Orange Beach School District Updates

ORANGE BEACH, Ala. — Details have emerged on the City of Orange Beach’s split from the Baldwin County School System following recent adoption of a separation agreement, AL.com reports. Financially, the split will help Baldwin County Schools. It is expected to receive $35.5 million in upfront cash from Orange Beach’s purchase of the elementary school, the middle and high school complex, and the Performing Arts Center along Canal Road. Baldwin County will also receive an additional $15 million a year in state Foundation Program money not available with Orange Beach in its budget. The additional money is expected to go toward a forthcoming pay raise for school employees, adding new school buildings and tackling other growth-related issues. Other highlights of the agreement include automatic transferal of job and tenure status for the approximately 130 Orange Beach school employees; the option for all students currently enrolled or preregistered to attend Orange Beach schools as of July, pursuant to attendance or out-of-district policies (with students outside the city limits, such as in Ono Island or Fort Morgan, not being assessed tuition in the next school year but having to pay a $1,000 tuition to attend the city school system in future years); and nine school buses for Orange Beach. However, students in Ono Island and Fort Morgan will need their own transportation. The official separation is set to take place on July 1 and is contingent on the approval of Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey.