The Alabama State Board of Education has voted unanimously to take over operations of the Montgomery Public School system.

WSFA-TV reports that the state board appointed Barbara Cooper as the Chief Administrative Officer for the takeover. She will answer directly to the state superintendent.

Cooper has been deputy superintendent of Huntsville City Schools and became the Deputy State Superintendent of Teaching and Learning on Dec. 1.

The state also will hire a chief educational officer within the next few weeks to help directly with the takeover.

In January, State Superintendent Michael Sentance issued a letter to the Montgomery district that listed seven deficiencies that needed to be addressed:

• Fiscal procedures, budgeting, accountability, and accuracy
• Child nutrition program procedures
• Student transportation systems management and operations
• Student academic achievement
• College and career ready rates
• The gap between graduation rates and college or career ready rates
• High school graduation rate

Sentance says up to $1 million is being set aside by the state to help with the intervention.

Video from WSFA-TV: