Fowler: Madison City Schools Studying School Flexibility/Transfer Bill

Dr. Dee Fowler (WHNT News 19)

News release issued by Madison City Schools:

MADISON, Ala. – Madison City Schools Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler spent Friday studying new legislation passed Thursday evening in Montgomery that affects all of Alabama’s public schools.

He also consulted with the school system’s attorney and some board members to chart a course for compliance.

“We’re collecting information and meeting with our legal team to devise a policy,” Fowler said.

While there is no school in Madison that would meet the “failing school” criteria in the bill, he said Madison could be a recipient of transfers from other systems.

Fowler said the school district’s policy committee will convene next week to consider formulation of an interim policy regarding out-of- zone attendance. The policy committee is comprised of two Madison Board of Education members, teachers and administrative staff.

The interim policy should provide that the system will not accept students who are not residents of Madison or Triana or otherwise not authorized to attend Madison City Schools under its current attendance policies until a permanent policy is in place. The following factors should be considered before adoption of a permanent policy:

• Availability of excess space for out-of-zone students after completion of the current rezoning process and given current and projected growth needs for existing space.
• Public comment and input on any appropriated terms and conditions under which Madison City Schools will accept out-of-zone students, consistent with the best interest of the school system and Madison residents.
• Advice of legal counsel regarding the obligation, if any, of Madison City Schools to accept attendance of out-of-zone students under the provision of  the new Alabama Accountability Act of 2013 that allows parents of students in failing schools to enroll those students in a “non-failing public school that has available space in any other local school system in the state.”

After consideration of these factors, Fowler will task the policy committee for recommendation of a permanent policy consistent with the Act.