The search for Montgomery County’s next school superintendent took a surprising turn with revelations about Zickeyous Byrd’s connection to a virtual school scam in Conecuh County. Byrd, one of the finalists for the position, was accused of involvement in a scheme that resulted in fraudulently obtained funds and prison sentences for several educators. The Montgomery Public Schools Board of Education received an email detailing Byrd’s links to the scam, leading to questions about the search process and the thoroughness of the vetting process. Byrd denied any personal involvement and claimed that Conecuh County Schools were victims of the fraudulent company. However, a federal indictment implicated Byrd and CCS officials in the scheme, although Byrd was not indicted or convicted. The indictment outlined how private school data was used to falsely enroll students in virtual schools, resulting in improper payments to various districts. The situation has raised concerns among board members, who were unaware of Byrd’s past until recently. With the superintendent selection approaching, board members worry about the lack of transparency and potential missed information about other candidates. The decision on the new superintendent is scheduled to take place on April 8.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
