ORANGE BEACH – Orange Beach would become the second Baldwin County community to split off from the Baldwin County School System and create its own school system and board of education under a resolution passed Tuesday, March 15, by the City Council.

The resolution was not on the agenda published before the meeting. Members voted unanimously to add the proposal to the agenda and approve the measure.

Audience members applauded after the council voted to create a separate school system. Members did not discuss the resolution before the vote.

 “It’s been a long time coming,” was Mayor Tony Kennon’s only comment after the vote.

Baldwin County Superintendent of Education Eddie Tyler said he did not know about the plan before Tuesday.

“We learned about this agenda item this afternoon around 4 through a public posting from the city of Orange Beach,” Tyler said. “We have had no communications with the city or any elected officials regarding such matter. We look forward to learning more about their proposals and actions after tonight’s meeting and later into the week.”

Under the plan, the city would appoint five residents to the municipal board of education. The first terms would be different lengths, from one to five years. As the first terms expired, new terms would be five years.

The Orange Beach City Board of Education would have authority over the new system, “including, but not limited to, the administration and supervision of the public schools and education interests of the Orange Beach City School System and shall be responsible to maintain and do all things necessary and proper for the management of the Orange Beach City School System,” the resolution stated.

The resolution did not give a date for the creation of the new system.

In 2014, Orange Beach voters rejected a proposal to increase local property taxes to pay for the cost of a separate school system.

Gulf Shores residents voted in 2017 to form the first separate school system in Baldwin County.