The final order from State Supt. Dr. Tommy Bice is in the hands of both sides in the separation of Gardendale schools from the county system, but Gardendale officials won’t comment on the order or release a copy of it.

The board met in executive session Thursday evening at the Birmingham office of Bradley Arant Boult Cummings to discuss the ruling with legal counsel. Afterwards, an attorney representing the board issued a press release to reporters, which said nothing about the substance of the order.

The North Jefferson News requested a copy of the order as a public record from the board, but attorneys Donald Sweeney and Alan Zeigler said the order would have to be obtained from Bice’s office.

Earlier in the day, The North Jefferson News attempted to obtain a copy from Bice’s staff, but was told that it would have to come from either of the parties involved. When Sweeney was told this by a reporter, he said that he would get permission from Bice to distribute the ruling.

The statement issued under the name of Gardendale Board of Education President Chris Segroves reads as follows:

“The City of Gardendale formed the Gardendale Board of Education for one singular purpose: to serve the students attending Gardendale schools.

“Those of us on the first Gardendale City Board of Education accepted the responsibility to implement this vision and to serve the students in our schools in the best possible manner.

“Dr. Tommy Bice, in his Final Order, stated that his Order was based on what was in the best interest of the students involved. In furtherance of this focus, Dr. Bice has ruled that the Gardendale City Board of Education will be entrusted with the opportunity to begin serving the students attending Gardendale Schools at the start of this coming school year, 2015-2016.

“Speaking on behalf of the entire Gardendale Board of Education and our Superintendent Dr. Patrick Martin, we are so appreciative of this development and so grateful for the opportunity to accomplish what we set out to do: serve all the students attending schools in the city of Gardendale.”

The Jefferson County Board of Education will meet Friday morning at 10 a.m. in its regular monthly session, during which the Bice order is expected to be on the agenda.