Effective October 1, 2011, the 23-member Shelby County Board of Education (SCBE) governs the separate business operations of Memphis City Schools (MCS) and Shelby County Schools (SCS), as well as all business pertaining to the unified district. In September 2013, the SCBE will be comprised of seven (7) elected members representing all districts in Shelby County, and the Shelby County Commission may also appoint up to six (6) additional at-large positions. In addition to directing the national superintendent search for the unified district, the SCBE is responsible for approving all merger recommendations from district staff based on the Transition Planning Commission's original merger plan. The official merger date is July 1, 2013.