This week we learned Gerald Shirley’s troubled tenure as Superintendent of Education for Selma City Schools may soon come to an official end.

Placed on administrative leave soon after the State of Alabama took over the Selma City School System, Shirley was one of three school system leaders to receive letters this week notifying them of the recommendation they be fired.

Few would argue that Shirley’s time as superintendent has been tumultuous to say the very least.

From the moment he was plucked out of the crowd by members of the Selma City School Board, moments after placing former Superintendent of Education Dr. Donald Jefferson on leave, he has been a picture of the board of education’s ultimate failure that ultimately led to the state takeover.

Shirley is a talented educator and by all accounts a trusted principal in the Selma system, leading the School of Discovery.

Unfortunately, he will take the fall for the board’s failure. He simply did — at times — what they wanted. It’s a shame he bares the blame alone.

During the state takeover, which is expected to last at least another year, the power rests with the intervention team and not the school board. In fact, the state’s team of education officials can circumvent just about every board action, leading to a question of why should Shirley — and other school officials take the fall alone?

The state can’t replace the members of the school board who failed to properly lead the school system. That responsibility lies with one very important and very powerful group.

That responsibility and power lies with the voters.