By NEAL WAGNER / Managing Editor

Alabaster families who will not be zoned for the Alabaster City Schools’ attendance zone in the 2014-2015 school year will receive multiple notifications before school breaks for summer, according to ACS officials.

During an April 9 Alabaster School Board work session, ACS Student Services Coordinator Dorann Tanner said the school system will mail three notices to families of current Alabaster students who will begin attending schools in the Shelby County School System next year.

Beginning with the 2014-2015 school year, some students who live in unincorporated Shelby County but who are currently zoned for Alabaster schools will begin transferring to other schools in Shelby County.

The gradual school zoning change was a result of separation negotiations between the Shelby County School System and the Alabaster School System, which broke away from the county school system in July 2013.

“We are making every effort to be open and transparent and get those notices out,” Tanner said.

Tanner said the letters will notify parents which students will be affected by the transition next year, and will provide contact information for the Shelby County School System.

Parents will be responsible for contacting Shelby County Schools to determine which school affected students will attend next year, Tanner said.

The Alabama Legislature recently approved a bill to allow residents in the Saddle Lake Farm subdivision – which currently is in unincorporated Shelby County – to decide if they will annex into Alabaster.

Tanner said Saddle Lake residents will receive letters notifying them they are not zoned for Alabaster schools, but said those residents will not see any changes next year if the neighborhood annexes into the city in the future.

Tanner also said the Alabaster School System has posted a “frequently asked questions” section on its website related to the school zoning changes.

To access the questions, visit Alabasterschools.org, click the “FAQs” tab at the top of the page and click the “Zoning” category.