Salaries vary greatly among 3 local systems

Compensation for board members of the three school systems in Covington County varies widely.

The topic of board member compensation came to light recently when Sen. Hank Sanders, D-Selma, successfully carried a bill this legislative session that would up the pay of the Lowndes County Board of Education to $1,000 a month.

That makes the rural system,, which has seven schools and some 1,500 students, the second highest paid school board in Alabama. Huntsville is the only one who pays their board members more.

The increase begins after the next election.

With the move only Huntsville City Schools, Lowndes County and Montgomery County Schools pay their board members $10,000 or more.

Huntsville City Schools pays $13,764; Lowndes will pay $12,000 and Montgomery County pays $10,000.

The state average is about $6,800 per year.

Still, 41 school systems including Andalusia City Schools receive no reparation in a system composed of 1,681 students.

Opp City School board members are paid $1,200 a year or $100 a month for their services in a system comprising 1,286 students.

Covington County Board of Education members make $7,200 a year or $600 a month in a system composed of 3,049 students.

Surrounding school board are paid the following:

• Brewton City School Board, zero;
• Butler County, $7,200 a year;
• Coffee County, $7,200 a year;
• Conecuh County, $7,200 a year;
• Crenshaw County, $4,800 a year;
• Elba City, zero;
• Enterprise City, zero;
• Escambia County, $7,200;
• Geneva City, zero;
• Geneva County, $7,200;
• Pike County, $7,200;
• Troy City, zero

State law says that “members of city and county boards are authorized to receive reasonable compensation for their services, not to exceed $600 per month, unless a higher figure by a local act, upon approval by a majority vote of the members at the board’s annual meeting. Compensation shall be in addition to actual traveling and other necessary expenses incurred in attending meetings and transacting business of the board.”