Baldwin County Schools Superintendent Robbie Owen is heading into a pivotal year, balancing the day-to-day demands of leading a fast-growing school system with the task of building support for a major property tax referendum set for March 31.
Owen, who spent 17 years as principal at Rockwell Elementary before serving stints at Daphne Elementary and Swift Elementary, was named interim superintendent in August and officially took the permanent role on Nov. 20. He succeeded former Superintendent Alan Lee, who stepped down amid a shift in philosophy among incoming school board members.
In recent remarks about his new role, Owen said his decision to pursue the superintendent position was less about ambition and more about service to the community where he grew up. He described a difficult internal struggle before agreeing to leave the classroom environment he loved in favor of a leadership post, saying the choice ultimately came down to wanting to help move the entire school system forward.
Owen said he intends to remain in the position only as long as the school board continues to see progress under his leadership, adding that he has told board members to let him know if that changes.
On the subject of technology, Owen said he plans to build on, rather than dismantle, the system’s Digital Renaissance initiative launched under his predecessor. He described technology as a tool for instruction rather than an end goal in itself, and said the district will now place a stronger emphasis on staff development so that the devices already in classrooms are used to their full potential.
The bulk of Owen’s public appearances in the coming months will focus on explaining a proposed $350 million capital improvements plan tied to the March 31 referendum, which would raise property taxes to fund new construction and renovations across the rapidly growing county. Owen acknowledged that persuading a historically tax-averse electorate will be difficult, saying the district’s challenge is proving that the money is needed and that it would go directly toward reducing reliance on portable classrooms rather than administrative costs.
Owen pointed to enrollment growth of roughly 1,000 new students a year, the equivalent of a new elementary school annually, as evidence that funding has not kept pace with the county’s population boom. He noted that tax revenue typically takes about three years to catch up with new residents, and that the recession cost the district roughly $65 million in its annual budget at one point, forcing schools to lean heavily on portable classrooms. Rockwell Elementary alone had 17 portables in use before a new wing opened in October, he said.
Owen said his goal in the coming months is simple: to make clear to voters exactly what the referendum funds would and would not be used for, and to demonstrate tangible benefits for Baldwin County students and taxpayers alike.