Officials say State Superintendent Tommy Bice has overturned a decision by Birmingham's school board to fire city schools Superintendent Craig Witherspoon.

Craig Pouncey, deputy state superintendent of administrative and financial services, says Witherspoon has been reinstated as superintendent.

Originally on the meeting agenda was a state financial plan that would have cut more than $12 million from the district's budget, mostly through layoffs and demotions.

Instead, the board heard from audience members, then voted 5-3 to fire the superintendent.

The layoffs have been considered in the past, but the board rejected them June 26, leading to the Alabama Department of Education taking over the city school district the following day.