09/02/2026
THE MOLD scenario ID’ed at Abrams Primary School is not ISOLATED. READ THE ARTICLE AND YOU WILL SEE CLEARLY! Accountability is KEY as I’ve preached for the last four years! VOTE MARGIE VARNER, DISTRICT 5 – SEPTEMBER 22, 2026.
I can see clearly now, the rain is gone,
I can see all obstacles in my way
Gone are the dark clouds that had me blind
It’s gonna be a bright (bright), bright (bright)
Sun-Shiny day.
These lyrics were penned by Johnny Nash in 1972, but they speak directly to this moment. We can see clearly now. The mold recently identified at J. S. Abrams Elementary School is not an isolated maintenance problem; it is a warning sign of what happens when honesty, transparency, and accountability are missing from public decision-making. The Alabama State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Eric Mackey, the state-appointed Chief Administrative Officer, Dr. Daniel Boyd, and Dr. Mackey’s appointed local superintendent, Mr. Michael Turner, owe this community more than explanations after the fact. They owe the public the truth before children and employees are placed at risk.
This problem dates back four to five superintendents ago which was already front and center when I came on the board in 2022. As part of my building maintenance audit review (2023 - 2024), I visited Abrams School and the primary building, and what I found should have alarmed every person responsible for protecting students and staff. The primary building reeked of mold and mildew, and the air vents had dust and dirt hanging from them like icicles. That is exactly why an alert, independent board member matters. My work as a board member could have helped force the right questions into the open sooner, such as what is the source of the moisture? Who inspected it? What was the remediation plan? Was the building safe for children and employees? Instead of welcoming those questions, the response was resistance.
I would spend countless hours before every meeting researching and studying requests, contracts, bids, capital plans, and financial plans based on the information provided. Ironically, I was painted as the state’s incitement for the cause of the board’s discord when in actuality I was ensuring accurate information to make informed decisions for consistent accountability. When I visited Abrams again in the spring (April 3, 2026), I asked to visit the library which is housed in the primary building. I was not carried to that building as requested, but instead I was directed to a multipurpose meeting room because Principal Buckelew told me they did not have a library. Abrams has not had a library since 2016 due to mold in the primary building. Later, I was chastised by Dr. Boyd for taking pictures of the facilities because I purportedly made Principal Buckelew feel uncomfortable.
The primary building has appeared on the capital planning list for years, with significant amounts allocated or approved for work connected to Abrams and districtwide facilities, including:
2-20-24 Volkert $85,000
(approved to do facilities assessment)
2-20-24 Serv Pro – vent cleaning $842, 817
(Abrams was part of the cleaning of all schools)
5-28-24 re-roofing - Abrams $783,800
1-23-25 renovation of primary building - Abrams $827, 347
McKee and Associates was the project manager for this work, as they are for all projects of the Bessemer City School system.
Reginald Mitchell is the maintenance director for the school system having served since 2007 (no trade skills certifications: HVAC, plumbing, electrical, etc.).
Patricia Stewart was/is the chief school financial officer (CSFO) providing financial analysis and input for the project (no accounting degree, hired 2007 as business affairs supervisor, then hired as CSFO February 2018).
Michael Turner is the superintendent, the immediate supervisor of both the maintenance director and CSFO
Dr. Daniel Boyd is the chief administrative officer – representative of the state department.
All have seats at the table in making decisions for this project. This is the routine group on the administrative side.
This is only a quick snapshot of the primary building due to a lack of accountability and transparency which has only gotten worse since the State Department has taken over. Their unwillingness to disclose complete financial information and operational documents, prevents us from knowing the truth in actual expenditures and what has actually taken place. However, one thing is clear. (1) No major work should have moved forward until a proper feasibility study, and an environmental assessment determined the severity of the mold problem; (2) whether the building could be safely remediated; and (3)whether it was safe for occupancy. Subsequently the public deserves answers: Who conducted the feasibility study? What were the results? Who signed off on the project? Who determined that the project was feasible? Who certified that the building was safe for occupancy? Who decided to place children and employees in a mold-infested building? Was anyone’s vision for that building important enough to risk the health and safety of students, teachers, and staff? What role did the maintenance director have in the project? Will we have to demolish the building after all that has been invested in it? Were the purported investments really made?
Now is the time for the public to demand answers and accountability and have access to public documents. Parents, employees, taxpayers, and community stakeholders should insist that the State Department, the superintendent, and every decision-maker produce the feasibility study, inspection reports, environmental findings, building contracts/invoices, and safety certifications connected to the J. S. Abrams Elementary Primary School’s renovation project.
The progression from discovering mold to closing the school raises serious concerns about judgment, transparency, and accountability. When people with authority protect one another instead of protecting children, the public must step in and demand the truth. I thank the children, parents, teachers, and the union representative who spoke up to protect themselves and others. Their courage may have prevented greater harm. The rest of us must do our part: demand the records, demand the answers, and demand the continued closure of the school until independent experts confirm that it is safe.
Inconclusion, this is not about one building, one inspection, or one delayed decision. It is about whether this community will accept silence when children’s and employee’s health are at risk. The public deserves full transparency, independent verification, and leaders who put safety above politics, appearances, and personal agendas. We must keep demanding accountability until every question is answered and every document is produced. Our children, teachers, and staff deserve BETTER!
