MONTGOMERY — Former two-year college chancellor and GOP gubernatorial candidate Bradley Byrne says he isn’t campaigning for the state school superintendent’s job, but wouldn’t rule out interest as the process progresses.

Byrne, who was defeated by Gov. Robert Bentley in the 2010 Republican Party runoff, said he is content now practicing law in Mobile and running his foundation.

In recent days, Byrne’s name has been floated as a possible successor to Joe Morton, who announced June 9 that he was retiring, effective Aug. 31, after more than seven years on the job.

“I’ve listened to the rumors,” said Byrne. “All these things I can’t stop people from talking about. Montgomery is a great echo chamber. At this point in time, I’m not giving any consideration to it, but I don’t want to box myself in.”

Meanwhile, Bentley assured members of the state Board of Education in an email that he supports a national search for Morton’s replacement, that the entire board should have input and that he plans to be actively involved.

By virtue of his position, Bentley is president of the board, but has just one vote. The governor has only attended one meeting since he took office.

Bentley’s office did not respond to a request for comment on whether he might support Byrne, but two board members — one a Democrat and one a Republican — said they would not.

Mary Scott Hunter of Huntsville, a Republican who represents District 8, said Alabama has made outstanding progress in K-12,  currently ranking 25th overall in the nation.

However, she said the next superintendent must address academic achievement and skilled technical training for the state to prosper and to compete with Florida and Tennessee.

“I seek a candidate whose skill set and experience enables them to address these two critical areas, and, while he is committed to education, I do not see Mr. Byrne in the role,” she said.

Ella Bell of Montgomery, a Democrat, said Byrne is not qualified to be superintendent.

“If Bradley is qualified, so am I. Education is just not that high on his list,” she said. “I’m just not feeling it as far as Bradley Byrne. I’m not going to look at anyone who doesn’t give us a better way to go.”

Board member Betty Peters of Dothan said she had a “good working relationship” with Byrne while he was the chancellor of the state’s two-year college system, but she was unsure of his qualifications at the K-12 level.

“I’d like to talk to anyone who might get appointed about their ideas about K-12, especially common core standards,” she said. “If you had a search, you’d get that kind of stuff.”

Stephanie Bell of Montgomery said it’s important for the whole board — not just a committee — to participate in the selection process.

“We must not settle on a handpicked, political appointment whether they are from within the state Department of Education or from some other arena,” she said.

Randy McKinney of Gulf Shores, vice president of the board, said he had not heard from Byrne about the job.

Of the nine members on the board, seven said they supported a national search. The Times was unable to contact Yvette Richardson of Fairfield and Gary Warren of Haleyville.

‘”It is the intent of the board to have an open and transparent search for the superintendent’s position,” said McKinney.

He added he hopes the board will make clear that whoever is appointed as Morton’s interim replacement will not be a candidate for the permanent job.

Ex-Detroit Public Schools Superintendent Kenneth Burnley has died in Alaska, where he was heading a sprawling 17,000-student district north of Anchorage. He was 69.

Alaskan Heritage Memorial Chapel owner John R. Lee says Burnley died Saturday. Lee says more information will be available Sunday afternoon.

The Anchorage Daily News says Burnley died at Alaska Regional Medical Center after complications from double knee-replacement surgery.

Burnley became Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District superintendent in July 2010.

He spent 2000-2005 as head of the struggling Detroit school district, which then as now faced serious financial problems, a steady loss of students and complaints of low academic performance.

Before coming to Detroit, Burnley led school systems in Fairbanks, Alaska, and Colorado Springs, Colo., where he was named national superintendent of the year in 1993.

Illinois’ New Teacher Law: Model for Other States, or Outlier? EdWeek:  Several aspects of Illinois’ new law, and a separate teacher-evaluation measure approved by the state last year, will prove tricky to implement… Illinois Teacher Accountability Now Official HuffED:  Stakeholders in Chicago also applauded the passage of the bill Monday, but they say what the law will actually do is not yet entirely clear… Downstate schools won’t feel ed reform immediately Statehouse News:  Most Illinois school districts are not expected to feel the impact of new education reforms for years… MORE COVERAGE BELOW

Quinn signs landmark education bill Sun Times:  Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn signed a sweeping education overhaul into law Monday morning, paving the way for longer school days for Chicago students and making it harder for teachers to go on strike… Video: Matt Vanover on ed reform Statehouse News:  ISBE spokesperson Matt Vanover speaks about the newly signed education reform… Quinn signs bill that lengthens school day: One U.S. Department of Education official called it a collaborative model for other states to follow. …  Education reform bill makes it tougher for teachers to strike, easier to be fired WBEZ:  Quinn scheduled a bill signing at an elementary school in the Chicago suburb of Maywood, the hometown of one of the measure’s key legislative sponsors, state senator Kimberly Lightford (D-Maywood)…  How Stand for Children helped push Illinois school reforms through Tribune:  The group’s work in Colorado attracted the attention of Bruce Rauner, a wealthy Chicago venture capitalist who backs school reform. Rauner has strong ties to Emanuel and former Mayor Richard Daley…

Fenton, Linden and Lake Fenton school districts all approved their budgets for the new school year that started Friday.

Heres a rundown of what each district is facing this school year:

Fenton

Fenton made $1.4 million in cuts to its $28 million budget for this year. Its fund balance is at 5.1 percent.

In June the school board pink-slipped 15 teachers.

Doug Busch, director of finance and personnel, said he expects some teachers will be called back in early August. The district continues to monitor its enrollment over the summer, he said.

The school also has a new full-day kindergarten that it hopes will draw students to the district.

Cuts also came from elsewhere in the budget, including reducing supply budgets and eliminating overtime.

We were able to keep the cuts out of the classroom as much as possible, Busch said.

The district is getting help from a one-time payment from the state to partially offset the retirement increase of almost $336,000.

Moving sixth-grade students into Schmidt Middle School – Donaldson Drive Campus also is saving the district about $330,000.

Lake Fenton

This years budget for Lake Fenton has the school district in the red by $854,686.

The district is holding off on deciding whether itll make necessary cuts or dip into its nearly $2.7 million fund balance until it knows more from its student count.

Well look at that as the year comes, said Superintendent Wayne Wright

Lake Fenton is doing relatively well compared to its neighboring districts. The school district has seen enrollment steadily increasing for more than five years. Last school year, the district grew by 40 students and this year it projects an increase of 10 students.

Linden

Linden took a big part of its fund balance to avoid devastating cuts this year reducing its 8.5 percent fund balance $2.073 million to 3 percent.

The school board voted to go below its self-imposed 5 percent minimum so it wouldnt have to lay off 5.5 teachers saving the district about $422,282.

Superintendent Ed Koledo recommended dipping further into the districts fund balance to buy the district time to seek concessions from the teachers union.

This budget doesnt do anything to better that situation, but it does not make it worse, Koledo said.

Linden made its .

The school district also has a contingency plan in place for later this year, if the district is forced to make mid-year cuts because of funding shortages. The contingency includes cutting teachers, athletics and freezing discretionary accounts.

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — The Montgomery County Board of Education on Tuesday approved an adjustment of its fiscal year 2011 budget in an effort to finish the year with a financial reserve of $2.2 million, reports The Montgomery Advertiser.

The board previously decided at a work session that a fund balance for the fiscal year should fall between $2 million and $4.5 million, according to the report.

Montgomery Public Schools superintendent Barbara Thompson told WSFA 12 News Montgomery the move is a step in the right direction for the school system.

WSFA reports the board projected a zero balance in its reserve funds at the start of the coming school year.

The vote passed 6-0.