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Qualifying began Wednesday for the upcoming election to fill three seats on the Andalusia City Schools Board of Education.

The city’s school board is made up of five members representing specific districts within the city. Elections for the board seats rotate with three to be decided this year and two others to be decided in 2025. The seats to be decided in this year’s election represent Dist. 1, Dist. 3, and Dist. 5.

Qualifying for election to the school board seats will continue through July 18, 2023. The election will be held on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Kiwanis Community Building. A runoff will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, if no candidate receives a majority of votes.

The school board members are decided by voters within each district. Residents in District 2 and District 4 will not be voting on school board members in this election cycle. Those seats are held by Parrish King and Amy Dugger, who currently serves as president of the board.

At least one of the seats up for election this year will have a new member as David Bryant, representing Dist. 3, has said he will not seek another term. The remaining two seats are currently held by Sammy Glover, Dist. 1, and David McCalman, Dist. 5.

Bryant has served on the board since October 2002 and said that after 21 years he felt the time was right to step down.

“I am filled with profound gratitude for the unwavering support the community has shown me over the past 20 years as a member of the school board. Your trust, encouragement, and dedication to our community’s education have been invaluable,” Bryant said. “I want to extend my deepest appreciation to all those who voted for me, believing in my ability to serve our district and make a positive impact. Your votes were not merely an endorsement of me, but a testament to your belief in the power of education and its potential to shape lives. To my fellow board members, superintendents past and present, faculty and staff, thank you for your service, your dedication, and your commitment to the students of Andalusia City Schools. Together, we have worked tirelessly to foster an environment where students thrive and reach their full potential. The successes we have achieved as a team are a direct result of your commitment and collaboration. Thank you for standing by me, for championing our cause, and for helping to make Andalusia City Schools the exceptional system it is today. The tradition of excellence that our schools was founded on continues, and I am proud to be a lifelong Bulldog.”