Both the Jefferson County Board of Education and the Gardendale City Schools have received a preliminary decision from State Supt. Dr. Tommy Bice, which concerns the issues in the separation between the systems the could not be agreed upon in negotiations.

JefCoEd Supt. Dr. Craig Pouncey said the ruling was in their hands, and that their board of education will meet in a special session to discuss the findings.

“The JefCoEd board is reviewing Dr. Tommy Bice’s preliminary decision,” Pouncey said in a prepared statement. “We will be replying to Dr. Bice and asking for considerations to the modifications he has suggested.”

The JefCoEd meeting is at 1 p.m. Wednesday. A spokeswoman said that a couple of personnel matters will be handled in open session first, then the board would go into executive session for their deliberations.

Similarly, the Gardendale Board of Education will meet Tuesday night at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the ruling and their response. The board is also expected to go immediately into executive session.

The State Department of Education told both boards that Bice will issue his final ruling on or before Monday, Feb. 23.