After months of working toward the Gardendale City School system, negotiations are officially underway. 

Gardendale City Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin and Jefferson County Board of Education Superintendent Dr. Craig Pouncey held their first meeting on Tuesday regarding the separation agreement. 

The superintendents have agreed that the talks will remain confidential until the process is complete.

“Initial discussion went well with the Jefferson County team and we appreciate their approach in working with Gardendale for a smooth transition,” Martin wrote in an email to the North Jefferson News. “We understand that students and their families may be impacted by the decisions that are made through this process of separation and we sympathize with them a great deal. As soon as we are able to provide information, we most certainly will so that all individuals impacted can plan accordingly.”

The superintentendents identified “several substantive issues” but did not discuss them at length during the first meeting, according to a press release from the Jefferson County Schools media relations department.

“Both superintendents expressed confidence that the negotiations would lead to an outcome that is fair and reasonable for all students, families and communities affected by the formation of the Gardendale School System,” the release stated.

Martin and Pouncey hope to have the final agreement completed in December. 

The Gardendale Board of Education plans to begin operating as an independent school system on July 1, 2015.