The State Department of Education says the Orange Beach School System owes it millions of dollars. The school board says they've been hard at work for about a year and having productive conversations with the state, trying to find solutions to fix this issue. The Orange Beach School Board hasn't released any new information, however, they do say that they're confident this issue will be resolved by the end of this month.

Back in November, we told you that the Orange Beach City School System owes the State Board of Education Foundation Program $4.6 million dollars. The program allows school systems in Alabama to get state funding.

"We've been working really hard with all the various entities and organizations that have anything to do with the foundation programs. We've had a lot of progress in the last several months. I do believe by the end of this month we should have a firm answer that anyone might have," says Superintendent Randy Wilkes.

There have been murmurings of the school system opting out of the Board of Education Foundation Program, which means the school would have to find another way to get funding. President McKinney says those are just rumors.

"I don't know anything about opting out of the foundation at this point. I've heard this phrase, our teachers are still eligible for RSA retirement, and that hasn't changed,” says McKinney. "I've heard of other people in the community mentioning that the school board hasn't mentioned that at all," says McKinney.

"From everything that we've read that's not an option. But there are other ways to come up with the calculations in regard to the foundation program," says Wilkes.

President McKinney says it’s a rumor that doesn't need to circulate.

"It is damaging and that's not the only rumor going around,” says McKinney. "We're going to make sure that we have a good education for every student that comes through our doors and we're working hard to do that, and we just have to work around the rumors."

Superintendent Wilkes says they've had numerous productive conversations with the state legislature and state board of education to find a resolution. He says they're looking forward to bringing this issue to a close, but he wouldn't discuss the school boards plan.

"There's been a lot of myths about the foundation program, and again we'll be able to give clear decisive answers to all those questions at the end of this month," says Wilkes.

Superintendent Wilkes says parents have no need to fear. He says the fiscal budget is strong and they're already planning for the 2024 fiscal year budget.