During the public comment segment of last night’s Leeds City Council meeting several residents asked the question, “How do we get to elect members of the board of education?” Currently, the Leeds Board of Education members are appointed to a five-year term per a member of the Leeds City Council representing each district.

Detailing the lengthy process, Mayor Eric Patterson said, “It’s a minimum of two to two-and-a-half years away. This has to go through Montgomery, then a plan of how they will be elected is sent through to be approved by the Justice Department. To change how we do things is not an overnight fix.”

Letting council meeting attendees know that the council has no control over the Leeds Board of Education, those who were at the meeting asked who does. Council woman Susan Carswell said, “the members of the board of education.”

Focusing on how to move forward and to handle today’s issues Carswell along with Councilman Kenneth Washington urged the public to contact their board of education members with any concerns regarding the schools.

Superintendent John J. Moore offered to meet with two women who were on hand and concerned with several issues brought up at last week’s Leeds Board of Education meeting. And Patterson offered that each council member would sit down with their appointed board of education member to relay any concerns they’ve been addressed with or people have relayed to them.

“We can conduct a fact finding information session, if we need to,” said Patterson. 

For further information on this meeting and more pick-up a copy of The St. Clair News-Aegis this Thursday at the green newsstands throughout the county.