Memphis City Council approves combined schools | News

(AP) - The Memphis City Council has passed the city-county school consolidation agreement unanimously and with no debate.

The vote on Tuesday was hailed by council chairman Myron Lowery who said there will be "one equal system for the children in Shelby County," according to The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/npias9).

The plan had previously been approved by the boards of the Memphis City Schools and the Shelby County Schools. Shelby County Commission members have also signed off on it.

The intent is to create a single, county-wide public school system of about 150,000 students.

The agreement was reached last month with a federal judge. It calls for a combined board to begin governing all the schools by Oct. 1, merging them in time for the 2013-2014 academic year.

Information from: The Commercial Appeal, http://www.commercialappeal.com

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