Metro Schools officials will hold informational meetings in the coming weeks to explain options for students impacted by the latest rezoning. The meetings will come too late for families impacted by a “grandfather clause.”
Nearly three thousand students affected by the rezoning have the choice to stay at the school they attend now. Of those, half have until Friday to make a decision. This grandfather clause allows students in the top two grades to remain where they are. However, School Board member Mark North says the district will not provide transportation.
“Would it be great if we could provide transportation to all of those? Yes. Is that realistic and sustainable? Probably not.”
Transportation was guaranteed by board members when they passed the rezoning in a contentious vote last summer. But North says that was only for so-called “choice zones.” Those are parts of North Nashville where students have been bussed to West Nashville schools. The rezoning is meant to end the practice of cross-town bussing, but it was left as an option after groups like the NAACP said the plan amounted to re-segregation. School officials will try to explain options to parents in meetings sometime next month. Those meetings have not yet been scheduled.
The deadline for students in choice zones is the end of March. As for students affected by the grandfather clause, district officials say Friday is a “soft” deadline.
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