State superintendent to stop in Selma on Alabama tour

Published 11:32 pm Tuesday, August 5, 2014

State Superintendent of Education Tommy Bice is coming to town. 

The Alabama Department of Education announced Monday the dates and locations for its Future of Public Education tour.

As a part of the 12-stop tour, Bice will visit Selma High School Sept. 30 at 6 p.m.

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Bice is expected to discuss important education-related topics to the public. Topics include the Plan 2020, Alabama College-and Career-Ready Standards, student testing, accountability and the importance of parental and community involvement.

“I am looking forward to visiting with members of communities throughout the state to share, firsthand, the great work educators and students are doing and discussing the exciting work taking place in the 2014-2015 school year and beyond,” Bice said.

The department wanted to host the tour, because Plan 2020 has been implemented more than ever since Bice was appointed in November 2011 and the new school year is kicking off soon, state spokesperson Melissa Valdez Hubert said.

Plan 2020 is the department’s goal to have all Alabama public schools reach a high school graduation rate of 80 percent by 2016 and rate of 90 percent or more by 2020.

Business and industry partners and representatives from Alabama’s Community Colleges and other education stakeholders will join Bice as he visits schools in each of the eight State Board of Education board districts from Aug. 26 to Oct. 7.

Dallas County Superintendent of Education Don Willingham said the visit would be a pleasure to all that attend.

“I have heard him talk quite at superintendent meetings and different workshops we go to, and he’s a very good speaker,” Willingham said.

The presentation will be from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. and be followed by a half-hour question and answer session.

Selma City School Board President Henry Hicks Sr. said it’s an excellent opportunity for parents to speak directly to Bice about any questions or concerns.

“It’s always great when you have the State Superintendent come into your area,” Hicks said.