State to Take Over Selma Schools

State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice says a new leadership team should be in place at the Selma schools by the last week of February. Bice says state education officials are assembling the team because the state Board of Education voted unanimously to take over the Selma city school system. The takeover follows the arrest of a Selma High School teacher on charges of inappropriate sexual conduct with a student and an investigation by the state Department of Education. That investigation found the Selma system failed to adequately investigate allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior and failed to enforce policies on graduation requirements and testing procedures. District Attorney Michael Jackson, who brought the charges against the teacher, says whatever the state does to help the schools will be a good thing.