State Slowing Down the Merger Process?

Memphis, Tn - Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttell says Curry Todd's bill to give the suburbs free school buildings, may be a bit premature.

Addressing the Shelby County delegation, the Republican said that lawmakers in Nashville need to slow it down, and let the merger move forward on its own.

He also says that this is a local matter, and the state needs to let local leaders here decide what to do with the buildings.

"This is a local issue, education is always a local issue. It was designed that way by our founding fathers. I'd like to see these questions about the transition and the merger of the two systems into one, be answered at the local level," said Luttrell.

Todd's bill was introduced Tuesday. It hasn't been brought before the full general assembly or any committees yet.

Todd co-sponsored the Norris-Todd law that guides how Shelby County Schools and the former Memphis City Schools will merge.

That law also left a loophole for suburbs to create their own districts.

Ernie Freeman sat down with the President of the Unified School Board, Billy Orgel, to get his thoughts on what's ahead for the merger.