Ivalee students to be bussed to West End as agreement with Attalla Schools ends

Students at Etowah Counties Ivalee Elementary school will be bused to West End beginning with the next school year because a long-standing agreement between Etowah County and Attalla City schools ends this fall.

Alan Cosby, superintendent of Etowah County Schools, said in a school board meeting last week that students who are in seventh through 12th grades and live in the Ivalee school district will be zoned for the West End school district.

The busing agreement will affect students at Highland, Duck Springs and Ivalee elementary schools. Students from Highland will be transported to Gaston, and Duck Springs students will be transported to Sardis.

The Etowah County Board of Education in February voted to end the agreement that has been in place for more than 38 years. At that time, it was not determined which high school would be zoned for Ivalee students.

Ivalee is on Gallant Road off Alabama Highway 77, and is just a few miles from the Attalla city limits.

Ninety to 95 percent of Ivalee students transfer to Attalla City Schools, so it is unclear what affect these changes will have.

David Bowman, superintendent of Attalla City Schools, in February said parents and students that will be affected by the change can attend schools in his system, but will have to provide transportation. Bowman estimates 200 to 250 students will be affected.