City of Helena v. Pelham Board of Education and Rick Rhoades, Angie Hester, Bob O'Neil, Robert Plummer, Sharon…

Summary

The Supreme Court of Alabama affirmed the circuit court's order authorizing the Pelham Board of Education to acquire, develop, and use property located within Helena for an athletic field and parking lot. The Court held that the governing statute grants broad administrative and management powers for schools within the board's system but does not geographically restrict where those powers may be exercised, and that public education is a state governmental function exempt from municipal zoning ordinances. The Court therefore held that Helena could not enforce its zoning ordinance against the project.