BESSEMER, Ala. (WBMA) — Documents obtained by ABC 33/40 indicate the Bessemer City Schools Board of Education has been suspended by the Alabama State Department of Education, continuing a prolonged period of state intervention and governance concerns in the district.
Board Member Margie Varner shared emails that appear to show communication between her, Chief Administration Officer Dr. Daniel Boyd, and State Superintendent Dr. Eric Mackey. In the emails provided by Varner, she is told by Dr. Boyd, “members o the Bessemer Board have been suspended for an indefinite period of time.” She responds a week later asking for an explanation and documentation, and Dr. Mackey said none of that will be provided.
Erika Hughes, President of the Central Alabama American Federation of Teachers said this latest action by the state is alarming.
“They are an elected board, those citizens of Bessemer have elected them to be their voice.now that has been taken away. We have people placed on administrative leave, we have members who they have made the motion to terminate them. The board has not been informed.”
I feel like we have taken 50 steps backwards, and we are in worse shape..as I’ve continued to tell everyone, since the state took over.
According to internal communications from state officials, board members were informed in January 2026 that they have been “suspended for an indefinite period” amid ongoing scrutiny of board operations and decision-making. The suspension follows state supervision that began in 2024 when the Alabama State Department of Education intervened in the district under the Educational Accountability and Intervention Act due to persistent dysfunction at the board level. While the state has not publicly released a formal suspension order, correspondence shows officials made the decision and are now overseeing district governance.
The Bessemer City Schools system has been under state intervention for more than a year, with state officials citing a pattern of canceled meetings, lack of quorum, and failure to take timely action on crucial matters such as budgets, maintenance, personnel and academic improvement. State leaders have said local governance issues were hindering the district’s ability to serve students effectively.
Background: Board Dysfunction and Intervention
The board’s challenges date back to at least early 2025 when regular board meetings were paused and replaced with community meetings while members underwent required training under state supervision. At the time, officials said the changes were tied to the board’s accreditation status and ongoing intervention monitoring.
In April 2025, the board announced formal board meetings would not be held for several months, sparking concerns from parents and educators about transparency and local oversight. Critics questioned how important decisions would be made without regular board action.
By late September 2025, the board had resumed regularly scheduled meetings and approved a multi-year capital improvement plan, signaling some progress under state oversight. The plan included renovations to aging school facilities and expanded safety measures across the district.
In November 2025, state report card data showed a modest improvement in district performance under the current leadership, with Bessemer earning its highest score since state intervention began — a “C” on the report card — after years of lower ratings. State and local officials credited professional development and standardized procedures for some of the gain.
What’s Next: Oversight and Accountability
While the full scope of the board’s suspension and the authority under which it was enacted has not been publicly detailed, the documents show state officials are maintaining control of district governance as they work to address longstanding problems. It remains unclear when or if board members will resume full duties or what specific conditions must be met for reinstatement.
In an official statement, the Alabama State Department of Education said, “Bessemer City Schools have been under state intervention since Fall of 2024. While a city or county board of education is operating under educational intervention, the Chief Administrative Officer shall have the power and authority to act for and on behalf of the city or county board of education and its superintendent in all matters and for all purposes under the Code of Alabama 1975. Under the intervention law, Code of Alabama 16-6E-4, School Board Members serve only in an advisory capacity, furthermore, city or county board of education members shall meet only at the call of and for specific purposes approved by the State Superintendent of Education or the Chief Administrative Officer. The Chief Administrative Officer, as appointed by law, has determined that those advisory meetings are not offering meaningful input. Therefore, the Bessemer School Board Members have been suspended from regular meetings until further notice. Bessemer School Board Members were all provided notice of the basis for the action.”
The continuing oversight reflects broader efforts by the Alabama Department of Education to improve student achievement, operational stability and financial management in Bessemer, a district that historically struggled with board governance and timely budget approvals.