ORANGE BEACH – Former Orange Beach High School Principal Robbie Smith will serve as interim superintendent of the new Orange Beach school system.

The Orange Beach City School Board voted unanimously Tuesday, April 12 to appoint Smith, who had retired as high school principal the day before. Smith will serve as interim superintendent, helping prepare the system for its separation from the Baldwin County School System on July 1.

Smith had announced her intention to retire as principal before the Orange Beach City Council voted March 15 to separate from the Baldwin County Public School System and form a separate school system.

“There're things that had to happen to get us here and Robbie took a chance on us and I'm very happy to say that she has agreed to step in the gap for interim superintendent,” Robert Stuart, board president, said.

Other board members said Smith was the best choice for the transition.

“I think it's important for the continuity,” Shannon Robinson said. “There's so much going on so quickly and I think that her connection with everything going on will help with the smooth transition for the students and for the staff and the parents.”

Member Randy McKinney said Smith’s knowledge of the local schools and system will help Orange Beach make the change in the short time available.

“I think she's the perfect choice for the transition and I think the continuity that we've been talking about is wonderful and I think that if we want to make this transition in record time, then the right team needs to be put together and thank you for leading that,” McKinney said.

The board will advertise for a permanent superintendent to be selected before the system is established in July, Nash Campbell, a lawyer working with the board, said Tuesday.

The board also voted to appoint Ford Handley, Orange Beach city finance director, as interim chief school financial officer.

“I appreciate your willingness to step into the gap. The time frame, I've heard it called ridiculous. I've heard it called breaking the time barrier and all this, but we're Orange Beach. We're used to doing things that others can't do,” Stuart told Handley. “I appreciate you Ford. I appreciate the time and effort you're putting into this.”

The board voted Thursday, April 14, to set a school calendar and dress code for the 2022-23 academic year. In the first year, Orange Beach will follow the same calendar and uniform code as the Baldwin County school system. Board members said keeping the same calendar and dress policy will help avoid confusion during the transition.

Upcoming issues include hiring transferring teachers and other school system staff members, who are now employed by the Baldwin County Public School System. The board will also have to set a policy on students who live outside Orange Beach but attend schools in the city.

One question has been whether to charge tuition to students whose families live outside Orange Beach and do not pay municipal property taxes.

Member Nelson Bauer said one possible action would be to allow students now attending Orange Beach schools to continue and to take a year to decide on charging fees.

“I think that Ono, Fort Morgan, if they're going to the schools, they should continue going to the schools. There are several kids on my middle school baseball team and I see their faces. This is where their friends are, so I think that's important,” Bauer said. “Maybe since we're high-speed and everybody's concerned that we consider grace the first year and then look at the following year, us implementing that tuition, whatever that tuition is for those areas and then they can plan for that.”

Smith said another issue is transporting students living outside Orange Beach.

“One thing to consider is transportation,” Smith said. “For some students, if they are outside the transportation limits, working parents just can't get them here. That will be a factor as well.”

Bus driver Ed Harrington said he picks up about 30 students on Baldwin County 6 and Baldwin County 8 and on Plash Island. He said some students ride the bus for more than an hour. He said other students also come from Fort Morgan.

“The two biggest things are going to be related to people, the kids and adults. Stuff's easy. Stuff doesn't have feelings,” Stuart said. “I wish the thing that we could do first is put everybody at ease and I know that's impossible, but as soon as we could do that, the better.”

Board members said they hoped to reach a decision on out-of-town students in the upcoming week.