Orange Beach City Schools pushed back publicly against rumors circulating on social media that Superintendent Randy Wilkes had been dismissed, confirming that he continues to lead the Baldwin County school district.
The speculation grew out of a widely shared online video posted by a local attorney, which referenced an ongoing federal civil lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Alabama involving the Orange Beach City Board of Education, the school district and Wilkes. The suit, filed by a Florida family with two children enrolled in the district, stems from a bullying incident and raises claims including due process violations, First Amendment retaliation, breach of contract and defamation.
What the District Confirmed
In a statement, the district said claims that Wilkes is no longer employed by the school system are false, noting that he has served as superintendent since July 1, 2022, and that there is no investigation involving him or any matter related to his employment. District communications staff reiterated that point directly, adding that any employment discussions would surface at a board meeting and that none occurred at the most recent one.
Where the Lawsuit Stands
Court records show that in June, Judge William H. Steele ruled on the defendants’ motion to dismiss, granting it in part and denying it in part. The court allowed the family’s due process claim to move forward, reasoning that while non-resident enrollment is discretionary, the district’s own policy limits expulsion to specific listed reasons. Most of the case was permitted to proceed, though state-law money damage claims against the entity defendants were lost.
Wilkes is named both individually and in his official capacity, a distinction that matters legally because individual-capacity claims are not shielded by the sovereign immunity protecting the board.
Council Tensions in the Background
The controversy landed amid broader friction between the city council and the school board. At a June council meeting, residents questioned transparency in the relationship between the two bodies, particularly after the council declined to reappoint a sitting school board member. A council member asserted publicly that the superintendent had been slow to provide ACT score information requested by council members, data later presented at a school board meeting showing strong composite scores among the senior class.
Wilkes, the first person to hold the superintendent’s post since the district split from Baldwin County Public Schools, previously led school systems in Crenshaw County and Phenix City. The district says its focus remains on serving students, families and the community.