>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

SOME BREAKING NEWS TO SHARE: ALABAMA SECRETARY OF COMMERCE GREG CANFIELD WILL BE STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS CABINET POST EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

CANFIELD HAS LED THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AS ALABAMA'S LEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPER FOR 12 YEARS ACROSS TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.

MOST RECENTLY, HE CRAFTED A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE KNOWN AS THE GAME PLAN THAT REVAMPED THE STATE'S INCENTIVES LAWS TO MODERNIZE INDUSTRIAL RECRUITMENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON, LAUDING CANFIELD FOR HIS SERVICE SAYING HE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF ALABAMA'S GREATEST EVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS.

IVEY HAS TAPPED ELLEN MCNAIR OF THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BECOME THE NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IN THE NEW YEAR.

ALABAMA'S LATEST JOBS REPORT IS OUT WITH SOME MIXED NEWS.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR SEPTEMBER WAS 2.2%, THAT'S UP SLIGHTLY FROM THE ALL TIME LOW OF 2.1% IN AUGUST.

THE STATE HAS BEEN FOCUSED MORE ON THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, WHICH MEASURES THE PERCENTAGE OF ABLE BODIED INDIVIDUALS OVER 16 EITHER WORKING OR LOOKING FOR WORK.

THAT RATE REMAINED AT 57% FOR SEPTEMBER, AS STATE LEADERS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE.

WE REPORTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES AT BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE THAT THREATEN TO CLOSE THE INSTITUTION.

THIS WEEK, THE COLLEGE FILED SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF ALABAMA AFTER IT WAS DENIED AN EMERGENCY LOAN BY THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE CREATED A DISTRESSED COLLEGE LOAN FUND WHEN OPTING AGAINST A DIRECT BAILOUT OF THE COLLEGE.

BUT THE LOANS REQUIRE AN APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.

STATE TREASURE YOUNG BOOZER'S OFFICE SAID BECAUSE OF THE LITIGATION IT COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE REASONS WHY THE LOAN APPLICATION WAS DENIED.

A HEARING ON THE LAWSUIT IS SET FOR WEDNESDAY.

THIS WEEK, CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ADVOCATES AND SOME STUDENTS GATHERED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR THE NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

THE EVENT FEATURED A LEGISLATIVE PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, INCLUDING A PUSH TO GET EQUITABLE FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE, PLUS A KEYNOTE SPEECH FROM LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH.

>> CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING SURE WE'RE COMPETITIVE IN A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY.

IT'S GOING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED IN ALABAMA.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY BELIEF THIS IN EDUCATION, I THINKEN PARENTS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHETHER A CHARTER SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOME SCHOOL, PARENTS NEED TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST.

>> WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S CHANGES THAT WE GOT THROUGH THIS YEAR I THINK WE'LL SEE A SNOWBALL EFFECT, THE ONE WE HOPED WE WOULD SEE IN '16 AND '17 AND '18 AND WE DID NOT.

BUT I THINK, NOW, WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD, AND WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT IS THE CHILDREN OF ALABAMA.

>> OFTENTIMES, THEY STAND IN ONE LANE BUT I FORCED THEM TO START LOOKING AT OUTCOMES.

AS A PARENT, AS A FORMER TEACHER MYSELF, BUT AS A PARENT, OUTCOMES MATTER.

HAVING YOUR CHILD IN A SCHOOL THAT GIVES YOUR CHILD THE OPTIONS AND THE ABILITY TO BE THE RIGOR OF THE CURRICULUM TO BE INCREASED AND ADVANCED BASED UPON WHERE YOUR CHILD IS INSTEAD OF THAT CHILD BEING STANDING IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

>> WE ARE SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON FUNDING AND MAKING SURE THAT -- [APPLAUSE] -- WE HAVE ABOUT A $2,400 PER STUDENT AVERAGE GAP BETWEEN WHAT A DISTRICT SCHOOL GETS AND WHAT A CHARTER SCHOOL GETS.

THOSE ARE BOTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS THAN YOUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS, BUT THEY'RE GETTING LESS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT HIGHER STANDARD.

>> EACH YEAR, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT THEME, AND THE THEME THIS YEAR IS REALLY ABOUT THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS.

ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT THESE DAYS IS THAT A NUMBER OF NEW PARTNERS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE COMING TO THE TABLE TO PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS.

SO WE HAVE A MOVEMENT AMONG HBCUS IN ALABAMA TO ESTABLISH CHARTER SCHOOLS ON THEIR CAMPUS.

WE HAVE OTHER INSTITUTIONS COMING TO THE TABLE LIKE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA, THEN A BUNCH OF FOLKS IN THE NON-PROFIT AND EVEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT ARE COMING AND BRINGING NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS THAT ARE KIND OF CREATING THESE BREAK-THE-MODEL CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND THEIR TUITION-FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.

>> CHECKING IN NOW WITH ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS STILL WITHOUT A SPEAKER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER KEVIN MCCARTHY WAS REMOVED.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK NOMINATED OHIO CONGRESSMAN JIM JORDAN, BUT HE COULD NOT WIN THE MAJORITY NEEDED TO WIN THE GAVEL AFTER THREE FLOOR VOTES.

EACH OF ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED FOR JORDAN FOR SPEAKER EACH TIME, WITH LONE DEMOCRAT TERRI SEWELL VOTING FOR HER PARTY'S NOMINEE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE EXPECTED TO REGROUP TO DISCUSS A WAY FORWARD MONDAY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAPITOL, CONTINUED FOCUS ON ISRAEL.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT IS ON HER WAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS WITH PLANS TO MEET WITH LEADERS AND REAFFIRM OUR COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AS WAR RAGES IN THE HOLY LAND.

>> AS A MOM, AS AN AMERICAN AND AS A CHRISTIAN, I AM ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

ON OUR TRIP, MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL ADVOCATE FOR STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AS WE WORK TOWARDS LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE PEACE THAT KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE AT HOME AND ABROAD.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD TO ENSURE THAT ISRAEL HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS.

>> U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S DECISION TO SEND $100 MILLION DOLLARS IN HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA.

WHILE THE AID IS MEANT TO EASE SUFFERING OF CIVILIANS DEVASTATED BY BOMBINGS, TUBERVILLE ARGUES IT WILL END UP IN THE WRONG HANDS.

>> THIS WEEK, I SIGN ON TWO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REDIRECT AMERICAN AID TO THE PALESTINIANS AND USE IT TO STRENGTHEN ISRAEL'S IRON DOME.

JOE BIDEN SAYS HE WANTS TO CUT THE PALESTINIANS A CHECK FOR $100 MILLION.

I AM ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THIS.

HUMANITARIAN AID THAT GOES TO GAZA WILL ULTIMATELY WIND UP IN THE HANDS OF HAMAS, THE TERRORISTS.

>> MORE AND MORE COMMUNITIES AROUND ALABAMA ARE WELCOMING THE STATE'S HELP TO ADD CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS AGAIN ON THAT GROWING TREND.

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE.

WE ACTUALLY -- I HAD A GROUND-BREAKING ON A NEW HOTEL JUST YESTERDAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK OR EVERY MONTH SOMETHING NEW IS GOING ON, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT, WHETHER IT'S ON 231 OR DOWNTOWN.

>> TROY ALABAMA MAYOR JASON REEVES IS VERY UPBEAT ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY AND ITS EXPANSION.

THAT DEVELOPMENT MEANS NEW BUSINESSES, GROWTH AT TROY UNIVERSITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES INCLUDING NEW ACCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS WE ACTUALLY ORDERED TWO EVV VEHICLES FOR YOUR UTILITY SYSTEM.

SO, AS A PART OF GETTING READY FOR, AS YOU SAID, 231 SEVENS AS THE INTERSTATE FOR SOUTHEAST ALABAMA, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WE DON'T MISS OUT OPEN THAT TRAFFIC.

>> THE MODEL FOR THE CITY OF TROY IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

LEADER HERE WANT TO IMPROVE ON THAT BY IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS AREA, BY DOING THINGS LIKE THIS, BRINGING IN MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARMING STATIONS WITH THE INCREASED NUMBERS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES COMING TO THIS AREA.

>> I'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT PEOPLE GOING TO THE BEACH AND TALKING ABOUT SHORT CUTS TO THE BEACH, IT ALL STARTS WITH GO TO TROY AND...

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL GO TO TROY AND.

>> HIGHWAY 231 HELPS FUEL THE AREA'S ECONOMY, BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE CITY OR TROY UNIVERSITY OR SPECIFIC AS A MAJOR TRAVEL ROUTE THROUGH THE STATE.

MAYOR REEVES SAYS IT'S TIME FOR UPGRADES TO CHARMING DAYS.

>> WE'RE LOOKING TO DOING SOMETHING WITH DECA IN SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING TO EITHER PARTNER WITH ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES, A PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A NON-PROFIT PROPERTY THAT WOULD SERVE A REALLY GOOD PURPOSE AND PROVIDE THOSE CHARGES.

>> PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE BUSINESS WITHIN TROY.

>> WE'VE REALLY INVESTED A LOT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR DOWNTOWN WITH SIDEWALKS, WITH RECRUITING NEW BUSINESSES, AND WE ALSO -- THE ACTUAL FIRST ELECTRIC CHARGER THAT WE PUT IN IS ACTUALLY DOWN THERE.

>> SPELLING MORE PROGRESS FOR THE CITY, SAYS MAYOR REEVES.

>> IN THE STOPPING, DINING, ENTERTAINMENT AREA, THEY CAN PLUG IN THEIR VEHICLES AND ENJOY BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TROY.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT >> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS JOHN MCMILLAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION.

MR. MCMILLAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> WE'VE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW BEFORE, BUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR YOU GUYS.

BEEN LOTS IN THE NEWS, LOTS IN THE COURTS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THE CANNABIS COMMISSION IS?

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN LITIGATION OR MULTIPLE MEETINGS BUT WHERE ARE WE NOW IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS?

>> WELL, THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THAT, AFTER SOME NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE COMMISSION AND REPRESENTING APPLICANTS, WE FINALLY DECIDED WE WOULD JUST COME TOGETHER WITH OUR OWN PLAN FOR HOW WE MOVED FORWARD.

THERE'S A LITTLE GIVE AND TAKE, A LITTLE OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED, BUT NOTHING THAT SATISFIED EVERYBODY.

BUT WE'VE ADOPTED THAT RULE -- THOSE RULE CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS AND NOW AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE 26TH, NEXT WEEK, WE ANTICIPATE THE COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN.

>> THERE'S BEEN ALL THESE LAWSUITS.

I THINK WE CALLED IT A FLURRY OF LAWSUITS THAT YOU'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT'S REALLY SLOWED DOWN THE PROCESS.

IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL SCORING FLAW, RIGHT?

AND I HOPE YOU COULD SORT OF EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED WAY BACK WHEN, IN THAT SCORING SITUATION, THAT SORT OF WAS THE IMPETUS FOR ALL THIS.

>> WELL, LET ME PREFACE THAT BY SAYING EVERY STATE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH LAWSUITS.

FLORIDA'S BEEN DOING THIS SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS, AND THEY'VE STILL GOT LAWSUITS.

GEORGIA LONGER THAN WE HAVE, AND THEY'VE STILL GOT LAWSUITS.

ARKANSAS, MAYBE EVEN WORSE.

I'LL STOP THERE, JUST BY STATES.

>> WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE WHOLE LAWSUIT -- >> RIGHT, THAT'S BEEN THE PROCESS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE JUDGE ANDERSON SAID THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM IS -- AND HE'S RIGHT -- THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF LICENSES THAT CAN BE ISSUED.

SO ANYTHING -- LET ME SAY THAT THE LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

SOMETIMES IT MAKES US WANT TO BITE OUR ELBOWS WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT JUST REALLY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

BUT, ANYWAY, THE COMMISSION ASKED US TO COME UP WITH A PROCESS WHERE WE DIDN'T JUST THROW IT IN THEIR LAP AND SAY, OKAY, YOU'VE GOT THOSE APPLICATIONS, GO MAKE A DECISION.

THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF APPLICATIONS WAS OVER 100,000 PAGES, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WE CAME UP WITH A SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA TO LET OBJECTIVE EVALUATORS GO THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND EVALUATE THE EXHIBITS AND SCORE THEM, AND THEY WERE TRAINED AND VETTED AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE GOT THE INFORMATION AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MADE THE DECISION ON IN THE ORIGINAL AWARDING OF LICENSES, THERE WAS A MISTAKE.

WE IMMEDIATELY GOT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, JOE BONNER, WE CALLED HIM WHEN WE SAW IT, AND WE SAID WE FOUND IT, WE FIXED IT.

SO THEY DID TWO INTERNAL AUDITS OF THE WHOLE THING AND GOT KMPG TO DO AN AUDIT OF THE WHOLE THING, AND, SO, NOW WE'RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE SCORING PROCESS, AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE LAWYERS ARE NOT HAPPY BECAUSE, OUT OF THE 38 INTEGRATED APPLICANTS, ONLY FIVE CAN GET LICENSES.

AND, SO, NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIVE VERY HAPPY PEOPLE AND 33, TO ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER, UNHAPPY.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> WELL, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES, RIGHT?

>> MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR.

ESPECIALLY THE INTEGRATORS.

THAT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, THE NUMBERS WE HEAR AT THE -- $20 MILLION TO DO THE WHOLE THING, AND THAT MEANS FROM THE SEED TO THE CULTIVATION TO THE PROCESS TO THE TRANSPORTING TO THE LAB WORK, AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO THE DISPENSARIES WHERE THESE PRODUCTS REASON SOLD.

SO IT'S EXPENSIVE AND APPARENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN IT.

IT'S CASH BUSINESS UNTIL CONGRESS ACTS ON THE SAFE BANKING LEGISLATION, WHICH YOUNG BOOZE HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE TREASURER TO GET THAT DONE.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU COULD EXPLAIN THIS.

BECAUSE THIS GOES BACK TO IF MARIJUANA WAS NOT CLASSIFIED AS A DRUG THE WAY IT IS, A NARCOTIC THE WAY IT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE REALLY WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE PHARMACIES WOULD BE DOING THIS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THAT, A WHOLE COMMISSION PROCESS, A WHOLE DIFFERENT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION PLATFORM.

BUT THERE IS THIS BANKING SITUATION THAT COULD HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, JUST THE WAY YOU LAID IT OUT, BANKING, THERE IS SOME HEADAWAY BECAUSE WE'RE OVER 40 STATES NOW THAT HAVE MEDICAL CANNABIS IN ONE FORM OR THE OTHER.

SO SOME BANKS ARE GOING AHEAD.

AND WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BANKS IN ALABAMA THAT ARE WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ORDINARY BANKING SERVICES.

BUT GENERALLY, NO, IT'S ILLEGAL, AS YOU SAID, BECAUSE OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE DRUG AND THERE'S AN EFFORT THROUGH THE D.E.A.

TO CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION.

RIGHT NOW MARIJUANA IS THE SAME CLASSIFICATION AS COCAINE AND REALLY OTHER SURE ENOUGH HIGH-LEVEL DRUGS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE ARE AS ADDICTIVE AND THAT SORT OF THING AND DON'T HAVE THE MEDICAL POSITIVES THAT CANNABIS DOES, AND PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENT ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE ALABAMA LAW WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE THIS PRODUCT AT A SAFE QUALITY LEVEL TO PATIENTS IN ALABAMA THAT NEED IT BADLY.

>> I KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY GET MUCH INTO THE LITIGATION THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S STILL ONGOING.

THERE WAS A HEARING GOING ON, I GUESS, YESTERDAY, BUT IN YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO SEEING AT LEAST SOME RESOLUTION IN THE COURTS TO REALLY ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD?

WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS?

>> WELL, AND BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE ANSWER IS TELL ME HOW MANY MORE LAWSUITS.

BUT IF THE COMMISSION IS ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD WITH THE RULES THAT WE ADOPTED AND THE AMENDMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE LICENSES ISSUED.

AND THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN AWARDING AND ISSUING.

THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO.

>> PLEASE DO, YEAH.

>> LET ME GO AHEAD AND FINISH THAT ANSWER.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE LICENSES ISSUED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

I LIKE TO SAY BY CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT GIFT FOR FOLKS THAT NEED THE PRODUCT SO BAD.

BUT THE LEGISLATION IS SET UP THAT, FIRST, THE LICENSES ARE AWARDED, AND THEN IT IS A PROCESS INCLUDING PAYMENT OF FEES AND SO FORTH FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 28 DAYS BEFORE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ISSUED.

SO THAT'S HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, AND IT'S MISUNDERSTOOD AND CERTAINLY OBVIOUSLY, AS THIS LEGISLATION IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX, AND WHEN YOU ADD ALL THE COMPLEX RULES AND REGULATIONS AND OTHER PROCEDURES INTO IT, IT EVEN GETS MORE COMPLEX.

I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO GO TO SOME OF THESE YOUNGER FOLKS THAT OWN THE STAFF THAT ARE MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY THAN I AM TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT IT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE.

I THINK, I.D.

SAY, OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, WE REALLY HAVE STARTED TO MAKE HEADWAY.

I THINK JUDGE ANDERSON, THE LAST TWO HEARINGS WE'VE HAD, HE SEEMS EXTREMELY INTERESTED AND INTENT IN SEEING THIS PROGRAM GET UP AND GET RUNNING AND, CERTAINLY, THAT'S A BIG HELP.

>> WELL, WE REPORT ON IT, AND THERE'S SO MUCH IN THE PRESS, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE COMMISSION WITH YOUR STAFF.

CAN YOU KIND OF TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES AND WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON?

WHEN THERE ARE LAWSUITS, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CALIFF ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY PUBLICLY, COMING ON THE SHOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES, WHAT'S GONE ON THESE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AT THE COMMISSION AS THESE LAWSUITS HAVE PLAYED OUT?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE DON'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A STAFF IS LETTING THE LAWYERS DO THE NEGOTIATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US AND THE COMMISSION.

SO THAT'S KIND OF PUSHED ASIDE -- NOT OUT OF MIND FOR SURE.

BUT, YEAH, OUR STAFF AS DONE AMAZING THINGS IN ADDITION TO THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IN ITSELF, IS EXTREMELY LENGTHY AND COMPLEX.

BUT WE HAVE NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS, FOR EXAMPLE THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL, AS HAS EVERY OTHER STATE ENTITY.

THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, IS A LEADER WITH PATIENT CARDS AND ALL OF THAT, TOO.

JUST FANTASTIC.

BUT, ANYWAY, SO WE'VE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT FOR THE DOCTOR-PATIENT REGISTRY.

WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT FOR THE TRACKING, AND THAT TRACKING SYSTEM IS JUST ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING.

IT TAKES -- WHEN WE HAVE THE LICENSES ISSUED, IT TAKES THAT PRODUCT FROM THE SEED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SALE AT THE DISPENSARY BY THE INDIVIDUAL PLAN.

AT AN EARLY STAGE, I THINK MABEL INCHES OR SO, EACH PLANT IS GIVEN A DESIGNATION AND NUMBER AND EVEN THE WASTE PART OF THAT PLANT IS NOT UTILIZED FOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS, HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.

SO IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW THAT SYSTEM WORKS.

WE'VE GOTTEN THAT DONE.

AALIYAH HAS WORKED WITH US TREMENDOUSLY TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE PATIENT I.D.

CARDS, VERY MUCH LIKE A DRIVERS LICENSE, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THAT PATIENT REGISTRY WILL KEEP UP NOT ONLY WITH NOT A PRESCRIPTION BUT A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TIME THE DOCTOR MAKES IT TILL THAT PATIENT GOES AND BUYS IT AT A DISPENSARY.

AND IF A PATIENT GOES TO A DISPENSARY IN MONTGOMERY AND BUYS A PRODUCT AND THEN, LATER IN THE DAY, TRIES TO DO THE SAME THING IN BIRMINGHAM, IT'S ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM, AND THEY WILL BE CUT OFF RIGHT THEN.

SO THAT PART OF IT IS COMPLEX, AND DON'T FORGET, WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE AND WE GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING, WE'RE GOING TO BE A REGULATORY AGENCY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

OCCASIONALLY, OVER TIME, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE APPLICATION ALSO PUT IN THE SYSTEM AND GONE THROUGH, BUT THIS IS THE BIG ONE TO GET THROUGH THIS INITIAL ROUND OF APPLICATIONS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH, GETTING BACK TO THE INTEGRATOR THING, WITH 38 APPLICANTS THAT EACH THINK THEY DID THE VERY BEST APPLICATION ANYBODY COULD DO AND DIDN'T GET A LICENSE, SO THAT'S WHERE THE LAWSUITS COME IN.

BUT, YEAH, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S OVERLOOKED AND NOT MENTIONED, REALLY, OVERSHADOWED BY LITIGATION, BUT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THE REGULATORY PART OF IT BUT ENFORCING THINGS AND BEING SURE -- YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED BEFORE WE TALKED ON THE AIR ABOUT -- AND WE DIDN'T GET TO THE A, B, C, BUT, IN YEARS PAST, WE TALK ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MISUSED.

I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN AROUND VERY LONG UNDERSTANDS SOME OF THE ISSUES BACK IN THE DAY AND THANK GOODNESS THAT'S LARGELY BEEN ADDRESSED NOW.

BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE'RE TRYING TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SO THAT LATER ON WHEN WE START GETTING TO THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND FINES AND THAT SORT OF THINGICS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LEGISLATOR THAT CALLS UP AND SAYS MY BUDDY HAS A DISPENSARY AND YOU'RE FINING HIM, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO SAY, SORRY, THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING BY THE BOOK, HAVING A PROCESS, HAVING A PROCEDURE RECORDED ON PAPER INSTEAD OF THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM OF, HEY, MY COUSIN OR MY FRIEND IN WHATEVER COUNTY, BECAUSE IT MATTERS DOWN THE LINE.

YOU MENTIONED THESE PROCEDURES.

I REMEMBER THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR REALLY A COUPLE OF YEAR BEFORE THEY PASSED THE BILL.

>> THREE YEARS, ACTUALLY.

>> THE ONES WHO WERE OPPOSED, THE ONES WHO WERE SKEPTICAL, AND FOLKS STILL TODAY REALLY WANTED TO AVOID THIS BECOMING A RECREATIONAL PRODUCT, RIGHT, BECOMING CALIFORNIA OR COLORADO.

DO YOU THINK THESE PROCEDURES THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE, YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH AALIYAH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE LIST, DO YOU THINK WE HAVE THE LAWS AND THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE WHERE ALABAMIANS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE OTHER STATES AND A RECREATIONAL PRODUCT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY WE WILL HAVE AND DO HAVE.

WE'VE ALREADY HIRED, FOR EXAMPLE, A COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

WE'VE HAD TO PUT OFF HIRING INSPECTORS, HE HAS, BECAUSE LITIGATION IS EATING UP OUR FUNDING, A LOT OF IT.

BUT, YEAH, AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO GO RECREATIONAL.

OF THE 40-ODD THAT HAVE MEDICAL CANNABIS, 20-ODD -- LET'S SAY 40-20, HAVE ALSO GONE ON TO RECREATIONAL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT, AND I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WON'T DO IT.

BUT THERE ARE TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE -- PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS PRODUCT WITH THE CASH ONLY -- NO HEALTH INSURANCE -- IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PRODUCT, AND OUR MAJOR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THAT PRODUCT TO THE PATRONS THAT NEED IT BUT ALSO IN A SAFE, QUALITY AREA -- OR MANNER, AND THAT'S THE REASON THE LABS AND ALL OF THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT, ALSO, BEAR IN MIND, NOTHING WE DO IS GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THE ILLEGAL BLACK MARKET OUT THERE ON THE STREET.

>> SURE.

>> SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO BEAR IN MIND BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE -- SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, DO I GO TO A DOCTOR AND GET THIS RECOMMENDATION, OR DO I GO OUT HERE AND BUY THE CHEAP THING ON THE STREET AND TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING FENTANYL OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WIPE ME OUT?

SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE AND DEALT WITH AS WE MOVE FORWARD ONCE WE GET THESE LICENSES OUT.

>> WELL, IF WE'VE GOTTEN KIND LOST IN THE WEEDS OF POLICY AND LITIGATION, AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND FOLKS WHY THIS EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE DEALING WITH ILLNESSES THAT MAYBE CURRENT DRUGS DON'T HELP WITH OR THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEALING WITH PAIN, LONG-TERM DEBILITATING ILLNESSES.

TALK ABOUT THE NEED OUT THERE AND WHAT THIS PRODUCT -- WHAT THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA, MEDICAL CANNABIS, HOW IT CAN HELP PATIENTS IN NEED.

>> WELL, IN LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF ILLNESSES THAT CAN BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS IS PRESCRIBED.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT AS PART OF THE EQUATION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DISTRESSES ME IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE I SEE THAT HAVE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS OUT OF STATE WHERE IT'S LEGAL, WHERE RECREATIONAL IS LEGAL AND CANNABIS MEDICAL IS LEGAL, MAILING PRODUCTS IN OR BRINGING PRODUCTS IN, AND THAT'S DISTURBING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT, NUMBER ONE, BREAK THE LAW TO GET THE MEDICINE.

BUT, ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, THE FEDS, ON THE ONE HAND, ALL OF THIS IS ILLEGAL AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE ISSUING GRANTS TO RESEARCH LIKE THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL IMPACT WITH VETERANS AND PTSD AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED FOR IT.

IT'S A PLANT-BASED MEDICINE, IT'S NOT A SYNTHETIC LIKE MANY OF THE OPIOIDS ARE THAT ARE SO MUCH MORE ADDICTIVE.

SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS THING.

AND ANOTHER REASON I THINK THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT THAT PART OF THE EQUATION WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHETHER TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION OR NOT.

>> AN IMPORTANT REMINDER.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND EXPLAINING SOME OF THIS STUFF, AND I HOPE WE CAN HAVE YOU BACK MAYBE LATER IN THE YEAR WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO THINGS COMING ON MARKET.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY OF COMING BACK AND SAYING WE'VE ISSUED ALL THE LICENSES AND ARE IN BUSINESS NOW AND PROVIDING PATIENT A QUALITY, SAFE PRODUCT.

>> WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK THEN.

THANKS AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED.

MAYOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I SHOULD SAY RECENTLY REELECTED MAYOR STEVEN REED.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REELECTION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE PEOPLE SAW THE CONFIDENCE IN US AND PUT US BACK IN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN MESSAGE AS YOU WERE RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS SO THEY'RE KIND OF ISOLATED, NOT LIKE A PRESIDENTIAL OR CONGRESS, SO YOU'RE KIND OF ON AN ISLAND THERE A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT MESSAGING THAT AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS ON AND OFF YOUR ELECTION?

>> WELL, I THINK FOR US, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S GOOD TO BE ON AN OFF-YEAR CYCLE BECAUSE YOU GET A CHANCE TO DRILL DOWN INTO GOVERNMENT THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE THE MOST.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WERE NOT ONLY OUR SUCCESSES BUT THINGS WE WANTED TO IMPROVE UPON, AND WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHETHER THAT'S IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR CITY, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OVERRIDING MESSAGE WAS THAT WE'VE DONE SOME VERY GOOD WORK, BUT THERE'S MORE WORK FOR US TO DO.

AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY LIKES THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN, AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT BY THE MARGIN THAT WE DID.

>> AND IT WAS A CONVINCING MARGIN, BUT IT WAS CONTESTED.

>> SURE.

>> YOU HAD AN OPPONENT AND THOSE OPPOSING YOU.

TOWARD THE END IT GOT A LITTLE CHIPPY, ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YET YOU WON, CONVINCINGLY.

SO, WHEN YOU WIN LIKE THAT AND ISSUES ARE BROUGHT UP, LIKE ON CRIME, WHAT DOES THAT COMMUNICATE TO YOU?

IS IT WE HAVE WORK TO DO, AS YOU SAID?

WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY?

DOES IT CONCERN YOU OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S GOOD.

I THINK WE ALL WANT TO REDUCE CRIME ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME SINCE RUNNING FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THAT COME OUT IN THE CAMPAIGN WHETHER YOU'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS AND YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS OR SMALL BUSINESSES OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW THAT IT HITS HOME, AND I THINK WHAT IT SAYS TO US IS WHAT WE'RE DOING ISN'T ENOUGH AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT NEW TACTICS AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE RESULTS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ON THE, YOU KNOW, REACTIVE SIDE, IT'S ALSO BEING PROACTIVE, INVESTING IN COMMUNITY CENTERS, INVESTING IN THE PROGRAMMING THAT'S IN THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS, PROVIDING THOSE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND HELPING THOSE PROVIDERS THAT ALREADY DO THAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE CAN BE LIKE IF THEY GET A CERTIFICATION WHERE THEY GO TO A TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR RIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING QUALITY PLACE AND OPPORTUNITY INDEX ALL AROUND OUR CITY EVEN IN NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT REACHES THEM.

>> THOSE INVESTMENTS WILL PREVENT CRIME IN THE FUTURE RATHER THAN BEING REACTIVE TO IT.

>> YEAH.

>> WELLICS YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK.

>> YEAH.

>> AND THIS IS PRETTY SCHOOL.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ON THIS BOOK TOUR.

I SAW YOU WERE DOWN AT NEW SOUTH BOOKS DOING A BOOK SIGNING.

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

I FESS THE EASY QUESTION OR MAYBE THE MORE BASIC QUESTION IS WHAT'S YOUR BACH ABOUT?

>> THE BOOK IS A MEMOIR ABOUT MY PATH TO BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

IT SHARES THE PEARLS OF WISDOM I GAINED FROM MY FATHER AND MOTHER.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH, AND SO MANY IN THEIR GENERATION.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO REALLY HAVE ACCESS AND DIDN'T ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT, TO PEOPLE WHO HELPED CHANGE NOT ONLY MONTGOMERY BUT THIS NATION.

AND THOSE VISITS, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY HAVE HELPED ME DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS, WHETHER THAT WAS PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY, OR EVEN POLITICALLY, THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I PUT IN THIS BOOK WAS, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSPARENT WINS, THE TRANSPARENT LESSONS, NOT LOSSES, BUT THOSE SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THOSE SETBACKS THAT I'VE HAD PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW WITH LEADERS AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING BEHIND US PARTICULARLY IN THE GEN Z AND MILLENNIAL GENERATION THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS A DIRECT RYAN.

SOMETIMES LIFE ZIGS AND ZAGS ON YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK THE MEMOIR IS A LESSON THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TAKE DIFFERENT -- HAVE DIFFERENT TAKEAWAYS, HAVE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS FROM, BUT I HOPE IT INSPIRES A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS TO GO EVEN FURTHER THAN WHERE WE HAVE SO FAR.

>> SOME BIG NAMES MENTIONED IN YOUR BOOK.

HANK AARON.

>> YEAH.

>> OF COURSE, YOUR DAD.

BUT YOU'VE GOT HANK AARON.

>> HE WASN'T THE HOME RUN KING.

[LAUGHTER] >> HANK AARON, FRED GRAY.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO HAVE STORIES INVOLVING THESE GIANTS?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

AGAIN, IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED GROWING UP.

>> NOT EVEN REALLY SURE I APPRECIATED IT EVEN INTO MY ADULTHOOD.

IT WAS JUST WHAT WE WERE AFFORDED.

YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO PLAY SPORTS, I'M PLAYING, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL, ALL THOSE THINGS, YOU'RE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHO THIS PERSON IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

I APPRECIATED MRS. KING WHEN SHE WOULD STAY AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WAS FROM THE SAME COMMUNITY MY MOTHER AND HER FAMILY WERE FROM IN PERRY COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATED THAT.

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ASK MY DAD IF SHE COULD GO TO SCHOOL WITH ME AT THE TIME, AND I WOULD GET A FUNNY RESPONSE LATER IN THE BOOK.

BUT, ALSO, YOU KNOW, MEETING PRESIDENTS, SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN, MAYORS, PEOPLE WHO JUST INFLUENCE AND CHANGE, BUT ALSO THE GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS, THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE POSITION OF MAYOR, THE POSITION OF CITY COUNCILOR OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO THROUGH SHEER WILL AND COMMITMENT PUSHED ALABAMA AND THIS NATION FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT BE DENIED.

AND THAT IS THE INSPIRATION TO ME AND I HOPE THAT IS THE INSPIRATION TO THOSE WHO AGAIN WE HOPE WILL READ THE BOOK, THE YOUNG LEADERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND CAN DO SO MUCH BUT MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO CHANNEL THAT ENERGY TORE THE PURPOSE THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

>> HOW CAN PEOPLE GET THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, THEY CAN GO TO NEW SOUTH BOOKS CERTAINLY HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND PICK IT UP OR ANY INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE THAT THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR CITY, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S ONLINE ON AMAZON AND BARNES AND NOBLE, RANDOM HOUSE PUBLICATION, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HAD THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A MAJOR PUBLISHER BE INTERESTED IN THE BOOK AND HELP US PROMOTE IT.

>> WHEN YOU GO AND WRITE A BOOK, A MEMOIR ESPECIALLY, IT RAISES THE QUESTION ABOUT YOUR AMBITIONS, RIGHT, YOUR POLITICAL AMBITIONS.

THAT ALWAYS GOES RIGHT WITH IT.

>> I MEAN, COME ON, THIS IS THE WORLD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE'VE GONE THROUGH REDISTRICTING.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU I'M SURE WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DISTRICT LINES.

THE SECOND DISTRICT IS NOW COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, THE WAY -- GOING ALL THE WAY INTO MOBILE AND EVERYTHING.

ALTS VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF MONTGOMERY.

SO I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

SO IS THAT A CONSIDERATION?

ARE YOU CONSIDERING RUNNING?

I MEAN, SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY NEED TO DECIDE PRETTY SOON.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ALWAYS HUMBLING TO BE THOUGHT OF FOR A HIGHER OFFICE AND FOR SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, SEVEN THE NATION AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANYONE WOULD NOT BE HONORED BY THAT.

SO TO BE IN THAT DISCUSSION IS GREAT AND I THINK IT'S A TESTIMONY TO THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD.

ALSO, I THINK PEOPLE BELIEVE WE CAN DO TO HELP NOT ONLY THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BY THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE NATION AND BEYOND.

SO IT'S A CONSIDERATION, BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING I'VE MADE A DECISION ON YET.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT PUBLIC OFFICE, AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHEN I RAN FOR PROBATE JUDGE, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT IS HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE, A POSITIVE DEFENSE, WHAT'S THE PATH TO TRYING TO MAKE THAT DEFENSE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHO TO YOU NEED TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH IT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH FOR THE TITLE OR THE POSITION FOR ME, IT'S REALLY IN THE OUTCOME.

THAT'S BEEN MY APPROACH EVEN AS MAYOR IS UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, HOW I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WHO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE, AND THEN HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT.

THE THING ABOUT CONGRESS IS IT PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN MONTGOMERY TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WHAT I'M NOT SURE OF IS WHETHER OR NOT IT PRESENTS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE FOR MONTGOMERY AND FOR AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDING OUR CITY.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I WOULD BE FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS FROM HERE TO REPRESENT THAT SEAT AND TO BE CONSIDERED AMONG ALL THOSE THAT CERTAINLY COULD RUN, WHETHER THOSE ARE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ALL THAT'S A PLUS FOR ME.

I THINK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL COME DOWN TO BEING A PERSONAL DECISION BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS OUR CLOSE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND ADVISORS, BUT, ALSO, WHERE CAN WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AND HOW DO WE CREATE THE AGENDA TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND I'VE GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS, CAN YOU STILL DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHY I SEEK OUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THOSE.

>> THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS THINKING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, YEAH.

>> IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF THAT'S ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, A LOT OF THE CHAOS AND EVERYTHING, BUT, AS A WHOLE, IT'S REALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL.

SO I DON'T KNOW, TO SOME THAT COULD SERVE AS A DETERRENT, TO SOME IT COULD SERVE AS A CHALLENGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, CERTAINLY.

I TEND TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE POSITIVE AND NOT AS A DETERRENT, BUT THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, FOR ME ULTIMATELY IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT CHANCE, YOU JUST ASKED THE PEOPLE TO REELECT YOU FOR YOUR YEARS.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT MOMENTUM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-WISE.

EDUCATION HAS BEEN IMPROVING.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PROJECTS IN THE HOPPER RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THAT POSITION TO GO TAKE ON THAT CHALLENGE AND TAKE ON THAT OPPORTUNITY?

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M STILL FILTERING OUT VARIOUS OPINIONS ON AND TO GET THAT FEEDBACK.

FOR ME, YOU KNOW, THAT IS AS IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST TRYING TO RUN FOR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT TITLE OR WIDER SPAN OF INFLUENCE.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO ME AN WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON OUR FAMILY AND CIRCLE OF FRIENDS WE HAVE AS WELL.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING AS MANY OTHERS.

MR. MAYOR, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS COURTNEY WILBURN OF THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

COURT THINK, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANTED TO LET YOU OFF YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE LENGTHY, BUT YOU DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND SCHOOLS INITIATIVE.

>> I DO.

I AM WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND MY ROLE IS TO SEVEN AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OVER THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE.

>> I HAVE BEEN EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON BECAUSE THIS IS ABIMPORTANT INITIATIVE -- AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE SCHOOL YEAR TO ALL THE TURNAROUND SCHOOLS.

WE TALKED TO DR. MACKEY ABOUT IT AND HE DESCRIBED IT AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS HE'S BEEN A PART OF IN THE EDUCATION.

I WANTED TO GET IN THE WEEDS ABOUT IT, REALLY GRANULAR.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVE, WHERE IT CAME FROM AND WHAT IT'S AIMS ARE?

>> SURE.

THIS IS GOVERNOR IVEY'S BRAIN CHILD.

SHE'S COME UP WITH 15 SCHOOLS ACROSS ALABAMA HE WANTED BY EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

GOVERNOR IVEY SAW THERE NEEDED TO BE COLLABORATION AMONGST STATE AGENCIES, STATE DEPARTMENTS AND SCHOOLS TO COME TOGETHER AND SERVE OUR KIDS.

SHE CREATED THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVITY.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SERVES AS TH LIAISON, THE COORDINATOR FOR ALL THE THINGS GOING ON WITH THE INITIATIVE.

>> DESCRIBE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TURNAROUND SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY FACTORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WANTED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS, SO WE'VE GOT SOME INNER CITY SCHOOLS, WE'VE GOT SOME EXTREMELY RURAL SCHOOLS, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION SO THAT ANY SCHOOL ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA COULD LOOK AT OUR LIST OF SCHOOLS AND FIND ONE THAT MATCHES THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, THEIR LOCATION, AND REALLY LOOK TO THAT SCHOOL TO FIND OUT SOME BEST PRACTICES FOR TURNING SCHOOLS AROUND.

SO AT THE END OF THIS INITIATIVE, THE MAIN CHARGE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN CREATE A BLUEPRINT THAT WE CAN THEN TO USE TO TURN AROUND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THAT WOULD EXPAND, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE THAN JUST THAT MANY STRUGGLING SCHOOLS.

RIGHT.

>> SO WILL THERE BE MORE ADDED TO THE LIST OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> THE 15 SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN THE 15 SCHOOLS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE INITIATIVE.

WHAT WE HOPE AND WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IS WE HAVE OTHER DISTRICTS IN OTHER SCHOOLS REACHING OUT TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE COME AND WATCH OW THIS MEETING TRANSPIRES OR COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FUNDING THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOLS?

ALREADY WE HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US TO KIND OF FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN TURN IT AROUND IN THEIR SCHOOLS AS WELL.

>> THAT'S EXCITING.

I WANTED TO GET TO SOME OF THE MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

TAKE ME INSIDE THE SCHOOL.

WHEN YOU BECOME A TURNAROUND SCHOOL AND YOU GET THIS FOCUS FROM THE STATE, WHAT HAPPENS THERE IN THE SCHOOL ON THE GROUND?

>> SO TWO OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, WE HOSTED MEET AND GREETS, WHICH SOUNDS REALLY SIMPLISTIC ON THE SURFACE, BUT WHAT WE DID WITH EACH LOCAL SCHOOL, WE SAT DOWN WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERS, AND WE INVITED IN PARTNERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND FROM OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT SERVE THAT SCHOOL.

SO WE'VE INVITED AMSTI PARTNERS, OSI PARTNERS TO THE ABLE, A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT COME FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, NOT THE DIRECTORS BUT THE ACTUAL SPECIALISTS WHO SERVE EACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

SO WE HAD 15 OF THESE MEET AND GREETS HOSTED AT THE SCHOOL.

WE CAME IN AND WE SAT DOWN AROUND THE TABLE AND SAID HERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

ARI, HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS?

OMI, WHAT WOULD YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE IN THIS SUPPORT?

SO THAT COLLABORATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED.

>> EVERYBODY FINALLY COMMUNICATING IN ONE SCHOOL.

>> YES, YES.

AND THAT TURNS INTO OUR TECHNOLOGY AND MOTION SPECIALISTS WORKING WITH THE AMSTEAD SPECIALISTS GOING WE'RE BOTH DOING THE DIGITAL LITERACY STANDARDS, WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS COMPONENT AND WE'LL COME IN AND SUPPORT THIS COMPONENT.

IT'S BEEN COOL BUILDING THE PARTNERSHIP.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

WE INTRODUCED EVERYBODY WHO'S A PLAYER AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, AND THE THE PERSON AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND OSI.

I HAVE FOUR SPECIALISTEST IN THE 15 SCHOOLS, SO THOSE FOUR SPECIALISTS SERVE AS THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THE PRINCIPAL DOESN'T HAVE TO REMEMBER 27 PEOPLE AND WHAT THEIR AGENCIES DO.

THEY GO TO THEIR ONE OSI PERSON AND SAY I NEED THIS.

>> OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

>> YES AND THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST SAYS LET ME REACH OUT TO THE REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY CAN COME IN AND HELP WITH THAT.

WE NOT ONLY GO IN TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS BUT COORDINATE OTHER AGENCIES AND THE SUPPORT THEY OFFER.

>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A STATE DEPARTMENT THING.

YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S CHARGES FOR D.H.R., MENTAL HEALTH, OTHER AGENCIES.

THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT TO ME BEFORE WAS THIS IS A HOLISTIC VIEW.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL ITSELF BUT THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE.

>> RIGHT.

SO IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE SUSTAINABLE, AFTER THIS INITIATIVE IS "OVER," WE WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

SO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT GOVERNOR IVEY HAS GIVEN US ACCESS TO, WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, AMP UP ARTS AND DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ED, SO THOSE FOUR AGENCIES SPECIFICALLY HAVE JOINED IN THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH US AND THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE A WEALTH OF RESOURCES THAT JUST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALONE OPPORTUNITY HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND, SO, BRINGING IN THOSE OUTSIDE AGENCIES HAS ALLOWED US TO DO A LOT MORE IN THE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING.

WE WANT THE PARENTS INVOLVED, BUT WE ALSO WANT LOCAL CHURCHES.

WE WANT THE MEN'S GROUPS WHO GO IN AND SUPPORT SCHOOLS TO COME INTO THESE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS.

SO, COORDINATING ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE INITIATIVE AS WELL.

WE DID THE MEET AND GREETS BUT WE'VE ALSO CONDUCTED INSTRUCTIONAL AUDITS IN ALL 15 SCHOOLS.

>> TELL ME ABILITY THAT.

>> SO THE AUDITS, WE GO IN, THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE IS DIED TO THE FOUR DOMAINS OF RAPID SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT TURNAROUND LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT MAKE SCHOOLS SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE GO IN AND PERFORM AUDITS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THOSE FOUR THINGS AND WE'RE SEEING HOW DO THEY DEVELOP TEACHERS IN THIS SCHOOL?

ARE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS BEING MET?

WHAT DOES THE CULTURE OF THIS SCHOOL FEEL LIKE?

ARE WE FLEXIBLE AND WELCOMING TO OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN THE SCHOOL BESIDES JUST THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS?

DO WE HAVE A PLACE FOR PARENTS TO COME AND PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT THE SCHOOL?

AND, SO, WE'VE GONE IN, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE MENTIONED CAME IN ON THOSE AUDITS WITH US.

IT WAS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SPECIFIC THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE DOING CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS.

WE'RE INTERVIEWING PARENTS.

WE HAVE KIDS COMING IN AND GIVING US THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE THINGS OPERATE IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE COMPILE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND HAVE A FINAL REPORT THAT WE CAN GIVE THE SCHOOL THAT SAYS THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING AMAZINGLY WELL BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU, ALL 15 OF THESE SCHOOLS ALREADY HAD SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS IN PLACE.

IT WASN'T THAT THESE SCHOOLS WERE PLACES YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE.

THEY HAVE SOME TREMENDOUS THINGS GOING ON.

THESE SCHOOLS JUST NEEDED SOME SUPPORT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE, AND, SO, WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT SUPPORT.

SO WE'RE ABLE TO COORDINATE RESOURCES BASED ON THE AUDITS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE GOOD INTENTIONS IN THE WORLD BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG AND WHAT CAN BE FIXED.

>> YES.

>> SO I SEE THAT.

I DID WANT TO ASK YOU THIS -- YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN INITIATIVES IN THE PAST.

YOU KNOW, GO BACK DECADES, EVERYBODY'S WANTED TO FIX TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

SO HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS EFFORTS IN THE PAST, MAYBE WELL INTENTIONED BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE SUCCESS WE WANT.

>> SURE.

SO THE FUNDING COMPONENT OF THIS INITIATIVE, OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE AN END DATE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SO GENERATION IN HER FUNDING OF THIS INITIATIVE.

WHAT DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE, THOUGH, IS THE RELATIONSHIP WE'RE BUILDING AMONGST AGENCIES WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN END TIME.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, AMP UP ARTS, THEY HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THIS THAT WILL CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE GOVE -- AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE IS NOT WHAT'S PULLING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

>> IN THIS BUILDING WHERE THE STATE HOUSE AND THE LEGISLATURE MEETS, WE TALK ABOUT LAWS, CORRESPONDING AS WELL.

THE TWO MOST RECENT LAWS AS RELATE TO EDUCATION POLICY, IS THE LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT, POET FOCUSED ON THE YOUNGER GRADES.

SO I'M CURIOUS HOW THOSE LAWS IMPACT THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVES.

>> WELL 15 SCHOOLS HAVE AN ELEMENTARY DIVISION, ALL HAVE K-3 IN THEY ARE BUILDINGS.

OBVIOUSLY THE NUMERACY AND THE LITERACY ACT ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO KEEP IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND.

THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT IS RELYING VERY HELVEY ON OUR FRIENDS IN ARI AND THE OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING IN MIND WHAT'S REGULATE THROUGH THE LAW.

THEY ARE THE SPECIALISTS IN THAT.

BUT THAT HAS HELPED TO DRIVE A LOT OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE GIVING.

SO GOVERNOR IVEY HAS PUT AUXILIARY TEACHERS IN PLAY FOR K-3 CLASSROOMS, SO, TYPICALLY, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN A PRE-K CLASSROOM.

SHE'S EXTENDED THAT OPPORTUNITY, SO, NOW, IN KINDER THROUGH THIRD-GRADE CLASSROOMS, ALL 15 SCHOOLS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP GET THE KIDS READY SO THAT WE ARE MEETING EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THOSE LAWS.

>> NOW, LOOK, THIS IS SO EARLY, AND I HATE TO EVEN ASK THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

>> SURE?

YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS GOING SO FAR.

ARE THERE ANY RESULTS YET WE CAN POINT TO?

I KNOW WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS VISITING THE SCHOOLS, SHE TALKED ABILITY SOME OF THE PROMISE SHE SAW IN SOME OF HER VISITS.

SO WHAT ARE WE SEEING FROM SOME OF THE EARLY INDICATORS FROM THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVE?

>> WE HAVE SOME DATA THAT'S COME IN SINCE THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.

MANY OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE COME OFF THE FORMERLY KNOWN FAILING SCHOOLS LIST.

SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE ON THAT LIST AND HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM THE LIST ALREADY.

>> TERRIFIC NEWS.

>> SOME WERE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SCHOOLS, SO THE CSI SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE ROLLED OFF THAT LIST.

NOT EVERYBODY IN EVERY SCHOOL IS OFF THAT LIST, BUT WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE, THIS LIST IS NOT A LIST OF FAILING SCHOOLS.

THIS IS A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT WE REALLY SEE ENOUGH PROMISE IN THAT THEY CAN THEN BE A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND, SO, THAT DATA HAS ALREADY COME IN.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE WAITING ON REPORT CARDS TO COME OUT SO THAT WE CAN SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THE REPORT CARD DATA.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN ALL 15 SCHOOLS IS SET UP A VERY SPECIFIC PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR WHATEVER THAT SCHOOL WAS ALREADY USING, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT DATA, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT OFFICIAL STATE-LEVEL REPORT DATA THAT'S COMING OUT, WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON BENCHMARK DATA AS WE'RE PROGRESS MONITORING AND WE'RE SEEING THE SCHOOLS ALREADY GROWING.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE END RESULT IS WHEN ALL OF THE STATE REPORTS START COMING OUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE, BUT IT'S ALREADY LEANING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE CREATING THAT BLUEPRINT, IT CAN GO WELL BEYOND JUST THE 5 SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF SCHOOLS THAT COULD USE A LOT OF THE INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR AUDIENCE ARE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES, SO YOU MITIGATE GET QUESTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL LAWMAKERS ABOUT SCHOOLS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANY COMMUNICATION, WE ARE SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THIS TURNAROUND INITIATIVE SO WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT IT WILL TURN INTO FOR THE SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

THANK YOU FOR COMING AND TAKING US INSIDE THE INITIATIVE.

I HOPE YOU COME BACK AND SHARE RESULTS WHEN WE GET THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND ALLOWING US TO SPREAD THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL," RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.

WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY WELCOME TO CAPITOL JOURNAL.

SOME BREAKING NEWS TO SHARE: ALABAMA SECRETARY OF COMMERCE GREG CANFIELD WILL BE STEPPING DOWN FROM HIS CABINET POST EFFECTIVE AT THE END OF THE YEAR.

CANFIELD HAS LED THE DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AS ALABAMA'S LEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPER FOR 12 YEARS ACROSS TWO ADMINISTRATIONS.

MOST RECENTLY, HE CRAFTED A LEGISLATIVE PACKAGE KNOWN AS THE GAME PLAN THAT REVAMPED THE STATE'S INCENTIVES LAWS TO MODERNIZE INDUSTRIAL RECRUITMENT.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT FRIDAY AFTERNOON, LAUDING CANFIELD FOR HIS SERVICE SAYING HE WILL GO DOWN AS ONE OF ALABAMA'S GREATEST EVER ECONOMIC DEVELOPERS.

IVEY HAS TAPPED ELLEN MCNAIR OF THE MONTGOMERY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO BECOME THE NEW SECRETARY OF COMMERCE IN THE NEW YEAR.

ALABAMA'S LATEST JOBS REPORT IS OUT WITH SOME MIXED NEWS.

THE STATE'S UNEMPLOYMENT RATE FOR SEPTEMBER WAS 2.2%, THAT'S UP SLIGHTLY FROM THE ALL TIME LOW OF 2.1% IN AUGUST.

THE STATE HAS BEEN FOCUSED MORE ON THE WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION RATE, WHICH MEASURES THE PERCENTAGE OF ABLE BODIED INDIVIDUALS OVER 16 EITHER WORKING OR LOOKING FOR WORK.

THAT RATE REMAINED AT 57% FOR SEPTEMBER, AS STATE LEADERS LOOK FOR WAYS TO ENCOURAGE MORE PEOPLE TO JOIN THE WORKFORCE.

WE REPORTED EARLIER THIS YEAR ON THE FINANCIAL TROUBLES AT BIRMINGHAM SOUTHERN COLLEGE THAT THREATEN TO CLOSE THE INSTITUTION.

THIS WEEK, THE COLLEGE FILED SUIT AGAINST THE STATE OF ALABAMA AFTER IT WAS DENIED AN EMERGENCY LOAN BY THE STATE TREASURER'S OFFICE.

THE ALABAMA LEGISLATURE CREATED A DISTRESSED COLLEGE LOAN FUND WHEN OPTING AGAINST A DIRECT BAILOUT OF THE COLLEGE.

BUT THE LOANS REQUIRE AN APPLICATION AND APPROVAL PROCESS.

STATE TREASURE YOUNG BOOZER'S OFFICE SAID BECAUSE OF THE LITIGATION IT COULD NOT COMMENT ON THE REASONS WHY THE LOAN APPLICATION WAS DENIED.

A HEARING ON THE LAWSUIT IS SET FOR WEDNESDAY.

THIS WEEK, CHARTER SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS, ADVOCATES AND SOME STUDENTS GATHERED IN BIRMINGHAM FOR THE NEW SCHOOLS FOR ALABAMA ANNUAL CONFERENCE.

THE EVENT FEATURED A LEGISLATIVE PANEL DISCUSSION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF CHARTER SCHOOLS, INCLUDING A PUSH TO GET EQUITABLE FUNDING FROM THE LEGISLATURE, PLUS A KEYNOTE SPEECH FROM LT.

GOVERNOR WILL AINSWORTH.

>> CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO PLAY A ROLE IN MAKING SURE WE'RE COMPETITIVE IN A 21ST CENTURY ECONOMY.

IT'S GOING TO DO THAT.

WE'RE JUST GETTING STARTED IN ALABAMA.

WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO GROW THAT.

YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT THE ONLY ANSWER, BUT IT'S CERTAINLY PART OF THE SOLUTION.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, MY BELIEF THIS WILL IN EDUCATION, I THINK PARENTS SHOULD DECIDE WHAT'S BEST FOR THEIR CHILDREN WHETHER A CHARTER SCHOOL, PUBLIC SCHOOL, PRIVATE SCHOOL, HOME SCHOOL, PARENTS NEED TO DECIDE WHAT'S BEST.

>> WITH THE GOVERNMENT'S CHANGES THAT WE GOT THROUGH THIS YEAR I THINK WE'LL SEE A SNOWBALL EFFECT, THE ONE WE HOPED WE WOULD SEE IN '16 AND '17 AND '18 AND WE DID NOT.

BUT I THINK, NOW, WE'RE IN A PLACE WHERE WE'RE REALLY GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD, AND WHO'S GOING TO BENEFIT IS THE CHILDREN OF ALABAMA.

>> OFTENTIMES, THEY STAND IN ONE LANE BUT I FORCED THEM TO START LOOKING AT OUTCOMES.

AS A PARENT, AS A FORMER TEACHER MYSELF, BUT AS A PARENT, OUTCOMES MATTER.

HAVING YOUR CHILD IN A SCHOOL THAT GIVES YOUR CHILD THE OPTIONS AND THE ABILITY TO BE THE RIGOR OF THE CURRICULUM TO BE INCREASED AND ADVANCED BASED UPON WHERE YOUR CHILD IS INSTEAD OF THAT CHILD BEING STANDING IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT.

>> WE ARE SINGULARLY FOCUSED ON FUNDING AND MAKING SURE THAT -- [APPLAUSE] -- WE HAVE ABOUT A $2,400 PER STUDENT AVERAGE GAP BETWEEN WHAT A DISTRICT SCHOOL GETS AND WHAT A CHARTER SCHOOL GETS.

THOSE ARE BOTH PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

CHARTER SCHOOLS ARE HELD TO HIGHER STANDARDS THAN YOUR DISTRICT SCHOOLS, BUT THEY'RE GETTING LESS MONEY TO BE ABLE TO MEET THAT HIGHER STANDARD.

>> EACH YEAR, WE HAVE A DIFFERENT THEME, AND THE THEME THIS YEAR IS REALLY ABOUT THE POWER OF PARTNERSHIPS.

ONE OF THE INCREDIBLE THINGS WE'RE SEEING IN THE CHARTER SCHOOL MOVEMENT THESE DAYS IS THAT A NUMBER OF NEW PARTNERS IN PUBLIC EDUCATION ARE COMING TO THE TABLE TO PROVIDE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS.

SO WE HAVE A MOVEMENT AMONG HBCUS IN ALABAMA TO ESTABLISH CHARTER SCHOOLS ON THEIR CAMPUS.

WE HAVE OTHER INSTITUTIONS COMING TO THE TABLE LIKE UNIVERSITY OF WEST ALABAMA, THEN A BUNCH OF FOLKS IN THE NON-PROFIT AND EVEN THE PRIVATE SECTOR THAT ARE COMING AND BRINGING NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR KIDS THAT ARE KIND OF CREATING THESE BREAK-THE-MODEL CHARTER SCHOOLS, AND THEIR TUITION-FREE PUBLIC EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES.

IT'S REALLY EXCITING AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH HERE.

>> CHECKING IN NOW WITH ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IN WASHINGTON, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IS STILL WITHOUT A SPEAKER MORE THAN TWO WEEKS AFTER KEVIN MCCARTHY WAS REMOVED.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS THIS WEEK NOMINATED OHIO CONGRESSMAN JIM JORDAN, BUT HE COULD NOT WIN THE MAJORITY NEEDED TO WIN THE GAVEL AFTER THREE FLOOR VOTES.

EACH OF ALABAMA'S REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS VOTED FOR JORDAN FOR SPEAKER EACH TIME, WITH LONE DEMOCRAT TERRI SEWELL VOTING FOR HER PARTY'S NOMINEE.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS ARE EXPECTED TO REGROUP TO DISCUSS A WAY FORWARD MONDAY.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE CAPITOL, CONTINUED FOCUS ON ISRAEL.

U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT IS ON HER WAY TO THE MIDDLE EAST WITH A BIPARTISAN GROUP OF SENATORS WITH PLANS TO MEET WITH LEADERS AND REAFFIRM OUR COUNTRY'S SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL AS WAR RAGES IN THE HOLY LAND.

>> AS A MOM, AS AN AMERICAN AND AS A CHRISTIAN, I AM ABSOLUTELY HORRIFIED BY WHAT WE'VE SEEN.

ON OUR TRIP, MY COLLEAGUES AND I WILL ADVOCATE FOR STABILITY IN THE MIDDLE EAST, AS WE WORK TOWARDS LONG-TERM, SUSTAINABLE PEACE THAT KEEPS AMERICANS SAFE AT HOME AND ABROAD.

I WILL CONTINUE TO WORK WITH COLLEAGUES ON BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD TO ENSURE THAT ISRAEL HAS EVERYTHING IT NEEDS.

>> U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE IS SPEAKING OUT AGAINST PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S DECISION TO SEND $100 MILLION DOLLARS IN HUMANITARIAN AID TO GAZA.

WHILE THE AID IS MEANT TO EASE SUFFERING OF CIVILIANS DEVASTATED BY BOMBINGS, TUBERVILLE ARGUES IT WILL END UP IN THE WRONG HANDS.

>> THIS WEEK, I SIGN ON TWO -- THIS WEEK I SIGN ON TO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD REDIRECT AMERICAN AID TO THE PALESTINIANS AND USE IT TO STRENGTHEN ISRAEL'S IRON DOME.

JOE BIDEN SAYS HE WANTS TO CUT THE PALESTINIANS A CHECK FOR $100 MILLION.

I AM ABSOLUTELY OPPOSED TO THIS.

HUMANITARIAN AID THAT GOES TO GAZA WILL ULTIMATELY WIND UP IN THE HANDS OF HAMAS, THE TERRORISTS.

>> MORE AND MORE COMMUNITIES AROUND ALABAMA ARE WELCOMING THE STATE'S HELP TO ADD CHARGING STATIONS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS AGAIN ON THAT GROWING TREND.

>> WE'RE VERY EXCITED ABOUT ALL THE GROWTH THAT WE HAVE.

WE ACTUALLY -- I HAD A GROUND-BREAKING ON A NEW HOTEL JUST YESTERDAY.

IT SEEMS LIKE EVERY WEEK OR EVERY MONTH SOMETHING NEW IS GOING ON, AND WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT, WHETHER IT'S ON 231 OR DOWNTOWN.

>> TROY ALABAMA MAYOR JASON REEVES IS VERY UPBEAT ABOUT HIS COMMUNITY AND ITS EXPANSION.

THAT DEVELOPMENT MEANS NEW BUSINESSES, GROWTH AT TROY UNIVERSITY AND INFRASTRUCTURE UPGRADES INCLUDING NEW ACCESS FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES.

>> ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE'VE GOT GOING ON RIGHT NOW IS WE ACTUALLY ORDERED TWO EVV VEHICLES FOR YOUR UTILITY SYSTEM.

SO, AS A PART OF GETTING READY FOR, AS YOU SAID, 231 SERVES AS THE INTERSTATE FOR SOUTH ALABAMA, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO DRIVE ELECTRIC VEHICLES THAT WE DON'T MISS OUT OPEN THAT TRAFFIC.

>> THE MODEL FOR THE CITY OF TROY IS A WONDERFUL PLACE TO LIVE.

LEADER HERE WANT TO IMPROVE ON THAT BY IMPROVING THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF THIS AREA, BY DOING THINGS LIKE THIS, BRINGING IN MORE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARMING STATIONS WITH THE INCREASED NUMBERS OF ELECTRIC VEHICLES COMING TO THIS AREA.

>> I'VE HEARD IT SAID THAT PEOPLE GOING TO THE BEACH AND TALKING ABOUT SHORT CUTS TO THE BEACH, IT ALL STARTS WITH GO TO "TROY AND"...

SO WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THEY STILL GO TO "TROY AND."

>> HIGHWAY 231 HELPS FUEL THE AREA'S ECONOMY, BRINGING PEOPLE TO THE CITY OR TROY UNIVERSITY OR SPECIFIC AS A MAJOR TRAVEL ROUTE THROUGH THE STATE.

MAYOR REEVES SAYS IT'S TIME FOR UPGRADES TO SUCH AS CHARGING STATIONS.

>> WE'RE ACTUALLY LOOKING AT DOING SOMETHING WITH DECA AND SOME OF THE THINGS THEY'RE DOING TO EITHER PARTNER WITH ONE OF OUR PROPERTIES, A PRIVATE PROPERTY OR A NON-PROFIT PROPERTY THAT WOULD SERVE A REALLY GOOD PURPOSE AND PROVIDE THOSE CHARGERS.

>> PAVING THE WAY FOR MORE BUSINESS WITHIN TROY.

>> WE'VE REALLY INVESTED A LOT IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE OF OUR DOWNTOWN WITH SIDEWALKS, WITH RECRUITING NEW BUSINESSES, AND WE ALSO -- THE ACTUAL FIRST ELECTRIC CHARGER THAT WE PUT IN IS ACTUALLY DOWN THERE.

>> SPELLING MORE PROGRESS FOR THE CITY, SAYS MAYOR REEVES.

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF SPACES PEOPLE CAN PULL IN DIFFERENT TO OUR SHOPPING, DINING, ENTERTAINMENT AREA, PLUG IN THEIR VEHICLES AND ENJOY BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC DOWNTOWN TROY.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT >> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS JOHN MCMILLAN, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE ALABAMA MEDICAL CANNABIS COMMISSION.

MR. MCMILLAN, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU, TODD, GREAT TO BE WITH YOU AGAIN.

>> WE'VE HAD YOU ON THE SHOW BEFORE, BUT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS, IT HAS BEEN A BUSY TIME FOR YOU GUYS.

BEEN LOTS IN THE NEWS, LOTS IN THE COURTS, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU KIND OF BRING US UP TO SPEED ON WHERE THE CANNABIS COMMISSION IS?

I KNOW THERE'S BEEN LITIGATION OR MULTIPLE MEETINGS BUT WHERE ARE WE NOW IN TERMS OF THE PROCESS?

>> WELL, THE SIMPLE ANSWER IS THAT, AFTER SOME NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE LAWYERS REPRESENTING THE COMMISSION AND REPRESENTING APPLICANTS, WE FINALLY DECIDED WE WOULD JUST COME TOGETHER WITH OUR OWN PLAN FOR HOW WE MOVED FORWARD.

THERE'S A LITTLE GIVE AND TAKE, A LITTLE OF WHAT EVERYBODY WANTED, BUT NOTHING THAT SATISFIED EVERYBODY.

BUT WE'VE ADOPTED THAT RULE -- THOSE RULE CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS AND NOW AT OUR NEXT MEETING ON THE 26TH, NEXT WEEK, WE ANTICIPATE THE COMMISSION MOVING FORWARD WITH THAT PLAN.

>> THERE'S BEEN ALL THESE LAWSUITS.

I THINK WE CALLED IT A FLURRY OF LAWSUITS THAT YOU'VE HAD TO DEAL WITH THAT'S REALLY SLOWED DOWN THE PROCESS.

IT REALLY GOES BACK TO THAT ORIGINAL SCORING FLAW, RIGHT?

AND I HOPE YOU COULD SORT OF EXPLAIN WHAT HAPPENED WAY BACK WHEN, IN THAT SCORING SITUATION, THAT SORT OF WAS THE IMPETUS FOR ALL THIS.

>> WELL, LET ME PREFACE THAT BY SAYING EVERY STATE'S HAD TO DEAL WITH LAWSUITS.

FLORIDA'S BEEN DOING THIS SEVEN, EIGHT YEARS, AND THEY'VE STILL GOT LAWSUITS.

GEORGIA LONGER THAN WE HAVE, AND THEY'VE STILL GOT LAWSUITS.

ARKANSAS, MAYBE EVEN WORSE.

I'LL STOP THERE, JUST BY STATES.

>> WE'RE NOT ALONE IN THE WHOLE LAWSUIT -- >> RIGHT, THAT'S BEEN THE PROCESS.

IT'S KIND OF LIKE JUDGE ANDERSON SAID THE OTHER DAY, YOU KNOW, THE ROOT OF THIS PROBLEM IS -- AND HE'S RIGHT -- THAT THE LEGISLATURE PUT A CAP ON THE NUMBER OF LICENSES THAT CAN BE ISSUED.

SO ANYTHING -- LET ME SAY THAT THE LAWSUITS HAVE BEEN EXTREMELY FRUSTRATING.

SOMETIMES IT MAKES US WANT TO BITE OUR ELBOWS WHEN YOU SEE SOME OF THE ALLEGATIONS THAT JUST REALLY DON'T MEAN ANYTHING.

BUT, ANYWAY, THE COMMISSION ASKED US TO COME UP WITH A PROCESS WHERE WE DIDN'T JUST THROW IT IN THEIR LAP AND SAY, OKAY, YOU'VE GOT THOSE APPLICATIONS, GO MAKE A DECISION.

THE TOTAL PACKAGE OF APPLICATIONS WAS OVER 100,000 PAGES, FOR EXAMPLE.

SO WE CAME UP WITH A SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA TO LET OBJECTIVE EVALUATORS GO THROUGH THOSE DIFFERENT COMPONENTS AND EVALUATE THE EXHIBITS AND SCORE THEM, AND THEY WERE TRAINED AND VETTED AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS.

UNFORTUNATELY, WHEN WE GOT THE INFORMATION AND IT WAS ONE OF THE FACTORS THAT THE COMMISSIONERS MADE THE DECISION ON IN THE ORIGINAL AWARDING OF LICENSES, THERE WAS A MISTAKE.

WE IMMEDIATELY GOT WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH ALABAMA.

YOU KNOW, JOE BONNER, WE CALLED HIM WHEN WE SAW IT, AND WE SAID WE FOUND IT, WE FIXED IT.

SO THEY DID TWO INTERNAL AUDITS OF THE WHOLE THING AND GOT KMPG TO DO AN AUDIT OF THE WHOLE THING, AND, SO, NOW WE'RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THE SCORING PROCESS, AS FAR AS WE ARE CONCERNED.

UNFORTUNATELY, AS WE SAID EARLIER, THE LAWYERS ARE NOT HAPPY BECAUSE, OUT OF THE 38 INTEGRATED APPLICANTS, ONLY FIVE CAN GET LICENSES.

AND, SO, NO MATTER WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE FIVE VERY HAPPY PEOPLE AND 33, TO ONE DEGREE OR ANOTHER, UNHAPPY.

SO THAT'S WHERE WE ARE.

>> WELL, AND YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT MILLION-DOLLAR BUSINESSES, RIGHT?

>> MULTI-MILLION-DOLLAR.

ESPECIALLY THE INTEGRATORS.

THAT'S EXTREMELY EXPENSIVE, THE NUMBERS WE HEAR AT THE -- $10 MILLION TO $20 MILLION TO DO THE WHOLE THING, AND THAT MEANS FROM THE SEED TO THE CULTIVATION TO THE PROCESS TO THE TRANSPORTING TO THE LAB WORK, AND THEN ALL THE WAY TO THE DISPENSARIES WHERE THESE PRODUCTS REASON SOLD.

SO IT'S EXPENSIVE AND APPARENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF MONEY IN IT.

IT'S CASH BUSINESS UNTIL CONGRESS ACTS ON THE SAFE BANKING LEGISLATION, WHICH YOUNG BOOZER HAS BEEN LEADING THE CHARGE ON BEHALF OF THE STATE TREASURER TO GET THAT DONE.

>> I WAS HOPING YOU COULD EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT BECAUSE, REALLY, THIS GOES BACK TO, IF MARIJUANA WAS NOT CLASSIFIED AS A DRUG THE WAY IT IS, A NARCOTIC THE WAY IT IS AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL, WE REALLY WOULDN'T BE IN THIS SITUATION BECAUSE PHARMACIES WOULD BE DOING THIS, RIGHT?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> BECAUSE IT'S LIKE THAT, A WHOLE COMMISSION PROCESS, A WHOLE DIFFERENT OUTSIDE OF THE NORMAL MEDICAL PRESCRIPTION PLATFORM.

BUT THERE IS THIS BANKING SITUATION THAT COULD HELP RESOLVE SOME OF THAT.

CAN YOU EXPLAIN THAT A LITTLE BIT?

>> WELL, JUST THE WAY YOU LAID IT OUT, BANKING, THERE IS SOME HEADWAY, BECAUSE WE'RE OVER STATES NOW THAT HAVE MEDICAL CANNABIS IN ONE FORM OR THE OTHER.

SO SOME BANKS ARE GOING AHEAD.

AND WE HEAR THAT THERE ARE A COUPLE OF BANKS IN ALABAMA THAT ARE WILLING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE ORDINARY BANKING SERVICES.

BUT GENERALLY, NO, IT'S ILLEGAL, AS YOU SAID, BECAUSE OF THE CLASSIFICATION OF THE DRUG AND THERE'S AN EFFORT THROUGH THE D.E.A.

TO CHANGE THE CLASSIFICATION.

RIGHT NOW MARIJUANA IS THE SAME CLASSIFICATION AS COCAINE AND REALLY OTHER SURE ENOUGH HIGH-LEVEL DRUGS THAT WE DON'T BELIEVE ARE AS ADDICTIVE AND THAT SORT OF THING AND DON'T HAVE THE MEDICAL POSITIVES THAT CANNABIS DOES, AND PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENT ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT THAT'S WHAT THE ALABAMA LAW WAS INTENDED TO PROVIDE THIS PRODUCT AT A SAFE QUALITY LEVEL TO PATIENTS IN ALABAMA THAT NEED IT BADLY.

>> I KNOW YOU CAN'T REALLY GET MUCH INTO THE LITIGATION THAT'S GOING ON BECAUSE IT'S STILL ONGOING.

THERE WAS A HEARING GOING ON, I GUESS, YESTERDAY, BUT IN YOUR ESTIMATION, HOW CLOSE ARE WE TO SEEING AT LEAST SOME RESOLUTION IN THE COURTS TO REALLY ALLOW THE COMMISSION TO MOVE FORWARD?

WHAT'S YOUR BEST GUESS?

>> WELL, AND BECAUSE THE BOTTOM LINE ANSWER IS TELL ME HOW MANY MORE LAWSUITS.

BUT IF THE COMMISSION IS ALLOWED TO GO FORWARD WITH THE RULES THAT WE ADOPTED AND THE AMENDMENTS AT THE LAST MEETING, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HAVE LICENSES ISSUED.

AND THERE'S A DISTINCTION BETWEEN AWARDING AND ISSUING.

THAT'S SOMETHING PEOPLE MIGHT WANT TO GET INTO.

>> PLEASE DO, YEAH.

>> LET ME GO AHEAD AND FINISH THAT ANSWER.

WE BELIEVE THAT WE CAN HAVE LICENSES ISSUED BY THE END OF THE YEAR.

I LIKE TO SAY BY CHRISTMAS BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT GIFT FOR FOLKS THAT NEED THE PRODUCT SO BAD.

BUT THE LEGISLATION IS SET UP THAT, FIRST, THE LICENSES ARE AWARDED, AND THEN IT IS A PROCESS INCLUDING PAYMENT OF FEES AND SO FORTH FOR ABOUT ANOTHER 28 DAYS BEFORE THEY'RE ACTUALLY ISSUED.

SO THAT'S HOW THAT PLAYS OUT, AND IT'S MISUNDERSTOOD AND CERTAINLY OBVIOUSLY, AS THIS LEGISLATION IS EXTREMELY COMPLEX, AND WHEN YOU ADD ALL THE COMPLEX RULES AND REGULATIONS AND OTHER PROCEDURES INTO IT, IT EVEN GETS MORE COMPLEX.

I FIND MYSELF HAVING TO GO TO SOME OF THESE YOUNGER FOLKS THAT OWN THE STAFF THAT ARE MUCH MORE TECHNOLOGICALLY SAVVY THAN I AM TO GET QUESTIONS ANSWERED ABOUT IT.

SO I UNDERSTAND THAT.

BUT WE FEEL GOOD ABOUT THE CHANGES THAT WE MADE.

I THINK, I.D.

SAY, OVER THE LAST MONTH OR SO, WE REALLY HAVE STARTED TO MAKE HEADWAY.

I THINK JUDGE ANDERSON, THE LAST TWO HEARINGS WE'VE HAD, HE SEEMS EXTREMELY INTERESTED AND INTENT IN SEEING THIS PROGRAM GET UP AND GET RUNNING AND, CERTAINLY, THAT'S A BIG HELP.

>> WELL, WE REPORT ON IT, AND THERE'S SO MUCH IN THE PRESS, BUT THERE'S PROBABLY A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE COMMISSION WITH YOUR STAFF.

CAN YOU KIND OF TAKE US BEHIND THE SCENES AND WHAT'S BEEN GOING ON?

WHEN THERE ARE LAWSUITS, YOU HAVE TO BE VERY CALIFF ABOUT WHAT YOU SAY PUBLICLY, COMING ON THE SHOW, THINGS LIKE THAT.

CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH SOME OF THE BEHIND THE SCENES, WHAT'S GONE ON THESE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS AT THE COMMISSION AS THESE LAWSUITS HAVE PLAYED OUT?

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

WE DON'T GET AN OPPORTUNITY.

WHAT WE ARE DOING AS A STAFF IS LETTING THE LAWYERS DO THE NEGOTIATION AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS TO US AND THE COMMISSION.

SO THAT'S KIND OF PUSHED ASIDE -- NOT OUT OF MIND FOR SURE.

BUT, YEAH, OUR STAFF AS DONE AMAZING THINGS IN ADDITION TO THE WHOLE APPLICATION PROCESS, WHICH IN ITSELF, IS EXTREMELY LENGTHY AND COMPLEX.

BUT WE HAVE NEGOTIATED CONTRACTS, FOR EXAMPLE THE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION, BOARD OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS, COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE HELPFUL, AS HAS EVERY OTHER STATE ENTITY.

THE REVENUE DEPARTMENT, AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY, IS A LEADER WITH PATIENT CARDS AND ALL OF THAT, TOO.

JUST FANTASTIC.

BUT, ANYWAY, SO WE'VE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT FOR THE DOCTOR-PATIENT REGISTRY.

WE HAVE NEGOTIATED A CONTRACT FOR THE TRACKING, AND THAT TRACKING SYSTEM IS JUST ABSOLUTELY ASTOUNDING.

IT TAKES -- WHEN WE HAVE THE LICENSES ISSUED, IT TAKES THAT PRODUCT FROM THE SEED ALL THE WAY THROUGH THE SALE AT THE DISPENSARY BY THE INDIVIDUAL PLAN.

AT AN EARLY STAGE, I THINK MABEL INCHES OR SO, EACH PLANT IS GIVEN A DESIGNATION AND NUMBER AND EVEN THE WASTE PART OF THAT PLANT IS NOT UTILIZED FOR MEDICAL PRODUCTS, HAS TO BE ACCOUNTED FOR.

SO IT'S JUST AMAZING HOW THAT SYSTEM WORKS.

WE'VE GOTTEN THAT DONE.

AALIYAH HAS WORKED WITH US TREMENDOUSLY TO START THINKING ABOUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO PUT TOGETHER THE PATIENT I.D.

CARDS, VERY MUCH LIKE A DRIVERS LICENSE, THAT SORT OF THING, AND THAT PATIENT REGISTRY WILL KEEP UP NOT ONLY WITH NOT A PRESCRIPTION BUT A RECOMMENDATION FROM THE TIME THE DOCTOR MAKES IT TILL THAT PATIENT GOES AND BUYS IT AT A DISPENSARY.

AND IF A PATIENT GOES TO A DISPENSARY IN MONTGOMERY AND BUYS A PRODUCT AND THEN, LATER IN THE DAY, TRIES TO DO THE SAME THING IN BIRMINGHAM, IT'S ALREADY IN THE SYSTEM, AND THEY WILL BE CUT OFF RIGHT THEN.

SO THAT PART OF IT IS COMPLEX, AND DON'T FORGET, WHEN THIS IS ALL SAID AND DONE AND WE GET THIS PROGRAM UP AND RUNNING, WE'RE GOING TO BE A REGULATORY AGENCY MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE.

OCCASIONALLY, OVER TIME, I'M SURE THERE WILL BE MORE APPLICATION ALSO PUT IN THE SYSTEM AND GONE THROUGH, BUT THIS IS THE BIG ONE TO GET THROUGH THIS INITIAL ROUND OF APPLICATIONS AND THE CHALLENGES THAT GO ALONG WITH, GETTING BACK TO THE INTEGRATOR THING, WITH 38 APPLICANTS THAT EACH THINK THEY DID THE VERY BEST APPLICATION ANYBODY COULD DO AND DIDN'T GET A LICENSE, SO THAT'S WHERE THE LAWSUITS COME IN.

BUT, YEAH, THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING.

ANOTHER THING THAT'S OVERLOOKED AND NOT MENTIONED, REALLY, OVERSHADOWED BY LITIGATION, BUT WE WILL BE RESPONSIBLE NOT ONLY FOR THE REGULATORY PART OF IT BUT ENFORCING THINGS AND BEING SURE -- YOU KNOW, WE MENTIONED BEFORE WE TALKED ON THE AIR ABOUT -- AND WE DIDN'T GET TO THE A, B, C, BUT, IN YEARS PAST, WE TALK ABOUT HOW THESE THINGS COULD HAVE BEEN MISUSED.

I THINK EVERYBODY THAT'S BEEN AROUND VERY LONG UNDERSTANDS SOME OF THE ISSUES BACK IN THE DAY AND THANK GOODNESS THAT'S LARGELY BEEN ADDRESSED NOW.

BUT THAT'S THE KIND OF THING WE'RE TRYING TO LAY THE GROUNDWORK FOR SO THAT LATER ON WHEN WE START GETTING TO THE DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS AND FINES AND THAT SORT OF THINGICS YOU KNOW, WE DON'T HAVE A LEGISLATOR THAT CALLS UP AND SAYS MY BUDDY HAS A DISPENSARY AND YOU'RE FINING HIM, DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

WE HAVE TO SAY, SORRY, THAT'S THE WAY THE SYSTEM IS SET UP AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

>> YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING BY THE BOOK, HAVING A PROCESS, HAVING A PROCEDURE RECORDED ON PAPER INSTEAD OF THE GOOD OLD BOY SYSTEM OF, HEY, MY COUSIN OR MY FRIEND IN WHATEVER COUNTY, BECAUSE IT MATTERS DOWN THE LINE.

YOU MENTIONED THESE PROCEDURES.

I REMEMBER THE DEBATE IN THE LEGISLATURE FOR REALLY A COUPLE OF YEAR BEFORE THEY PASSED THE BILL.

>> THREE YEARS, ACTUALLY.

>> THE ONES WHO WERE OPPOSED, THE ONES WHO WERE SKEPTICAL, AND FOLKS STILL TODAY REALLY WANTED TO AVOID THIS BECOMING A RECREATIONAL PRODUCT, RIGHT, BECOMING CALIFORNIA OR COLORADO.

DO YOU THINK THESE PROCEDURES THAT YOU'VE PUT IN PLACE, YOU TALK ABOUT WORKING WITH AALIYAH, YOU TALK ABOUT THE LIST, DO YOU THINK WE HAVE THE LAWS AND THE PROCEDURES IN PLACE WHERE ALABAMIANS CAN BE CONFIDENT THAT IT'S NOT GOING TO BE LIKE OTHER STATES AND A RECREATIONAL PRODUCT?

>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY WE WILL HAVE AND DO HAVE.

WE'VE ALREADY HIRED, FOR EXAMPLE, A COMPLIANCE OFFICER.

WE'VE HAD TO PUT OFF HIRING INSPECTORS, HE HAS, BECAUSE LITIGATION IS EATING UP OUR FUNDING, A LOT OF IT.

BUT, YEAH, AND, OF COURSE, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ULTIMATELY THE LEGISLATURE WILL HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHETHER TO GO RECREATIONAL.

OF THE 40-ODD THAT HAVE MEDICAL CANNABIS, 20-ODD -- LET'S SAY 40-20, HAVE ALSO GONE ON TO RECREATIONAL.

THAT'S SOMETHING THAT THIS COMMISSION IS NOT GOING TO SUPPORT, AND I HOPE THE LEGISLATURE WON'T DO IT.

BUT THERE ARE TWO OR THREE THINGS THAT NEED TO BE -- PEOPLE NEED TO BE AWARE OF.

FIRST OF ALL, THIS PRODUCT WITH THE CASH ONLY -- NO HEALTH INSURANCE -- IS GOING TO BE AN EXPENSIVE PRODUCT, AND OUR MAJOR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE THAT PRODUCT TO THE PATRONS THAT NEED IT BUT ALSO IN A SAFE, QUALITY AREA -- OR MANNER, AND THAT'S THE REASON THE LABS AND ALL OF THAT ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

BUT, ALSO, BEAR IN MIND, NOTHING WE DO IS GOING TO INTERFERE WITH THE ILLEGAL BLACK MARKET OUT THERE ON THE STREET.

>> SURE.

>> SO THAT'S AN IMPORTANT THING FOR PEOPLE TO BEAR IN MIND BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE -- SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, DO I GO TO A DOCTOR AND GET THIS RECOMMENDATION, OR DO I GO OUT HERE AND BUY THE CHEAP THING ON THE STREET AND TAKE A CHANCE ON GETTING FENTANYL OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO WIPE ME OUT?

SO THERE'S A LOT TO BE DONE AND DEALT WITH AS WE MOVE FORWARD ONCE WE GET THESE LICENSES OUT.

>> WELL, IF WE'VE GOTTEN KIND LOST IN THE WEEDS OF POLICY AND LITIGATION, AND ALL OF THAT, BUT I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMIND FOLKS WHY THIS EXISTS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

THERE ARE FOLKS OUT THERE DEALING WITH ILLNESSES THAT MAYBE CURRENT DRUGS DON'T HELP WITH OR THEY, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE DEALING WITH PAIN, LONG-TERM DEBILITATING ILLNESSES.

TALK ABOUT THE NEED OUT THERE AND WHAT THIS PRODUCT -- WHAT THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA, MEDICAL CANNABIS, HOW IT CAN HELP PATIENTS IN NEED.

>> WELL, IN LEGISLATION, YOU KNOW, THE NUMBER OF ILLNESSES THAT CAN BE RECOMMENDED FOR THIS IS PRESCRIBED.

SO WE'VE GOT THAT AS PART OF THE EQUATION.

BUT, YOU KNOW, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DISTRESSES ME IS THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE I SEE THAT HAVE GOT FAMILY MEMBERS OUT OF STATE WHERE IT'S LEGAL, WHERE RECREATIONAL IS LEGAL AND CANNABIS MEDICAL IS LEGAL, MAILING PRODUCTS IN OR BRINGING PRODUCTS IN, AND THAT'S DISTURBING THAT THEY HAVE TO DO THAT, NUMBER ONE, BREAK THE LAW TO GET THE MEDICINE.

BUT, ALSO, AT THE SAME TIME, THE FEDS, ON THE ONE HAND, ALL OF THIS IS ILLEGAL AND, ON THE OTHER HAND, THEY'RE ISSUING GRANTS TO RESEARCH LIKE THE IMPACT AND POTENTIAL IMPACT WITH VETERANS AND PTSD AND THOSE KINDS OF THINGS.

SO THERE'S OBVIOUSLY A NEED FOR IT.

IT'S A PLANT-BASED MEDICINE, IT'S NOT A SYNTHETIC LIKE MANY OF THE OPIOIDS ARE THAT ARE SO MUCH MORE ADDICTIVE.

SO THAT'S THE IMPORTANT PART OF THIS THING.

AND ANOTHER REASON I THINK THE LEGISLATURE TOOK A HARD LOOK AT THAT PART OF THE EQUATION WHEN THEY WERE LOOKING AT WHETHER TO PASS THIS LEGISLATION OR NOT.

>> AN IMPORTANT REMINDER.

WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR COMING ON AND EXPLAINING SOME OF THIS STUFF, AND I HOPE WE CAN HAVE YOU BACK MAYBE LATER IN THE YEAR WHEN WE GET CLOSER TO THINGS COMING ON MARKET.

>> I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY OF COMING BACK AND SAYING WE'VE ISSUED ALL THE LICENSES AND ARE IN BUSINESS NOW AND PROVIDING PATIENT A QUALITY, SAFE PRODUCT.

>> WE WILL HAVE YOU BACK THEN.

THANKS AGAIN.

>> THANK YOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS MONTGOMERY MAYOR STEVEN REED.

MAYOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I SHOULD SAY RECENTLY REELECTED MAYOR STEVEN REED.

>> THAT'S ALWAYS GOOD.

>> CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR REELECTION.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THE PEOPLE SAW THE CONFIDENCE IN US AND PUT US BACK IN FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

>> WHAT WAS YOUR MAIN MESSAGE AS YOU WERE RUNNING FOR REELECTION?

YOU KNOW, THERE ARE ALWAYS OFF-YEAR ELECTIONS SO THEY'RE KIND OF ISOLATED, NOT LIKE A PRESIDENTIAL OR CONGRESS, SO YOU'RE KIND OF ON AN ISLAND THERE A LITTLE BIT.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT MESSAGING THAT AND GETTING PEOPLE TO THE POLLS ON AND OFF YOUR ELECTION?

>> WELL, I THINK FOR US, AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, IT'S GOOD TO BE ON AN OFF-YEAR CYCLE BECAUSE YOU GET A CHANCE TO DRILL DOWN INTO GOVERNMENT THAT IMPACTS PEOPLE THE MOST.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE TALKED ABOUT WERE NOT ONLY OUR SUCCESSES BUT THINGS WE WANTED TO IMPROVE UPON, AND WHETHER THAT'S PUBLIC SAFETY AND WHETHER THAT'S IMPROVING THE ECONOMIC VIABILITY OF OUR CITY, THOSE ARE THINGS THAT WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO BUILD ON AND, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE OVERRIDING MESSAGE WAS THAT WE'VE DONE SOME VERY GOOD WORK, BUT THERE'S MORE WORK FOR US TO DO.

AND I THINK THE COMMUNITY LIKES THE DIRECTION WE'RE GOING IN, AND THAT'S WHY WE WENT BY THE MARGIN THAT WE DID.

>> AND IT WAS A CONVINCING MARGIN, BUT IT WAS CONTESTED.

>> SURE.

>> YOU HAD AN OPPONENT AND THOSE OPPOSING YOU.

TOWARD THE END IT GOT A LITTLE CHIPPY, ESPECIALLY ON THE ISSUE OF CRIME.

>> YEAH.

>> AND YET YOU WON, CONVINCINGLY.

SO, WHEN YOU WIN LIKE THAT AND ISSUES ARE BROUGHT UP, LIKE ON CRIME, WHAT DOES THAT COMMUNICATE TO YOU?

IS IT WE HAVE WORK TO DO, AS YOU SAID?

WHAT'S THE TAKEAWAY?

DOES IT CONCERN YOU OTHERS ARE CONCERNED ABOUT THAT?

>> NO, I THINK IT'S GOOD.

I THINK WE ALL WANT TO REDUCE CRIME ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

IT HAS BEEN A PRIORITY FOR ME SINCE RUNNING FOUR YEARS AGO.

AND, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU SEE THAT COME OUT IN THE CAMPAIGN WHETHER YOU'RE KNOCKING ON DOORS AND YOU'RE TALKING TO PEOPLE IN RESTAURANTS OR SMALL BUSINESSES OR IN THEIR COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW THAT IT HITS HOME, AND I THINK WHAT IT SAYS TO US IS WHAT WE'RE DOING ISN'T ENOUGH AND WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE OUT NEW TACTICS AND STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE THE RESULTS.

AND IT'S NOT JUST ON THE, YOU KNOW, REACTIVE SIDE, IT'S ALSO BEING PROACTIVE, INVESTING IN COMMUNITY CENTERS, INVESTING IN THE PROGRAMMING THAT'S IN THOSE COMMUNITY CENTERS, PROVIDING THOSE WRAP-AROUND SERVICES AND HELPING THOSE PROVIDERS THAT ALREADY DO THAT.

AND THEN, OF COURSE, WORKING WITH OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE THAT ARE IN THE SCHOOLS HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO SEE WHAT THE FUTURE CAN BE LIKE IF THEY GET A CERTIFICATION WHERE THEY GO TO A TWO-YEAR OR FOUR-YEAR COLLEGE OR RIGHT INTO THE WORKFORCE, TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE PUSHING QUALITY PLACE AND OPPORTUNITY INDEX ALL AROUND OUR CITY EVEN IN NEIGHBORS WHERE THEY MAY NOT FEEL LIKE IT REACHES THEM.

>> THOSE INVESTMENTS WILL PREVENT CRIME IN THE FUTURE RATHER THAN BEING REACTIVE TO IT.

>> YEAH.

>> WELL, YOU'VE WRITTEN A BOOK >> YEAH.

>> AND THIS IS PRETTY SCHOOL.

I MEAN, YOU'RE ON THIS BOOK TOUR.

I SAW YOU WERE DOWN AT NEW SOUTH BOOKS DOING A BOOK SIGNING.

TELL ME ABOUT IT.

I FESS THE EASY QUESTION OR MAYBE THE MORE BASIC QUESTION IS WHAT'S YOUR BOOK ABOUT?

>> THE BOOK IS A MEMOIR ABOUT MY PATH TO BECOMING THE FIRST BLACK MAYOR OF MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA.

IT SHARES THE PEARLS OF WISDOM I GAINED FROM MY FATHER AND MOTHER.

>> OKAY.

>> YEAH, AND SO MANY IN THEIR GENERATION.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED TO REALLY HAVE ACCESS AND DIDN'T ALWAYS APPRECIATE IT, TO PEOPLE WHO HELPED CHANGE NOT ONLY MONTGOMERY BUT THIS NATION.

AND THOSE VISITS, THOSE CONVERSATIONS ALONG THE WAY HAVE HELPED ME DEAL WITH A LOT OF THINGS, WHETHER THAT WAS PERSONALLY OR PROFESSIONALLY, OR EVEN POLITICALLY, THAT I WANT TO SHARE WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO BE SURE THAT I PUT IN THIS BOOK WAS, YOU KNOW, THE TRANSPARENT WINS, THE TRANSPARENT LESSONS, NOT LOSSES, BUT THOSE SUCCESSES AND SOME OF THOSE SETBACKS THAT I'VE HAD PERSONALLY AND PROFESSIONALLY.

AND I THINK THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO SHOW WITH LEADERS AND THOSE THAT ARE COMING BEHIND US PARTICULARLY IN THE GEN Z AND MILLENNIAL GENERATION THAT IT'S NOT ALWAYS A DIRECT RYAN.

SOMETIMES LIFE ZIGS AND ZAGS ON YOU, BUT YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WORK THROUGH THOSE THINGS.

AND I THINK THE MEMOIR IS A LESSON THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE CAN TAKE DIFFERENT -- HAVE DIFFERENT TAKEAWAYS, HAVE DIFFERENT INTERPRETATIONS FROM, BUT I HOPE IT INSPIRES A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERS TO GO EVEN FURTHER THAN WHERE WE HAVE SO FAR.

>> SOME BIG NAMES MENTIONED IN YOUR BOOK.

HANK AARON.

>> YEAH.

>> OF COURSE, YOUR DAD.

BUT YOU'VE GOT HANK AARON.

>> HE WASN'T THE HOME RUN KING.

[LAUGHTER] >> HANK AARON, FRED GRAY.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO HAVE STORIES INVOLVING THESE GIANTS?

>> IT'S AMAZING.

AGAIN, IT WASN'T SOMETHING THAT I REALLY APPRECIATED GROWING UP.

>> NOT EVEN REALLY SURE I APPRECIATED IT EVEN INTO MY ADULTHOOD.

IT WAS JUST WHAT WE WERE AFFORDED.

YOU KNOW, AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW, I'M TRYING TO PLAY SPORTS, I'M PLAYING, YOU KNOW, HIGH SCHOOL AND COLLEGE FOOTBALL, ALL THOSE THINGS, YOU'RE NOT REALLY THINKING ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHO THIS PERSON IS AND WHAT THEY HAVE DONE.

I APPRECIATED MRS. KING WHEN SHE WOULD STAY AT OUR HOUSE BECAUSE SHE WAS FROM THE SAME COMMUNITY MY MOTHER AND HER FAMILY WERE FROM IN PERRY COUNTY, AND I APPRECIATED THAT.

BUT NOT ENOUGH TO ASK MY DAD IF SHE COULD GO TO SCHOOL WITH ME AT THE TIME, AND I WOULD GET A FUNNY RESPONSE LATER IN THE BOOK.

BUT, ALSO, YOU KNOW, MEETING PRESIDENTS, SENATORS, CONGRESSMEN, MAYORS, PEOPLE WHO JUST INFLUENCE AND CHANGE, BUT ALSO THE GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS, THE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T HAVE THE POSITION OF MAYOR, THE POSITION OF CITY COUNCILOR OR STATE REPRESENTATIVE WHO THROUGH SHEER WILL AND COMMITMENT PUSHED ALABAMA AND THIS NATION FORWARD IN A WAY THAT WOULD NOT BE DENIED.

AND THAT IS THE INSPIRATION TO ME AND I HOPE THAT IS THE INSPIRATION TO THOSE WHO AGAIN WE HOPE WILL READ THE BOOK, THE YOUNG LEADERS WHO HAVE ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY, HAVE ACCESS TO, YOU KNOW, GREAT SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND CAN DO SO MUCH BUT MAY NOT KNOW HOW TO CHANNEL THAT ENERGY TORE THE PURPOSE THAT THEY MAY HAVE.

>> HOW CAN PEOPLE GET THIS BOOK?

>> WELL, THEY CAN GO TO NEW SOUTH BOOKS CERTAINLY HERE IN MONTGOMERY AND PICK IT UP OR ANY INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE THAT THEY MAY HAVE IN THEIR CITY, BUT CERTAINLY IT'S ONLINE ON AMAZON AND BARNES AND NOBLE, RANDOM HOUSE PUBLICATION, SO WE'RE EXCITED TO HAVE HAD THE COUNTRY TO HAVE A MAJOR PUBLISHER BE INTERESTED IN THE BOOK AND HELP US PROMOTE IT.

>> WHEN YOU GO AND WRITE A BOOK, A MEMOIR ESPECIALLY, IT RAISES THE QUESTION ABOUT YOUR AMBITIONS, RIGHT, YOUR POLITICAL AMBITIONS.

THAT ALWAYS GOES RIGHT WITH IT.

>> I MEAN, COME ON, THIS IS THE WORLD.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> WE'VE GONE THROUGH REDISTRICTING.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU I'M SURE WERE PAYING ATTENTION TO THE DISTRICT LINES.

THE SECOND DISTRICT IS NOW COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, THE WAY -- GOING ALL THE WAY INTO MOBILE AND EVERYTHING.

IT IS A VERY GOOD OPPORTUNITY FOR A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TO WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT ALSO INCLUDES ALL OF MONTGOMERY.

SO I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS.

SO IS THAT A CONSIDERATION?

ARE YOU CONSIDERING RUNNING?

I MEAN, SOMETHING YOU PROBABLY NEED TO DECIDE PRETTY SOON.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, FIRST OF ALL, IT'S ALWAYS HUMBLING TO BE THOUGHT OF FOR A HIGHER OFFICE AND FOR SOMETHING WHERE YOU CAN SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND, OF COURSE, SEVEN THE NATION AT A HIGHER LEVEL.

I THINK, YOU KNOW, ANYONE WOULD NOT BE HONORED BY THAT.

SO TO BE IN THAT DISCUSSION IS GREAT AND I THINK IT'S A TESTIMONY TO THE WORK THAT I'VE DONE IN PUBLIC SERVICE AND THE IMPACT THAT WE'VE HAD.

ALSO, I THINK PEOPLE BELIEVE WE CAN DO TO HELP NOT ONLY THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT BY THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THE NATION AND BEYOND.

SO IT'S A CONSIDERATION, BUT IT'S NOT ANYTHING I'VE MADE A DECISION ON YET.

YOU KNOW, WHEN I THINK ABOUT PUBLIC OFFICE, AND THIS GOES BACK TO WHEN I RAN FOR PROBATE JUDGE, YOU KNOW, MY THOUGHT IS HOW CAN I MAKE A DIFFERENCE, A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE, WHAT'S THE PATH TO TRYING TO MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE AND THEN, YOU KNOW, WHO TO YOU NEED TO HELP YOU ACCOMPLISH IT.

IT'S NOT SO MUCH FOR THE TITLE OR THE POSITION FOR ME, IT'S REALLY IN THE OUTCOME.

THAT'S BEEN MY APPROACH EVEN AS MAYOR IS UNDERSTANDING, YOU KNOW, HOW I CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, WHO I NEED TO BRING WITH ME IN ORDER TO GET IT DONE, AND THEN HOW DO YOU MAKE SURE YOU'RE MAKING A POSITIVE IMPACT.

THE THING ABOUT CONGRESS IS IT PROVIDES A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO TAKE MANY OF THE THINGS THAT WE'RE DOING HERE IN MONTGOMERY TO THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

WHAT I'M NOT SURE OF IS WHETHER OR NOT IT PRESENTS A BETTER OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE FOR MONTGOMERY AND FOR AREAS THAT ARE SURROUNDING OUR CITY.

MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT, I WOULD BE FOR SOMEBODY WHO IS FROM HERE TO REPRESENT THAT SEAT AND TO BE CONSIDERED AMONG ALL THOSE THAT CERTAINLY COULD RUN, WHETHER THOSE ARE OTHER ELECTED OFFICIALS OR THOSE THAT ARE IN THE PRIVATE SECTOR, ALL THAT'S A PLUS FOR ME.

I THINK, AT THE END OF THE DAY, IT WILL COME DOWN TO BEING A PERSONAL DECISION BETWEEN MYSELF AND MY FAMILY, AS WELL AS OUR CLOSE CIRCLE OF FRIENDS AND ADVISORS, BUT, ALSO, WHERE CAN WE MAKE THE DIFFERENCE AND HOW DO WE CREATE THE AGENDA TO MAKE THE DIFFERENCE.

AND I'VE GOT SOME, YOU KNOW, QUESTIONS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, CONGRESS, CAN YOU STILL DO THAT.

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S WHY I SEEK OUT, YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT THOUGHTS ON THOSE.

>> THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I WAS THINKING IS WHEN YOU LOOK AT WASHINGTON RIGHT NOW, YEAH.

>> IT'S JUST -- YOU KNOW -- A LOT OF THAT'S ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, A LOT OF THE CHAOS AND EVERYTHING, BUT, AS A WHOLE, IT'S REALLY DYSFUNCTIONAL.

SO, I DON'T KNOW, TO SOME THAT COULD SERVE AS A DETERRENT, TO SOME IT COULD SERVE AS A CHALLENGE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY, CERTAINLY.

I TEND TO LOOK AT THINGS FROM THE POSITIVE AND NOT AS A DETERRENT, BUT THE QUESTION, YOU KNOW, FOR ME ULTIMATELY IS, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A GREAT CHANCE, YOU JUST ASKED THE PEOPLE TO REELECT YOU FOR YOUR YEARS.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT MOMENTUM ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT-WISE.

EDUCATION HAS BEEN IMPROVING.

WE'VE GOT SOME GREAT PROJECTS IN THE HOPPER RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU, YOU KNOW, LEAVE THAT POSITION TO GO TAKE ON THAT CHALLENGE AND TAKE ON THAT OPPORTUNITY?

AND THAT'S KIND OF WHAT I'M STILL FILTERING OUT VARIOUS OPINIONS ON AND TO GET THAT FEEDBACK.

FOR ME, YOU KNOW, THAT IS AS IF NOT MORE IMPORTANT THAN JUST TRYING TO RUN FOR OFFICE TO BE ABLE TO HAVE A DIFFERENT TITLE OR WIDER SPAN OF INFLUENCE.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF OTHERS IS WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO FOR ME AN WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON OUR FAMILY AND CIRCLE OF FRIENDS WE HAVE AS WELL.

>> WE WILL BE WATCHING AS MANY OTHERS.

MR. MAYOR, THANKS AGAIN FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH, I APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS COURTNEY WILBURN OF THE ALABAMA STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.

COURT THINK, THANKS FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> I WANTED TO LET YOU OFF YOUR OFFICIAL TITLE BECAUSE IT'S A LITTLE LENGTHY, BUT YOU DEAL WITH THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND SCHOOLS INITIATIVE.

>> I DO.

I AM WITH THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND MY ROLE IS TO SERVE AS THE ADMINISTRATOR OVER THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE.

>> I HAVE BEEN EXCITED TO HAVE YOU ON BECAUSE THIS IS AN IMPORTANT INITIATIVE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN TRAVELING AROUND THE SCHOOL YEAR TO ALL THE TURNAROUND SCHOOLS.

WE TALKED TO DR. MACKEY ABOUT IT AND HE DESCRIBED IT AS BEING ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS HE'S BEEN A PART OF IN THE EDUCATION.

I WANTED TO GET IN THE WEEDS ABOUT IT, REALLY GRANULAR.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVE, WHERE IT CAME FROM AND WHAT IT'S AIMS ARE?

>> SURE.

THIS IS GOVERNOR IVEY'S BRAIN CHILD.

SHE'S COME UP WITH 15 SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA, REPRESENTED BY EIGHT SCHOOL DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE.

GOVERNOR IVEY SAW THERE NEEDED TO BE COLLABORATION AMONGST STATE AGENCIES, STATE DEPARTMENTS AND LOCAL SCHOOLS TO COME TOGETHER AND SERVE OUR KIDS.

SHE CREATED THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE.

THE STATE DEPARTMENT SERVES AS TH LIAISON, THE COORDINATOR FOR ALL THE THINGS GOING ON WITH THE INITIATIVE.

>> DESCRIBE WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A TURNAROUND SCHOOL, OBVIOUSLY STRUGGLING PERFORMANCE BUT ALSO OTHER COMMUNITY FACTORS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE WANTED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION FROM A LOT OF DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCHOOLS, SO WE'VE GOT SOME INNER CITY SCHOOLS, WE'VE GOT SOME EXTREMELY RURAL SCHOOLS, BUT WE WANTED TO HAVE REPRESENTATION SO THAT ANY SCHOOL ACROSS THE STATE OF ALABAMA COULD LOOK AT OUR LIST OF SCHOOLS AND FIND ONE THAT MATCHES THEIR DEMOGRAPHICS, THEIR LOCATION, AND REALLY LOOK TO THAT SCHOOL TO FIND OUT SOME BEST PRACTICES FOR TURNING SCHOOLS AROUND.

SO AT THE END OF THIS INITIATIVE, THE MAIN CHARGE FROM THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS BEEN CREATE A BLUEPRINT THAT WE CAN THEN TO USE TO TURN AROUND SCHOOLS ACROSS THE STATE.

>> YEAH, I WAS GOING TO ASK IF THAT WOULD EXPAND, RIGHT, BECAUSE THERE ARE OBVIOUSLY MORE THAN JUST THAT MANY STRUGGLING SCHOOLS.

RIGHT.

>> SO WILL THERE BE MORE ADDED TO THE LIST OR SOMETHING ELSE?

>> THE 15 SCHOOLS WILL REMAIN THE 15 SCHOOLS FOR THE LENGTH OF THE INITIATIVE.

WHAT WE HOPE AND WHAT IS ALREADY HAPPENING IS WE HAVE OTHER DISTRICTS IN OTHER SCHOOLS REACHING OUT TO SAY, HEY, CAN WE COME AND WATCH OW THIS MEETING TRANSPIRES OR COULD YOU TELL US A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT HOW YOU'RE FUNDING THIS PARTICULAR PROGRAM IN THE SCHOOLS?

ALREADY, WE HAVE PEOPLE REACHING OUT TO US TO KIND OF FIND OUT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE SCHOOLS SO THEY CAN TURN IT AROUND IN THEIR SCHOOLS AS WELL.

>> THAT'S EXCITING.

I WANTED TO GET TO SOME OF THE MORE COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS.

TAKE ME INSIDE THE SCHOOL.

WHEN YOU BECOME A TURNAROUND SCHOOL AND YOU GET THIS FOCUS FROM THE STATE, WHAT HAPPENS THERE IN THE SCHOOL ON THE GROUND?

>> SO TWO OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, MY FAVORITE THINGS THAT WE'VE DONE, WE HOSTED MEET AND GREETS, WHICH SOUNDS REALLY SIMPLISTIC ON THE SURFACE, BUT WHAT WE DID WITH EACH LOCAL SCHOOL, WE SAT DOWN WITH THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR, WITH THE DISTRICT LEADERS, AND WE INVITED IN PARTNERS FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND FROM OTHER AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE THAT SERVE THAT SCHOOL.

SO WE'VE INVITED AMSTI PARTNERS, OSI PARTNERS TO THE ABLE, A LOT OF THE INITIATIVES THAT COME FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT, NOT THE DIRECTORS BUT THE ACTUAL SPECIALISTS WHO SERVE EACH OF THOSE SCHOOLS.

SO WE HAD 15 OF THESE MEET AND GREETS HOSTED AT THE SCHOOL.

WE CAME IN AND WE SAT DOWN AROUND THE TABLE AND SAID HERE ARE SOME IMMEDIATE NEEDS.

ARI, HOW CAN YOU HELP WITH THIS?

OMI, WHAT WOULD YOU SEE AS YOUR ROLE IN THIS SUPPORT?

SO THAT COLLABORATION HAS BEEN ONE OF THE COOLEST THINGS THAT'S HAPPENED.

>> EVERYBODY FINALLY COMMUNICATING IN ONE SCHOOL.

>> YES, YES.

AND THAT TURNS INTO OUR TECHNOLOGY AND MOTION SPECIALISTS WORKING WITH THE AMSTI SPECIALISTS SAYING, HEY, WE'RE BOTH DOING THE DIGITAL LITERACY STANDARDS, WHY DON'T YOU DO THIS COMPONENT AND WE'LL COME IN AND SUPPORT THIS COMPONENT.

IT'S BEEN COOL BUILDING THE PARTNERSHIP.

THAT'S THE FIRST STEP.

WE INTRODUCED EVERYBODY WHO'S A PLAYER AT THAT PARTICULAR SCHOOL, AND THE THE PERSON AT THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND OSI.

I HAVE FOUR SPECIALISTS IN THE 15 SCHOOLS, SO THOSE FOUR SPECIALISTS SERVE AS THE AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLER, IF YOU WILL, SO THAT THE PRINCIPAL DOESN'T HAVE TO REMEMBER 27 PEOPLE AND WHAT THEIR AGENCIES DO.

THEY GO TO THEIR ONE OSI PERSON AND SAY I NEED THIS.

>> OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

>> YES AND THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT SPECIALIST SAYS LET ME REACH OUT TO THE REPRESENTATIVE AND THEY CAN COME IN AND HELP WITH THAT.

WE NOT ONLY GO IN TO SUPPORT THE SCHOOLS BUT COORDINATE OTHER AGENCIES AND THE SUPPORT THEY OFFER.

>> BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST A STATE DEPARTMENT THING.

YOU HAVE THE GOVERNOR'S CHARGES FOR D.H.R., MENTAL HEALTH, OTHER AGENCIES.

THE WAY YOU DESCRIBED IT TO ME BEFORE WAS THIS IS A HOLISTIC VIEW.

IT'S NOT JUST THE SCHOOL ITSELF BUT THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE.

>> RIGHT.

SO, IN ORDER FOR THIS TO BE SUSTAINABLE, AFTER THIS INITIATIVE IS "OVER," WE WANT IT TO BE ABLE TO CONTINUE.

SO THE PARTNERSHIPS THAT GOVERNOR IVEY HAS GIVEN US ACCESS TO, WE HAVE THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES, DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, AMP UP ARTS AND DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD ED, SO THOSE FOUR AGENCIES SPECIFICALLY HAVE JOINED IN THIS PARTNERSHIP WITH US AND THEY ARE BRINGING TO THE TABLE A WEALTH OF RESOURCES THAT JUST THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ALONE OPPORTUNITY HAVE -- EDUCATION ALONE DOESN'T HAVE ACCESS TO.

AND, SO, BRINGING IN THOSE OUTSIDE AGENCIES HAS ALLOWED US TO DO A LOT MORE IN THE SCHOOLS IN TERMS OF COMMUNITY BUILDING.

WE WANT THE PARENTS INVOLVED, BUT WE ALSO WANT LOCAL CHURCHES.

WE WANT THE MEN'S GROUPS WHO GO IN AND SUPPORT SCHOOLS TO COME INTO THESE PARTICULAR SCHOOLS.

SO, COORDINATING ALL OF THAT HAS BEEN A PART OF THE INITIATIVE AS WELL.

WE DID THE MEET AND GREETS BUT WE'VE ALSO CONDUCTED INSTRUCTIONAL AUDITS IN ALL 15 SCHOOLS.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THAT.

>> SO THE AUDITS, WE GO IN, THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE IS DIED TO THE FOUR DOMAINS OF -- IS TIED TO THE FOUR DOMAINS OF RAPID SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT.

SO WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT TURNAROUND LEADERSHIP, CULTURE, WE'RE LOOKING AT INSTRUCTION, YOU KNOW, THE THINGS THAT MAKE SCHOOLS SUCCESSFUL.

SO WE GO IN AND PERFORM AUDITS WHERE WE'RE LOOKING SPECIFICALLY AT THOSE FOUR THINGS AND WE'RE SEEING HOW DO THEY DEVELOP TEACHERS IN THIS SCHOOL?

ARE THE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT NEEDS BEING MET?

WHAT DOES THE CULTURE OF THIS SCHOOL FEEL LIKE?

ARE WE FLEXIBLE AND WELCOMING TO OTHER PEOPLE COMING IN THE SCHOOL BESIDES JUST THE STUDENTS AND TEACHERS?

DO WE HAVE A PLACE FOR PARENTS TO COME AND PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO WHAT THEIR THOUGHTS ARE ABOUT THE SCHOOL?

AND, SO, WE'VE GONE IN, AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERSHIPS THAT WE'VE MENTIONED CAME IN ON THOSE AUDITS WITH US.

IT WAS THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SERVING THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE'RE DOING CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS.

WE'RE INTERVIEWING PARENTS.

WE HAVE KIDS COMING IN AND GIVING US THEIR THOUGHTS ON THE WAY THE THINGS OPERATE IN THE SCHOOLS.

SO WE COMPILE ALL OF THAT INFORMATION AND HAVE A FINAL REPORT THAT WE CAN GIVE THE SCHOOL THAT SAYS THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE GOING AMAZINGLY WELL BECAUSE, LET ME TELL YOU, ALL 15 OF THESE SCHOOLS ALREADY HAD SOME INCREDIBLE THINGS IN PLACE.

IT WASN'T THAT THESE SCHOOLS WERE PLACES YOU DIDN'T WANT TO BE.

THEY HAVE SOME TREMENDOUS THINGS GOING ON.

THESE SCHOOLS JUST NEEDED SOME SUPPORT THAT THEY DIDN'T HAVE, AND, SO, WE'RE ABLE TO GIVE THEM THAT SUPPORT.

WE'RE ABLE TO COORDINATE RESOURCES BASED ON THE AUDITS.

>> WHEN YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION -- YOU KNOW, YOU CAN HAVE ALL THE GOOD INTENTIONS IN THE WORLD BUT UNLESS YOU HAVE THE INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT'S WRONG AND WHAT CAN BE FIXED.

>> YES.

>> SO I SEE THAT.

I DID WANT TO ASK YOU THIS -- YOU KNOW, THERE HAVE BEEN INITIATIVES IN THE PAST.

YOU KNOW, GO BACK DECADES, EVERYBODY'S WANTED TO FIX TROUBLED SCHOOLS.

SO HOW IS THIS DIFFERENT THAN PREVIOUS EFFORTS IN THE PAST, MAYBE WELL INTENTIONED BUT DIDN'T HAVE THE SUCCESS WE WANT.

>> SURE.

SO THE FUNDING COMPONENT OF THIS INITIATIVE, OBVIOUSLY WILL HAVE AN END DATE.

THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN SO GENERATION IN HER FUNDING OF -- SO GENEROUS IN HER FUNDING OF THIS INITIATIVE.

WHAT DOESN'T HAVE AN END DATE, THOUGH, IS THE RELATIONSHIP WE'RE BUILDING AMONGST AGENCIES WITHIN THE STATE DEPARTMENT AND AGENCIES ACROSS THE STATE, THAT DOESN'T HAVE AN END TIME.

SO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, AMP UP ARTS, THEY HAVE A PART TO PLAY IN THIS THAT WILL CONTINUE EVEN AFTER THE GOVERNOR'S INITIATIVE IS NOT WHAT'S PULLING EVERYBODY TOGETHER.

>> IN THIS BUILDING WHERE THE STATE HOUSE AND THE LEGISLATURE MEETS, WE TALK ABOUT LAWS, CORRESPONDING AS WELL.

THE TWO MOST RECENT LAWS AS RELATE TO EDUCATION POLICY, IS THE LITERACY ACT AND THE NUMERACY ACT, BOTH FOCUSED ON THE YOUNGER GRADES.

SO I'M CURIOUS HOW THOSE LAWS IMPACT THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVES.

>> ALL 15 SCHOOLS HAVE AN ELEMENTARY DIVISION, ALL HAVE K-3 IN THEY ARE BUILDINGS.

OBVIOUSLY, THE NUMERACY AND THE LITERACY ACT ARE THINGS WE HAVE TO KEEP IN THE BACK OF OUR MIND.

THE OFFICE OF SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT IS RELYING VERY HELVEY ON OUR -- IS WE ARE LYING VERY HEAVY ON FRIENDS IN ARI AND THE OFFICE OF MATHEMATICS IMPROVEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE KEEPING IN MIND WHAT'S REGULATE THROUGH THE LAW.

THEY ARE THE SPECIALISTS IN THAT.

BUT THAT HAS HELPED TO DRIVE A LOT OF THE SUPPORT THAT WE ARE GIVING.

SO GOVERNOR IVEY HAS PUT AUXILIARY TEACHERS IN PLAY FOR K-3 CLASSROOMS, SO, TYPICALLY, THAT'S BEEN SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN IN A PRE-K CLASSROOM.

SHE'S EXTENDED THAT OPPORTUNITY, SO, NOW, IN KINDER THROUGH THIRD-GRADE CLASSROOMS, ALL 15 SCHOOLS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE ANOTHER PERSON TO HELP GET THE KIDS READY SO THAT WE ARE MEETING EVERYTHING THAT'S REQUIRED BY THOSE LAWS.

>> NOW, LOOK, THIS IS SO EARLY, AND I HATE TO EVEN ASK THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY WANTS TO KNOW.

>> SURE?

>> YOU KNOW, HOW THIS IS GOING SO FAR.

ARE THERE ANY RESULTS YET WE CAN POINT TO?

I KNOW WHEN THE GOVERNOR WAS VISITING THE SCHOOLS, SHE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE PROMISE SHE SAW IN SOME OF HER VISITS.

SO WHAT ARE WE SEEING FROM SOME OF THE EARLY INDICATORS FROM THE TURNAROUND INITIATIVE?

>> WE HAVE SOME DATA THAT'S COME IN SINCE THE SCHOOLS HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS INITIATIVE.

MANY OF THE SCHOOLS HAVE COME OFF THE FORMERLY KNOWN FAILING SCHOOLS LIST.

SEVERAL OF OUR SCHOOLS WERE ON THAT LIST AND HAVE BEEN CLEARED FROM THE LIST ALREADY.

>> TERRIFIC NEWS.

>> SOME WERE COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT SCHOOLS, SO THE CSI SCHOOLS, THEY HAVE ROLLED OFF THAT LIST.

NOT EVERYBODY IN EVERY SCHOOL IS OFF EVERY LIST, BUT WHAT WE WANT PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE, THIS LIST IS NOT A LIST OF FAILING SCHOOLS.

THIS IS A LIST OF SCHOOLS THAT WE REALLY SEE ENOUGH PROMISE IN THAT THEY CAN THEN BE A BLUEPRINT FOR OTHER SCHOOLS.

AND, SO, THAT DATA HAS ALREADY COME IN.

OBVIOUSLY, WE'RE WAITING ON REPORT CARDS TO COME OUT SO THAT WE CAN SEE IMPROVEMENT IN THE REPORT CARD DATA.

BUT WHAT WE'VE DONE IN ALL 15 SCHOOLS IS SET UP A VERY SPECIFIC PROGRESS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR WHATEVER THAT SCHOOL WAS ALREADY USING, SO WE ARE LOOKING AT THAT DATA, EVEN WHEN IT'S NOT OFFICIAL STATE-LEVEL REPORT DATA THAT'S COMING OUT, WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON BENCHMARK DATA AS WE'RE PROGRESS MONITORING AND WE'RE SEEING THE SCHOOLS ALREADY GROWING.

I CANNOT WAIT TO SEE WHAT THE END RESULT IS WHEN ALL OF THE STATE REPORTS START COMING OUT.

IT'S GOING TO BE INCREDIBLE, BUT IT'S ALREADY LEANING IN THAT DIRECTION.

>> LIKE YOU SAID, IF YOU'RE CREATING THAT BLUEPRINT, IT CAN GO WELL BEYOND JUST THE 5 SCHOOLS.

-- IT CAN GO WELL BEYOND JUST THE 15 SCHOOLS.

THERE ARE PLENTY OF SCHOOLS THAT COULD USE A LOT OF THE INFORMATION.

YOU KNOW, A LOT OF OUR AUDIENCE ARE LAWMAKERS THEMSELVES, SO YOU MITIGATE GET QUESTIONS FROM INDIVIDUAL LAWMAKERS ABOUT SCHOOLS IN THEIR DISTRICTS.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ANY COMMUNICATION, WE ARE SHOUTING FROM THE ROOFTOPS ALL OF THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING WITH THIS TURNAROUND INITIATIVE SO WE WELCOME THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK ABOUT WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WHAT IT WILL TURN INTO FOR THE SCHOOLS.

>> IT'S EXCITING.

I REALLY APPRECIATE YOU COMING ON THE SHOW TO TAKE US INSIDE THE INITIATIVE.

I HOPE YOU COME BACK AND SHARE RESULTS WHEN WE GET THEM.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING US AND ALLOWING US TO SPREAD THE GREAT NEWS ABOUT THE GOVERNOR'S TURNAROUND INITIATIVE.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK NEXT WEEK AT THE SAME TIME WITH MORE "CAPITOL JOURNAL," RIGHT HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.