School chairs classroom tile

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Shelby County Commission members have passed the first reading of an ordinance that would require all employees of the combining school system to live in the county.

The Commercial Appeal reported the plan would affect about 1,400 current Memphis City Schools employees, who live outside Shelby County. The city school system has no residency requirement.

Any current city schools' employees would have 5 years to move into Shelby County or lose their jobs.

Commission members passed the measure 9-4 on Monday. Passage at two more readings is required to adopt it.

The county amended its charter in 1986 to require government workers to live within county lines.