSPOON's place, defendant, SAMUETTA
DREW, then made an acceptance speech. The meeting proceeded with defendant,
SAMUETTA DREW, acting as the BBOE Interim Superintendent. Id.

71.

Dr. gdward Richardson was subsequently called to speak on the Financial

Recovery Plan. While doing so, he passed a letter from SSOE DR. BICE to be

hand~

delivered by a Security Officer to defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, as he presided ..
Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, opened the letter and read its :relevant part:
"I have reviewed all the critical items on the Agenda and fully expect that they

will be executed tonight. Any action taken to the contrary is hereby overturned and ·
revoked pursuant to the legal authority provided to me and consistent with the
mandates of the State Board of Education."
State Exh. 27.

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72.

Shortly after sending the letter to BBOE Attorney Frederic A. Bolling,

defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, interrupted Dr. Richardson's presentation and abrtiptly
moved to recess the meeting. BBOE Mernber WILLIAMS seconded the motion; and
THE FIVE,. along with BBOE Member WILLIAMS, voted to recess the meeting until
Friday, July 20; 2012. (State Exh. 25 at 5.)
73.

The Court finds that at the time defendant, EDWARD

MADDOX~

recessed

the meeting, he was aware that SSOE DR. BICE had overridden the BBOE's purported
ter:mination of DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract.
74.

The BBOE never voted on 1:1 Financial Recovery Plan during its meeting of

July 17, 2012.
75.

DR. WITHERSPOON came back to the Carver High School campus after

the July 17, 2012 meeting. He was assured by SCEFO Dr. Pouncey and CFO, Dr.
Richardson that he was still the F3BOE Superintendent; that the purported contrary. action
of the BBOE had been overturned by SSOE DR. BICE. Tr. at 233.
76.

Between the time that DR. WITHERSPOON left the Carver High School

campus on the night of July 17, 2012, and the time he came to his office at the BBOE
Central headquarters before 7:00 a.m. the following day, defendant, EDWARD
MADDOX, and defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, had changed the locks and entry codes
to the building. When DR. WITHERSPOON was allowed by a Security Officer to come
into his office, he noticed that his name had been removed from his office door and the
key/code to his office had been changed. He was unable to retrieve his briefcase and
other personal belongings from his office. TR. at 235~239.

20

77.

Defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, also changed the locks on the room in the

BBOE's Central Office where the SBOE's investigation and intervention team's
computers and other items were located.

Like DR. WITHERSPOON, the State

investigators were also denied access to their offices. Defendant, SAMUETTA DREW,
offered no explanation for why she did not simply lock the room, rather than change the
locks on the doors of the room., in order to secure the State team's belongings.
78.

Unable to access his office, DR. WITHERSPOON came to his attorney's

office, where his briefoase was delivered approximately four (4) hours later. Tr. at 239
79.

DR. WITHERSPOONfiled this action on July 18, 2012. After a hearing in

which Defendants' attorney participated, a temporary Restraining Order "(TRO") was
issued by Judge J. Scott Vowell and became effective on the posting of a bond in the
amount of $10,000.00.

The TRO restrained defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, and

. defendant, SAMUETTA DREW, from denying DR. WITHERSPOON access to the
BBOE

buildings

and

from

impeding

or

otherwise

WITHERSPOON' s performance of his duties as Superintendent

interfering

with

DR.

of the Birrhingham City

School System.
80.

Incredibly, defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, his counsel Frederic A.

Bolling, cmd BBOE Member WILLIAMS travelled to the SBOE offices in Montgomery
on July 18, 2012, where they sought to make a deal with SSOE DR BICE. Defendant)
EDWARD MADDOX, and his Counsel proposed that if SSOE DR. BTCE would allow
the BBOE to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON's Contract, the BBOE would approve the

implementation of Financial Recovery Plan.
21

..~·;.

Predictably, for one whose designated

representative had publicly been so thoroughly insulted and humiliated the night before, .
SSOE DR. BICE declined the offer of defendant, EDWARD MADDOX. Tr. at 610 617.
81.

Two days after the Witherspoon action was filed, the SBOE, SSOE DR.

BICE, and Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange ("the State Plaintiffs") filed an
action against the BBOE and its member~ in their official capacities. The State Plaintiffs
also secured a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting Defendants from acting in the

following ways:
•

interfering with the implementation of a financial recovery plan,

•

interfering with any other decision or actions deemed necessary and appropriate
by the SSOE to ensure that the Birmingham School system opens in a timely and
orderly manner,

•

interfering with the SSOE's and his staffs unfettered access to the offices of the
BBOE and their computers and files , and

•

taking any action inconsistent with DR. WITHERSPOON's continuing to serve as
the Superintendent of the Birmingham City School System.

'

.

82. SSOE DR. BICE presided at a called meeting of the BOE on July 24, 2012.
t that time, the BBOE again failed to implement a Financial

ecovery Plan. SSOE DR.

·BICE then overrode the vote and approvea the Financial Recovery Plan for
·implementation. Tr. at 567.
83.

If SSOE DR. BICE had not overridden the BBOE's inaction on a Financial

Recovery P lan, as

()f

September 1 , 2012, state and federal .Ftnds for the operation (?f'

Birmingham City Schools would tikety have been withheld! Tr. at 378, 379. The loss of

these fonds would have shut down the operation of the Birmingham School system. As

22
. ...

:~ '

SCEFO Dr. Pouncey testified: "All of the employees would ... be without jobs. Students
would be {Qcked in the homes or on the street." (Tr. at 380.)
84.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, and his usual allies, who together make

up THE FIVE, on the BBOE are yet determined to terminate DR. WITHERSPOON' s
Contract as quickly as possible. (Tr. at 19.) The Court finds that defendant, EDWARD
MADDOX, speaks for THE FIVE on issues related to DR. WITHERSPOON. In the
view of THE FIVE, DR. WITHERSPOON has already been given the required sixty (60)
day notice of termination. Id. The State Board of Education, State Superintendent of
Education, DR. THOMAS R. BICE, and this Court are all that prevents them from
achieving their goal.
85.

The Temporary Restraining

Order specifically forbids · defondant,

EDWARD MADDOX, and his officers, agents, employees, attorneys and those in active
concert or participation with them who receive actual notice of the TRO from interfering
with DR. WITHERSPOON in the performance of his duties as Superintendent of the
Birmingham City School System. Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, testified that he
read the TRO, but he did not understand that it forbade him from interfering with DR.
WITHERSPOON in the performance of his duties. Tr. at 70.! 72. The Court does not
credit that testimony. It finds instead that defondant, EDWARD MADDC)X, fully
understood that the Court Order prohibited him frorn interfering with DR.
WfTHERSPOON.
86.

The very next day after the TRO issued, defendant, EDWARD MADDOX,

sent an e-mail to DR. WITHERSPOON, warning him that:
23

"Until further notice and/or final order from the Court the Board will respect the
authority of the Court. Accordingly, we expect the same respect. of local authority
from you during your time as court-determined superintendent. Specifically you
should understand that it is a board's expectation that you will not retaliate against
any employee of this board. I specifically refer you to Alabama Code Section 1612-15, which provides that you will see that all regular appointees of the City
Board of.Education devote their entire time to their duties. This mandate cannot
be followed if employees are placed on administrative leave, your retaliation for
their following board directives. I trust that professionalism will prevail.''
Witherspoon Exh. 6; Tr. at 75, 76.

87.

At the time defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, sent this warning to DR.

WITHERSPOON, he had not · received a retaliation complaint from defendant,

SAMUETTA DREW, or anyone else when he sent this admonition to DR.
WITHERSPOON. Tr. at 76, 77.
88.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX's, July 19, 2012, e-mail· to DR.

WITHERSPOON was, at best an effort to micromanage the operation of the Birmingham
School System; and, at worse, a violation of the TRO issued by the Court.
89.

As the Court has already judicially noticed, Governance and Leadership is

the second of five standards utilized by the regional accrediting association for the
accreditation of schools. August 6, 2012, Order at 2. · As the Court has also judicially
noticed, the district accreditation process ·or Birmingham school system has been halted
by the accrediting agency precisely because of ongoing concerns over governance issues.
90.

Defendant, EDWARD MADDOX, has been specifically cautioned in an

official Letter of Concern that his "current actions could be considered outside the roles
and responsibilities of the board (e.g. micromanagement) and could put [his] school

I
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I

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system's current and future accreditation in jeopardy." WITHERSPOON's Request for
Judicial Notice, Attachment "A."
91.

Unless abated, the govemance issues posed by THE FIVE members of the

BBOE may well jeopardize the district accreditation of Binningham School System. The

denial of such accreditation would be devastating, specifically to the children served by
the Birmingham School System and to the City of Birmingham generally.
DONE and ORDERED this

13th

day of August, 2012.

/~
uousTol: ROWN

r

CIRCUIT JUDGE

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