AASB’s December Convention featured a 21st Century Education panel discussion. The panel included (left to right) Ted Kennedy, co-founder of Birmingham-based BE&K, a worldwide engineering, construction and contract maintenance firm; Sen. Vivian Figures, who chairs the Senate Education Committee; Dr. Neil Lamb of the Hudson-Alpha Institute for Biotechnology in Huntsville; and former state Superintendent of Education and former Auburn University President Dr. Ed Richardson .
Florence Bellamy of the Phenix City Board of Education, who will automatically assume the presidency when Helms’ term ends in 2009 and Vice President Steven T. Foster of the Lowndes County Board of Education. Jim Methvin of the Alabama School of Fine Arts board becomes AASB’s immediate past president. Two new district directors also began their term following convention. AASB District 2 members elected William D. “Bill” Minor Sr. of the Dallas County school board as director, while District 8 chose Pam Doyle of the Muscle Shoals school board.
Two of the association’s nine district directors — District 4’s Katy Smith Campbell and District 6’s Sue Jones — were re-elected to second terms. The remaining directors are District 1’s Patsy Black of Monroe County, District 3’s Jeff Bailey of Covington County, District 5’s Jennifer Parsons of Jefferson County, District 7’s Susan Harris of Winfield and District 9’s Laura Casey of Albertville. Also during the convention in Hoover, the Alabama Caucus of Black School Board Members chose the Rev. Preston Nix of (Continued on page 14)
A Job Well Done Rep. Paul DeMarco of Homewood presented a joint resolution on behalf of the Legislature to outgoing Alabama Association of School Boards President Jim Methvin. The resolution honored Methvin, who is a disability administrator for the state Department of Education Disability Determination Service, for his service as president of the association and his extensive contributions to education in Alabama. Excerpt: WHEREAS, a former member of the Homewood Board of Education, he has served the Alabama Association of School Boards (AASB) as director, vice president and member of various committees before ascending to the presidency; he also holds a position on the board of the Alabama School of Fine Arts; and WHEREAS, he represents Alabama as delegate and member of various committees in the National School Boards Association, including the Federal Relations Network; and WHEREAS, having completed the training requirements of the School Board Member Academy, he has attained Master School Board Member status numerous times and been named to the AASB Master Honor Roll; and WHEREAS, beyond AASB activities, he has contributed his knowledge and experience to Science Course of Study Committees; Science Textbook Committee; Old Schools in a New Century Task Force of the Alabama Historical Commission; Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce Education Task Force, Public Health Department’s Youth Obesity Committee; Department of Education’s Student Health Committee; and the Governor’s Commission on Leadership. ... THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA, BOTH HOUSES THEREOF CONCURRING, that in anticipation of his retirement as president of the Alabama Association of School Boards, we are delighted to recognize Mr. Jim Methvin for his extraordinary service in the field of education, and by copy of this resolution, prepared in tribute, we extend best wishes for continued success. Alabama School Boards • Januar y l Februar y 2008 13