City Councilman Yusuf Hakeem said the city needs to come to the table in the current discussion about several local communities bolting from the county school system.
"The majority of students are right here in the city," he said.
Councilman Hakeem said "some clarity" is needed on whether if a revolt does take place "whether the school buildings go with the students."
Assistant City Attorney Phil Noblett, who is also the city attorney for Signal Mountain that is leading the charge, said he initially thought that municipalities in Tennessee did not have the right to set up their own school districts.
However, he said there was a movement to do so in Shelby County in 2013.
He said when it was found that a special law could not be passed for just one municipality that the proposition was opened to all municipalities throughout the state.
Attorney Noblett said some of the issues are yet to be determined - such as the status of the school buildings.
"Where all this ends up remains to be seen," he said.
Stacy Richardson, chief of staff to Mayor Andy Berke, said the city staff is already at the table.
She said, "We are in active conversation with all the parties."