Central Alabama Education Committee to Meet at Hoover Board of Education

The Education Committee of the Central Alabama Action Commission (CAAC) will hold its first meeting at the Hoover Board of Education (2801 Metropolitan Way – Hoover 35243) on Tuesday, October 16, 2007 at 1:00 PM.  The CAAC includes Blount, Chilton, Jefferson, Shelby, St. Clair and Walker Counties. 

Speakers include Hoover Mayor Tony Petelos and State Representative and CAAC Co-Chair Cam Ward.  Also scheduled to speak are CAAC Education Co-Chairs Dr. Jack Riley, Dean of Graduate Studies at the University of Montevallo, and Sallye Longshore, Director, Regional Inservice Center at the University of Montevallo.

CAAC is a region of the Alabama Rural Action Commission (ARAC) which is comprised of eight regional “Action Commissions” encompassing all 67 Alabama counties. ARAC was created by Governor Bob Riley in May based upon the successful model established with the Black Belt Action Commission (BBAC) in 2004.

BBAC has over 800 volunteers who have worked with local and state officials to expand economic growth, improve access to health care and boost education in the region.  Members of the BBAC help recruit new and expanding industries, bring free computers to school systems, and offer free health fairs and comprehensive eye care in the Black Belt.

Former State Senator Gerald Dial serves as the Executive Director of Alabama Rural Action Commission.  ARAC Phase One focuses on Education, Economic Development, Workforce Development and Health. The ARAC plan leaves autonomy with the regional leadership to create further committees as deemed necessary to focus on local issues.   

For more information on the Alabama Rural Action Commission or the Central Alabama Action Commission, please contact Bessie Sharp at Bessie.Sharp@adeca.alabama.gov or call (334) 353-8286.