Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The Orange Beach City Council voted March 15 to start a city school system.

Councilman Jerry Johnson asked for suspension of the rules to consider the resolution immediately and it was seconded by councilman Jeff Silvers. It passed on a unanimous 6-0 vote. The item was a late addition to the agenda and not on the original agenda the city posted on March 11.

An emotional Tony Kennon had little to say after the vote.

"It’s been a long time coming, it’s been a long battle," a choked up Kennon said.

The council voted to ask citizens for an election on a property tax raise of five mills in September of 2014 with the intent on starting a school system at that time. Voters roundly rejected it by a two to one margin.

Immediately after the vote, Rebecca Wilson who had been a big supporter of the separation in 2014 posted this on Facebook:

"Thank you City of Orange Beach!!! That picture was from 2014 and today you did it!"

When the agenda for the March 15 agenda was released on March 11, an item about a vote for a separate school was not listed. It was added sometime on Tuesday, March 15, hours before the meeting.

"We learned about this agenda item this afternoon around 4 through a public posting from the City of Orange Beach," Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Eddie Tyler said. "We have had no communications with the city or any elected officials regarding such matter. We look forward to learning more about their proposals and actions after tonight’s meeting and later into the week."

The resolution follows:

RESOLUTION NO. 22-xxx A RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING A SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE CITY OF ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA; ESTABLISHING A BOARD OF EDUCATION; AND PROVIDING FOR THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF EDUCATION FINDINGS: 1. The City of Orange Beach, Alabama, is a “City” within the meaning of the provisions of Code of Alabama § 16-11-1 (1975), as amended. 2. Code of Alabama § 16-11-1 et seq., (1975), as amended, provides that cities having a population of five thousand (5,000) or more inhabitants, according to the last federal census, may form a city school system. 3. The City is further authorized to organize and appoint a board of education vested with the general administration and supervision of the public schools and educational interests of the city school system. 4. The Mayor and City Council of the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, has determined that the best interests of the City and its citizens would be served by the establishment of a City Board of Education and the appointment of members thereto in accordance with the provisions of Code of Alabama § 16-11-1 et seq., (1975), as amended. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA, AS FOLLOWS: 1. That there is hereby established a public school system for the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, to be known as the Orange Beach City School System; 2. That there is hereby established a City Board of Education for the Orange Beach City School System (the “Orange Beach City Board of Education”) to consist of five (5) members. The members shall be residents of the City of Orange Beach and shall not be members of the City Council. The members shall be selected based upon their character and fitness. The members shall be appointed by the City Council of the City of Orange each and shall serve a term of five (5) years; provided, however, that one member of the initial Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve a term of one (1) year; one member of the initial Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve a term of two (2) years; one member of the initial Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve a term of three (3) years; one member of the initial Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve a term of four (4) years; and one member of the initial Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve a term of five (5) years; so that the term of one member shall expire annually; 3. That after the initial terms as designated above, each member of the Orange Beach City Board of Education shall serve for a term of five (5) years. In the event of a vacancy in the membership of the Orange Beach City Board of Education by resignation or otherwise, the successor shall be appointed as provided by the law to fill the vacancy for the unexpired term. A member shall serve on the Orange Beach City Board of Education until his or her successor assumes office; and 4. That the Orange Beach City Board of Education shall have all the power, authority, and duties as provided by law including, but not limited to, the administration and supervision of the public schools and education interests of the Orange Beach City School System and shall be responsible Resolution No. 22-xxx (cont’d) Page 2 to maintain and do all things necessary and proper for the management of the Orange Beach City School System. ADOPTED THIS 15th DAY OF MARCH, 2022. _______________________________ Tony Kennon Mayor C E R T I F I C A T E I, Renee Eberly, City Clerk of the City of Orange Beach, Alabama, do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of Resolution No. 22-xxx, which was duly and legally adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council on March 15, 2022.