The longtime Chief Financial Officer with Alabama’s third-largest school system announced his resignation Wednesday, citing concerns with actions taken by a school board member and “unfounded and offensively false accusations” posed by certain groups.

John Wilson, who spent the past 13 years as the Baldwin County School System’s CFO, submitted his resignation letter to Superintendent Eddie Tyler. According to Tyler, he is taking a new position outside of public education.

“I would like to share that my decision to leave this position would not have materialized as quickly if it were not for the recent challenges confronting our system, the actions taken by a specific Board member, and the unfounded and offensively false accusations posted by certain groups,” Wilson wrote.

Wilson, whose efforts sparked an aggressive school building program called Pay-As-You-Go, kept a mostly positive tone in his letter. His resignation is effective in 90 days.”

“I am confident that my body of work speaks to my integrity and capability throughout my tenure in Baldwin County,” Wilson wrote.

Tyler, in an email statement regarding the resignation, credited Wilson for pulling the school system in one of Alabama’s fastest-growing counties from “financial ruin and potential lost jobs.”

Wilson is taking a new job outside of education, Tyler said.

“We always knew we had a true innovator and diamond in the rough with him, and it seems other have taken note,” Tyler said. “We are truly thankful for his time with us.”

Wilson, a Daphne High School graduate, was hired as CFO in 2012. Less than three years later, during a special election in March 2015, voters shot down a school district building referendum and voted down two tax renewals that provided critical funding to the school system.

At the time, the Baldwin County School System had dozens of portable trailers set up as mobile classrooms as existing school buildings were overcrowded. Baldwin County, since 2010, has been Alabama’s fastest growing county, and was left with few options to build new buildings or expand existing facilities.

After the referendum’s defeat, Wilson and others teamed up to develop a Pay As You Go program that was recognized nationally in 2019, with the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) Pinnacle of Achievement Award. It was given to Wilson and the school system for an innovative strategy to address overcrowded schools.

“While other school systems raise taxes and use bonds to fund construction projects, our system utilizes this program where there are zero costs to taxpayers,” Tyler said. “This program was first introduced to meet the needs of our unprecedented growth while ensuring that taxpayers did not feel the financial impact.”

Pay As You Go was bolstered in 2017 with the permanent extension of a one-cent sales tax that brings in $60 million. That revenue is also used to pay for hundreds of teachers and support staff as well.

Wilson, in his letter, estimates that the program generated over $850 million in completed and ongoing construction projects. Another $60 million has been invested to improve athletic and fine arts facilities.

Some of the new schools planned and developed during his time as CFO included the Baldwin Preparatory Academy in Loxley, and the Baldwin Virtual School in Daphne — among others.

Tyler also credited Wilson’s tenure as CFO for producing “flawless” audits that produced “zero findings” in 13 years from the Alabama State Department of Examiners.

“For an entity with a budget of our size, this is an impeccable achievement,” Tyler said. The school system’s annual budget is over $700 million. By comparison, the City of Birmingham’s annual operating budget is $555 million, while the City of Mobile operates at a budget of around $353 million.

Wilson, in his letter, acknowledged the financial pains of past years and a school system that had “considerable financial challenges due to insufficient and unstable revenue” as well as a lack of planning for growth.

He said that revenues are stable, and the school system’s reserves are at $100 million.

Wilson said he plans on supporting a transition to the next CFO, and that he will honor a 90-day notice to ensure that the 2026 fiscal year budget is completed. The school system’s budget year runs from Oct. 1 to Sept. 30.

He also said he is open to discussions if he is needed beyond the 90 days.

Wilson’s resignation comes after some tumultuous school board meetings in which parents and residents have shown up accusing Tyler of putting politics ahead of education, and demanding the superintendent’s resignation.

Tyler’s longtime political consultant, Jon Gray, resigned from his position in April. The school system, through Tyler’s office, had been paying Gray $9,500 a month.

Criticism has been levied at the school system’s leadership over the handling of a disruptive student at Elberta Elementary School earlier this year.

Wilson’s letter doesn’t mention specific controversies, and he didn’t name the school board member he has concerns about.

“It is now time to hand over the torch to the next innovator, who can build upon what I initiated, merge with the system’s solid financial foundation, and keep working to guarantee that Baldwin County boasts the best schools for students, families, and our community partners in both the state and the nation,” he said.