MEMPHIS, TN (abc24.com) - A federal judge ruled Tuesday that forming municipal school districts within Shelby County is unconstitutional.
Voters in Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington approved forming their own school districts in August, ahead of the planned merger of Memphis and Shelby County school districts for the 2013-14 school year.
Those opposing the municipalities argued recently passed legislation that would lift a statewide ban on new municipal school districts contains circumstances that apply only to Shelby County; a law must apply to more than one county in order for it to be constitutional. Attorneys representing the municipalities cited population figures that showed the law could apply to five other Tennessee counties.
After a long, drawn out legal process of lawsuits, appeals and court-ordered negotiation attempts, U.S. District Judge Samuel Mays ultimately ruled against suburbs, a ruling that will be appealed.
