MADISON – Superintendent Robby Parker has introduced a rezoning plan described as “modest” for Madison City Schools in the 2018-2019 school year.

Parker presented the rezoning plan to Madison Board of Education at its Feb. 22 meeting.

“The proposal is just that — a proposal at this point,” Parker said. The proposal, pending the board’s final approval in March, would reassign almost 200 students, which is less than two percent of MCS total enrollment.

The new zone alignments will affect James Clemens and Bob Jones high schools and Liberty and Discovery middle schools. Populations at four elementary schools — Heritage, Madison, Mill Creek and Rainbow — will change.

Zones currently in place for Columbia, Horizon and West Madison elementary schools will not change.

Triana students will attend Columbia Elementary, Discovery Middle and Bob Jones High schools. School officials will consider waivers for any student currently in grades 7-11 in the school-zone change path for secondary grades.

A map is available for both the elementary and secondary zoning. Visit madisoncity.k12.al.us and click “School Rezoning Proposal …” in the “District News” list. On the next page, a link is available for each map — “View elementary zoning proposal here” and “View secondary zoning proposal here.”

Parker said the intent of the zoning changes is to ensure socio-economic equality in every school. “Schools should be similar socio-economically and reflect the diversity of the district,” he said. Administrators exerted efforts to achieve that balance while affecting as few students as possible.

In recent report cards from State Department of Education, MCS is one of only two school systems out of 137 statewide that earned an ‘A’ at every campus. “Keeping schools as socio-economically equal as possible has always been a hallmark of Madison City Schools,” MCS Public Relations Manager John S. Peck said.

“The result is that no matter where one lives in Madison City, they will be served by a quality school,” Peck said.

School leaders have scheduled a community input meeting on March 1 at 6 p.m. at the Central Office. Citizens can learn more about the proposal and offer comments.