State superintendent to decide school rezoning plans

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - The split of Chickasaw and Satsuma from the Mobile County Public School System has caused some controversy over where students will attend school next year.

The Chickasaw School of Math and Science is currently under Mobile County's school system, but in the Chickasaw city limits. So, it will need a new home.

“Separation of a school system is like a separation of marriage. You have to work through the parts and form a settlement that's mutually agreeable to all parties,” said Mobile County Public School System’s interim superintendent, Martha Peek.

Officials with the Mobile County, Chickasaw, and Satsuma school systems met last week, but could not reach an agreement on certain issues.

“School attendance zones, sharing of property, and the financial issues have come up,” Peek said.

The three school systems sent a list of the disagreements to Alabama's state superintendent, Dr. Tommy Bice, on January 24.

“We're waiting for the state to give us a clear direction of how the students will be separated, and what the directions will be on that,” Peek said.

School officials said parents from all school districts want answers.

"With information we're getting from parents, there is concern with high school students deciding if they should switch schools. There is also concern with special education students,” Peek said.

She said the primary concern is for the students.

“We want to work with the newly formed systems to make sure our students take every advantage of the newly formed system,” Peek said.

Officials do not know when a final agreement will be reached, but anticipate it will be soon.

“As we move into the third quarter of the school year, we begin planning for next year,” Peek said.

FOX10 News contacted other school officials but they did not respond.