Cullman County Schools Superintendent Shane Barnette, left, talks with school board members Jason Speegle, middle, and Chris Carter June 21 in front of a Cullman County School bus.

Students in the easternmost parts of Cullman County who ride a bus to Arab City Schools may soon have a chance to instead ride a bus to Parkside or Fairview Schools. 

Superintendent Shane Barnette said a new system has been put in place for splitting tax revenues among schools, and the Alabama State Department sent the county school system a letter notifying them that some of their money would be sent to Arab City Schools because of an agreement that the two systems signed 26 years ago. 

Barnette said he was unaware of the agreement, but will speak to the Arab Schools superintendent to end it. 

“It blew my mind that we had such an agreement to be honest,” he said. 

He said the agreement basically says that Arab City Schools can send buses west of U.S. 231, but Cullman County Schools cannot send buses east of the highway. 

When the agreement ends, the Cullman County System will send a bus to any student in Cullman County who wants to attend one of their schools, he said. 

Barnette said Arab City Schools report that there are 305 students who live in Cullman County but travel to Arab for school, but the school systems will need to verify that number with names and addresses. 

If that number is correct, and all of those students decided to come to Parkside or Fairview, that would bring in more than $200,000 in tax revenue, said system Finance Director Ed Roberson. 

The financial considerations are there, but Barnette said the end of the agreement would also let students have more choice in their schools. 

Students who go to an Arab school from Cullman County will still be able to do so, but now they will also have a chance to attend a Cullman County school if they wish, he said. 

Barnette said he does not know when the change will take effect, and will have to speak to Arab City Schools to make sure the agreement ends. 

He said when it does happen, the change may not have a big impact immediately, but there will probably be several students who will want to make the change to a Cullman County school. 

“We want to make sure that every student in Cullman County has the option to come to a Cullman County school,” he said.