A new twist in the schools consolidation drama took place Tuesday after a Shelby County attorney said residency requirements would mean Memphis City Schools employees who live outside the county would have to move to the county post merger.

In an opinion to the county commission, attorney Kelly Rayne said MCS employees would have to follow the residency requirement in the county charter.

She said commissioners would have the option to change the charter, either by removing the requirement or allowing MCS employees to be grandfathered in.

Commissioner Terry Roland said the policy should be uniform, either change the requirement for all county employees or give MCS employees nine months after consolidation to move to Shelby County.