Following a 6-1 vote from the Baldwin County Board of Education, Baldwin County’s schools now have a dean of academics to oversee curriculum development and manage the system’s testing data.

The board chose Dr. Joyce Woodburn to fill the newly created position, one that was part of the recommendations given to the board by the Community Action Task Force last year.

However, the creation of the position was not without some opposition.

“I felt like we’d have to have an extremely strong candidate to justify the salary, and I have no doubt that this person will do a great job but I don’t see the experience and the skill set that matches that salary,” Board Member David Cox said. “I don’t have an opposition to the recommendation or the person, but I do have opposition to putting someone with that experience level and skill set in that position.”

BCBE President Shannon Cauley said she felt Woodburn was highly qualified for the position and thought Woodburn could be a big help to the system.

“She’s been in our system before and she has an impeccable reputation,” Cauley said. “I’m really excited she is coming back and is willing to step in to help Baldwin County regain some of its excellence.”

Board Member Angie Swiger took time to thank Superintendent Eddie Tyler for creating the position and listening to what the task force said the system needed.

“Creating a position for a dean of academics speaks volumes for our commitment to curriculum and where we want to go as a county,” Swiger said.

When the board took action on the proposal, Cox was the lone vote against the hire.

Woodburn currently serves as the dean of the College of Education at the University of Mobile.

The salary for the new dean of academics position will be $117,000 per year.