March 24, 2022

After an analysis of student enrollment numbers in the Chelsea zone, Shelby

County Schools is planning to transition students residing in the Mt Laurel
attendance zone to become part of the Oak Mountain attendance zone,
pending Board approval. The exception to this would be students who live
within the city limits of Chelsea. These students will continue to attend Chelsea
Lewis Brooks, Ed.D. schools.
Superintendent
2022 - 2023 School Year
● Grades K-5: All elementary students continue to attend Mt Laurel
Elementary (MLES) as they currently do.
● Grades 6-12: Students in the MLES attendance zone have the option to
enroll in Oak Mountain Middle School (OMMS) or Oak Mountain High
School (OMHS), provided parents commit to daily transportation to and
from school. Students who continue at Chelsea Middle or Chelsea High
Board Members will have daily bus transportation for this school year.
● Students choosing to attend OMMS or OMHS must commit to the entire
Aubrey Miller, President year.

David Bobo, Vice President 2023 - 2024 School Year

● Grades K-5: All elementary students continue to attend Mt Laurel
Jimmy Bice
Elementary as they currently do.
● Grade 6: Students that completed 5th grade at MLES will begin
Jane Hampton
attending Oak Mountain Middle.
Peg Hill ● Grades 7-8: Students from the MLES attendance zone that completed
6th or 7th grade at Chelsea Middle will have the option to enter Oak
Mountain Middle or continue at Chelsea Middle through 8th grade.
● Grade 9: Students that completed 8th grade at Chelsea Middle and
reside in the MLES attendance zone will begin attending Oak Mountain
High.
● Grades 10-12: Students residing in the MLES attendance zone will have
the option to enter Oak Mountain High or continue at Chelsea High
through graduation.
● Bus transportation will be provided to all students who transition to Oak
Mountain Middle or Oak Mountain High. Students choosing to remain
at a Chelsea school must provide personal transportation.
410 East College Street
Post Office Box 1910 At any point during the time periods listed above, should the City of Chelsea
Columbiana, AL 35051 separate and form its own school system, this transition schedule may be
subject to change.
(205) 682-7000 Phone
The FAQ document below is provided to help guide your decision regarding the
(205) 682-7005 Fax
2022-2023 school year.

www.shelbyed.k12.al.us
Please complete the attached Google Form to indicate your decision for the
2022-2023 school year by April 1, 2022.

Should you have specific questions, please reply to this email and a district
leader will respond to your inquiry.
 Frequently Asked Questions

Will my child be eligible to play sports if we decide to enroll him/her in Oak

Mountain Middle School or Oak Mountain High School for 2022-2023?
As long as the student-athlete begins attending at OMHS or OMMS on day #1 of the
new school year (and assuming that the student meets all other AHSAA eligibility
requirements) the student-athlete would be immediately eligible.

Regarding teams having already been “selected” the previous year, this should not
present an issue since the AHSAA calls for an evaluation period for any newcomers to
the school at the onset of that particular sport’s season. Based on this
accommodation, students who change schools would be given an opportunity to try
out and be evaluated for selective sports teams.

However, a change in schools after the new school year has begun would result in the
student-athlete being ineligible at the new school for immediate participation. Per
AHSAA eligibility rules, if a school change should occur after the school year begins,
the student athlete would not be eligible at the new school until the start of the next
school year. So, for example, a student could not begin the school year at Chelsea to
play football (in the fall season) and then transfer to OM (without a change in his/her
home residence) and expect to be immediately eligible to play basketball (in the winter
season).

For the student-athlete that chooses to remain at either Chelsea MS or Chelsea HS

and never changes schools at all, since that student has already been attending that
school and there’s been no break in school enrollment, athletic eligibility is already
established and is not an issue.

Will my child be able to try out for cheer, majorette, color guard, and/or dance
at Oak Mountain Middle or High?
It will not be possible for students to try out/participate in the 2022-2023 school year.
Students will be able to try out in the 2022-2023 spring semester for the 2023-2024
school year.

Will my child be able to play an instrument and be part of the Marching Band at
Oak Mountain High School?
Yes. Students will have the opportunity to participate in band upon enrollment at
OMHS.

My child will be in 10th grade and can drive to school. Is that permissible?
OMHS does not allow 10th graders to drive. CHHS currently has a limited number of
parking spaces available to 10th grade students as well. So parents choosing for their
students to immediately relocate to OM for the 2022-23 school year must accept
personal responsibility to transport the student to/from school for the entire school
year.