Hartselle voters sent an overwhelming message Tuesday, opting to change the way it selects school board members.
By a margin of 4,583 votes to 1,219, voters opted to change from an appointed to an elected school board. The move puts Hartselle in line with a majority of state boards, where 88 of the 135 are elected.
Since its formation some 20 years ago, Hartselle’s school board was appointed by the city council. Earlier this year, Hartselle residents Richard White and Ronnie Abercrombie – himself a former school board member – started the push to move to an elected board. The two presented a  petition to the City Council with more than 800 signatures calling for the referendum.
It will be a while, however, before school board candidates are before voters. The first school board election won’t be held until the 2012 municipal election.