On Tuesday, October 7, Pell City united to celebrate a significant moment as the newly appointed members of the Pell City Board of Education were officially sworn into office.
This event marks the first Board appointed by the City Council for the City of Pell City in more than 30 years, and its membership represents the final step in a years-long process to ensure complete representation for all students in the Pell City School System.
Appointed were five new members — Eddie Wilson, Matt Moon, Jarrett Jacobs, Dr. Gary London Sr., and Ryan Abernathy — who begin staggered terms, providing new governance for the school system alongside Superintendent Dr. Justin Burns.
During the meeting on Tuesday, the Board appointed Moon as President and Jacobs as Vice-President.
“It's an honor to be chosen, and it's an honor to work with Dr. Burns and this Board,” Moon said. “I look forward to building a bridge with the City and everyone in our administration to do great things for our children.”
This transition is focused on setting a new course for educational excellence and the goal of providing a vote and a voice to all students. Until now, residents within the Pell City School Attendance Zone, including thousands in the unincorporated St. Clair County portion of the district, have been without voting representation on the Board.
“We've started something special tonight that we want to continue,” Dr. Burns said. “We're going to need your support because we want great things for this system and the people of this community.”
The process began in January 2024 when the Board and City Council supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would return the Board to an appointed body. The legislation requires that at least two representatives reside in the St. Clair County portion of the Pell City Schools Attendance Zone.
In November 2024, St. Clair County voters overwhelmingly approved the Amendment. The appointment process moved quickly thereafter to align as closely as possible with the required schedule for appointed boards of education in Alabama:
- October 2024: Prior to the vote, the City Council activated the Pell City Board of Education Steering Committee, which meticulously developed the application and selection criteria.
- November 2024: Local Amendment 1 is approved by voters.
- June 2025: The Committee and City Council conducted joint interviews with 18 highly qualified finalists.
- July 1, 2025: The City Council for the City of Pell City made the appointments, selecting the five individuals based on their diverse expertise in finance, education, and strategic management.
“One of the most exciting things we saw is that by taking the politics out of this, 47 individuals raised their hands and said they love the children of our community, and they wanted to be a part of making Pell City Schools the best that it can be," Mayor Bill Pruitt said. "And I'm just so proud of the five gentlemen who were chosen. I want to thank them all for stepping up.”
Under Alabama state law, the appointment process will now occur annually to ensure continuity: one member's term expires each year, with the City Council required to appoint a successor in April, who then officially assumes their five-year term at the Board's regular meeting in June.
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