MADISON, Ala. (WHNT) — Madison City Schools is hosting a public hearing on Monday regarding its new zoning proposal, aimed at addressing growth in the area.
Superintendent Dr. Ed Nichols said the growth across the city, from the west near Limestone County to Triana, coupled with the opening of a new elementary school for the 2026-2027 school year, highlighted the need to rezone the school district.
“We’ve got growth in Town Madison,” Nichols said. “We’ve got growth in Triana. All that growth is coming this way into the district. It’s affecting schools all across.”
Nichols said this is MCS’s fourth rezoning proposal, after months of hearing comments and concerns from community members. He said the newest proposal has an approval rating of 98%.
But not every student will be moving. Starting at fifth grade, all grades except sixth and ninth will have the option to stay at their current school if rezoned. This means rising fifth, seventh, eighth, 10th, 11th and 12th graders will have a choice on which school they attend for the upcoming year.
“They’ll have to provide their own transportation, because our buses will be running their new zoning routes, but they can stay there,” Nichols said.
Nichols said the new district map will also ensure that every school is balanced socioeconomically, meaning resources are distributed evenly to address the needs. He said this is vital to the district’s policy.
“If you don’t do that, then one school, if it has a higher need, then you’re taking away from others. And the need is still there, even if its 15% to 30%,” Nichols said. “So, by balancing those, we’re able to give every school the same thing and make sure that every school has all the resources they need.”
Nichols said the school board will not completely redraw the rezoning plans, but they are willing to make some changes based on community members’ concerns.
“If we can tweak something, we will. But we also have to be mindful of that as we look at the numbers that we don’t overbalance and that we are prepared for growth,” Nichols said.
The meeting on Monday is just a public hearing where parents can express concerns or comments regarding the rezoning proposal. The Madison City School Board will vote on the zoning at a later meeting in November.
The public hearing is from 4:30 to 6:30 on Monday afternoon.
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