During the past two months, the Pell City Board of Education Steering Committee, a seven-member board assembled in 2024 by the city council, has worked to develop the application. The process included the review of more than a dozen appointment procedures and applications from across the United States.

“The committee has taken its assignment seriously, and its members have worked to create a robust document meant to identify those who will deliver excellence in all aspects of Pell City Schools,” Steering Committee Chair Kelly Furgerson said.

The 5-page application includes essay questions, educational information about board of education service in Alabama, and an explanation of the local appointment process now required under Alabama Act 2024-111, which was passed in November 2024 by St. Clair County voters.

During the meeting, the council also approved the committee’s timeline for delivering its recommendations for appointment. In a document delivered to the city containing the committee’s recommendations, Furgerson said that appointments should be made this summer.

“The most critical time for a board of education member is during the late summer, especially leading into the beginning of the new school year,” the committee’s recommendations read. “During this time, school administration is analyzing data from the previous year, setting goals for the upcoming year, and most importantly developing the budget for the year to follow.”

The city council approved the committee’s recommendation and adopted the following timeline to receive recommended candidates:

— Feb. 25, 2025: Release of the official application for appointment
— March 31, 2025: Close application submissions at 5 p.m.
— April 30, 2025: Completion of applicant review and selection of candidates for interview
— May 24, 2025: Completion of all candidate interviews
— June 1, 2025: Recommendation of candidates for appointment to city council

Individuals seeking appointment to the Board of Education must submit a completed application to the city of Pell City by 5 p.m. March 31, 2025.  Applications received after the deadline or incomplete applications will not be considered.

The application for appointment can be found at pell-city.com/education.