State officials say an intervention in the Birmingham school district could extend into September 2014.
Former State Superintendent Ed Richardson, who leads the intervention team, said the state board of education should not end the intervention prematurely. Al.com (http://bit.ly/14ec8z3 ) reports the effort marks the state's fourth intervention in the local school system in 12 years.
Richardson said ending the state's involvement now could mean having to return in two or three years. The local system recently showed it had one month's of operating revenue in reserve, a state requirement.
State officials decided to intervene last year as the system faced a $20 million deficit. State officials assumed direct control over school district finances.
District enrollment has fallen from 35,000 students in 2000 to less than 25,000 now.
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Information from: The Birmingham News, http://www.al.com/birminghamnews