Montgomery, AL – The possibility that three new members could be elected to the nine-member state school board means a potential political shift to the panel.
The board has drawn the ire of some Democrats and a few Republicans with new policies barring legislators from working for two-year colleges.
There are currently five Republicans on the nine-member board, including Gov. Bob Riley, who serves as the panel's president because of his office.
Votes have have often fallen along party lines as the board grapples with the aftermath of corruption in the postsecondary department.
Republicans on the board say they're worried the changes they've made will be undone. Critics of some of the new policies say a change would provide increased accountability.
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)