News Summary
The Birmingham City Board of Education has voted nearly unanimously against the application from the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation School to establish a second campus in the city. The decision followed a recommendation from the evaluation committee, citing insufficient academic and operational criteria. With plans to appeal to the Alabama Charter School Commission, the school aims to provide better educational opportunities for Birmingham’s students, especially as demand for aerospace education grows amidst an industry shortage.
Birmingham Board Says No to New Aerospace School Campus
In a recent decision that stirred up quite a conversation, the Birmingham City Board of Education voted against the application from the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation School to set up a second campus in the city. The vote was nearly unanimous, with only one board member choosing to abstain, showcasing a clear stance from the board. This decision comes on the heels of a recommendation from both the evaluation committee and the superintendent, indicating the application did not meet the necessary criteria for approval.
Breaking Down the Scores
Digging into the specifics of the application, the academic section received a score of 31 out of 56. Unfortunately, this score fell short of what was needed for a recommendation. The areas considered in this evaluation included a wide range of factors, such as curriculum instruction, unique programming, student requirements, and family and community engagement.
Here’s a quick look at some scores from the academic section:
Program overview: 2/4
Curriculum instruction: 2/4
Student performance: 3/4
High school graduation requirement: 2/4
School culture: 3/4
Unique programming: 1/4
Family and community engagement: 1/4
This breakdown reveals notable concerns, especially in areas like unique programming and community involvement, where the school received low scores. It was also highlighted that there had been a significant lack of parent and community events relating to the Birmingham location, with no such activities disclosed since 2020.
Operational and Financial Shortcomings
In addition to academic concerns, the operational plan scored 20 out of 32, once again failing to meet the threshold. The specific ratings for this section included:
Governing board: 2/4
Staff plan: 3/4
Facilities: 2/4
These ratings show some levels of preparedness but also point to areas that require improvement.
When it came to the financial plan, the school’s application fell particularly short, scoring only 3 out of 8. Specific areas of concern in this section included a lack of completeness in the financial narrative and an evident gap in financial management capacity. All these scores highlight that the school has some work to do before it can expand its reach in Birmingham.
Looking Ahead: The Appeal
With the board’s decision out of the way, the school’s director is already planning to appeal the rejection to the Alabama Charter School Commission. The school has expressed a clear goal of wanting to provide a quality educational option for the citizens of Birmingham, an objective that its leadership believes is more crucial than ever, especially considering the growing demand for education in the aerospace and aviation sectors.
Currently, the Alabama Aerospace and Aviation School, located in Bessemer, serves approximately 60% of its student body from Birmingham. This phenomenal statistic highlights the need for a closer educational option for those students. As of now, the school is set to graduate its first class in May 2025, with many students reportedly working towards private pilot licenses and certifications in aircraft maintenance.
Potential New Campuses
As the appeal is processed, the school is keeping its options open with two potential sites for its new campus on the table: one at Birmingham Southern and another at Kirby Middle School, which has been unused for over a decade. If everything goes according to plan and the appeal is successful, we might see the new campus welcoming students as early as Fall 2026. This could represent an exciting opportunity for the area, tapping into the burgeoning aerospace industry that faces a notable pilot shortage.
In the meantime, the community watches closely to see how this situation develops. Everyone is hoping for a resolution that ultimately benefits the students and families in Birmingham, offering them more educational choices in the fast-evolving fields of aerospace and aviation.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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Additional Resources
- ABC 33/40
- Yellowhammer News
- CBS 42
- Birmingham Times
- MSN News
- Wikipedia: Aerospace Industry
- Google Search: Aerospace Education
- Google Scholar: Aerospace Charter Schools
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Aerospace
- Google News: Aerospace Education News
Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER
The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.
