Orange Beach, Ala. – (OBA) – The city school board voted 5-0 at a June 7 special meeting to hire Randy Wilkes to be the new system’s first superintendent. Former Orange Beach High/Middle School principal Dr. Robbie Smith has served as interim superintendent since May 23.

There is a meet and greet scheduled for the Coastal Arts Center of Orange Beach on Wednesday, June 8, from 5-7 p.m. for the public to come out and meet Wilkes.

Wilkes comes to Orange Beach from Phenix City where he has served since July 1, 2014. Orange Beach will formally take over schools from Baldwin County on July 1 of this year to begin the first school year for the city system. Read his bio here.

According to usnews.com, Phenix City has more than 7,200 students with 70 percent minorities and 45 percent of the students qualifying for free or reduced lunches. The district has three preschools, eight elementary schools, three middle schools and one high school. The system has a 17:1 student/teacher ratio.

In a whirlwind separation, the city council voted on March 15 to break away from Baldwin County Schools and then on March 30 announced the school board and a 3 percent increase in the lodging tax to help fund the schools.

The board then hired Smith as interim superintendent and has since been hiring personnel and getting infrastructure and school computer programs in place.

The board will also consider hiring a Director of School Operations at the same meeting.

Baldwin County and Orange Beach signed a separation agreement on May 23 at a cost of about $42.5 million for the city.

Other items on the agenda included:

• Approving a pest control contract with Beebe’s

• Approving a contract with Frontline for school administration software

• Approving a contract with RNC Educational Consultants which is based in Mobile