Birmingham City School Board Renews Superintendent Mark Sullivan’s Contract Amid Mixed Reactions

Birmingham’s School Superintendent Mark Sullivan Gets Contract Renewal

In a move that has sparked both excitement and debate, the Birmingham City School Board voted on Tuesday to renew the contract of Superintendent Mark Sullivan for another three years. The board’s decision came with a 6-2 vote at their latest meeting and positions Sullivan as one of the highest-paid superintendents in Alabama, with a new salary set at $300,000 a year.

Leading Through Tough Times

Since taking the helm in August 2020, Sullivan has navigated his district through an incredibly challenging pandemic era, earning national recognition for his leadership. Under his guidance, the Birmingham school district recently boasted a remarkable 19 percentage-point jump in reading scores—a significant achievement that reflects the hard work being done.

Support and Challenges

During the board meeting, Sullivan expressed some heartfelt reflections on his tenure, saying, “This has been a very difficult four years,” as he remembered staff members who lost their lives during the pandemic. Nonetheless, he remains committed to striving for excellence within the Birmingham education system, saying, “We have a lot of great things on the horizon to improve our district.” Sullivan isn’t just thinking of the present; he’s got big plans for the future.

Sullivan vs. State Superintendent

With his new contract, Sullivan’s salary will eclipse that of State Superintendent Eric Mackey, who makes about $285,000 per year. This increase comes amid a backdrop of local school districts across Alabama facing budgetary constraints and typically cutting staff to manage finances. Notably, Mobile County’s superintendent, Creshal Threadgill, was the first to break the $300,000 salary mark last year.

A Winning Evaluation

Sullivan received a score of 3.57 out of 4 on his most recent performance evaluation. The evaluation process was updated recently to include student achievement metrics, an important shift that emphasizes clear accountability. Board President Jason Meadows acknowledged, “There’s more scrutiny than what a lot of other school districts deal with in the state.”

Community Voices

Parents and community members at the meeting described Sullivan as a “visible” and “hands-on” leader, which seems to resonate well as many applauded his efforts. Parent Hazel Boykin shared her affirmation, saying, “Our schools are moving forward.” This level of engagement is crucial in creating a positive atmosphere for both students and staff.

Concerns from Some Board Members

However, not all board members were on board with the pay increase. Neonta Williams and Derrick Billups raised concerns, suggesting that some employees feel frustrated and disengaged. They mentioned that while they appreciate Sullivan’s achievements, they are cautious about jumping to conclusions without comprehensive data backing the pay increase. Williams emphasized the need for accountability measures during the next evaluation process.

Financial Stability Ahead

Despite some opposition, the board pointed out that Birmingham schools are currently in good financial standing. Enrollment numbers are slowly starting to recover, which bodes well for the future. Encouragingly, officials expect to lean on local funding to sustain crucial intervention programs and maintain stipends for harder-to-fill teaching roles.

Looking Ahead

As Sullivan gears up to share Birmingham’s successes at Harvard University next week as a co-teacher, the community remains optimistic about the school district’s future. The path has been rocky, but with Sullivan at the helm, there’s hope that Birmingham schools are setting the stage for continued improvement in the years to come.