Birmingham Board of Education approves new contract for Superintendent Sullivan

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) — The Birmingham Board of Education voted Tuesday night to approve a proposed three-year contract for Superintendent Dr. Mark Sullivan.

The vote comes after that of Dr. Sullivan performance evaluation was presented in early September, showcasing several achievements under his leadership.

The vote passed 6-2, with six yes votes and two no votes.

Background of Dr. Mark Sullivan

Dr. Mark Sullivan has since served as superintendent of Birmingham City Schools August 2020. During his tenure, he has overseen several initiatives aimed at improving educational outcomes in the district.

Evaluation details

The evaluation, led by board member Mary Boehm, chair of the Superintendent Evaluation Committee, focused on data-driven goals established with input from a Harvard-affiliated group. These Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) were divided into four main pillars: student success, team excellence, stakeholder trust, and systems and planning. The student success pillar had the highest weight in the evaluation.

The evaluation showed that Dr. Sullivan achieved seven of the nine goals within the Student Success Pillar. The total KPI score that Dr. Sullivan achieved a score of 3.85 out of 4, which placed him in the ‘Above Expectations’ category.

Board members rated Dr. Sullivan also focuses on nine competencies, including leadership, district culture, planning and development, and human resources. The average score in this section was 2.91 out of 4, classified as ‘Meets expectations’. The total overall score of the evaluation was 3.57, indicating a performance in the ‘Above Expectations’ category. After presenting the evaluation, board members recognized Dr. Sullivan with a round of applause.

Statements from board members and chief inspector

Dr. Sullivan expressed his gratitude to the board members and the evaluation committee for their recognition and support.

Jason Meadows, chairman of the Birmingham City Schools Board and representative of District 9, noted the rigorous nature of the evaluation process and emphasized that Birmingham City Schools includes academic performance as part of KPIs – an element not mandated by the Alabama Association of Schools Boards .

“Dr. Sullivan has more oversight than some other school districts in the state,” Meadows said. He cited an increase in literacy outcomes, from 50 to 81 percent, as evidence of the superintendent’s impact. But he added: “We still have a long way to go. A long way to go. But there is hard work is being done.”

Academic performance and upcoming engagement

District leaders reported improvements in reading and math scores under Dr. Sullivan. On November 18, Dr. Sullivan co-taught a class at Harvard University focusing on a case study highlighting the achievements of Birmingham City Schools.

The board’s decision on the contract will determine whether Dr. Sullivan will continue to lead the district for the next three years.