Amendment would let neighboring county school systems merge if voters approve

Neighboring county school boards could combine their school systems under one remaining board. The process covers two or more neighboring county school systems in Alabama. Every member of the agreeing boards must adopt a formal resolution covering debt payments, board operations and duties, and the merger plan. A merger would preserve existing obligations and rights. The remaining board could enforce earlier contracts. Mergers must meet the amendment's study and voting requirements. The State Board of Education must adopt rules needed to carry out the process. The merger plan must set the schedule for combining the school systems.

The State Board of Education would study each proposed merger and publish its findings. The study requirement covers county school systems seeking to merge under the amendment. The study must examine effects on students and families, school programs and operations, finances and taxes, and community identity and governance. Before a merger occurs, the State Board must complete the study and post it on the State Department of Education's public website.

Eligible voters could require a merger referendum by submitting a written protest to an affected county school board. The process covers eligible voters living within the school systems proposing to merge. The protest must come from 25% of eligible voters living within any one affected school system. One clause requires majority approval in each affected county; later clauses use the combined school-system territory. The approval rule is unclear. Another clause says a merger needs referendum approval without expressly tying that requirement to a protest. Residents must submit protests within 30 days after adoption of the formal resolution. The referendum would occur at the next regularly scheduled general election.