MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) -- Leaders of Memphis suburbs are pursuing new state laws that would allow them to run their own schools, bypassing the merger of the Shelby County and Memphis districts.

Officials from Arlington, Bartlett, Collierville, Germantown, Lakeland and Millington met with state lawmakers from Shelby County's suburban districts Tuesday in Nashville.

Lawmakers told The Commercial Appeal the meeting was closed to reporters. Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald later told the newspaper they discussed ways to change state law to allow local control.

He said the options included loosening charter school restrictions and letting the suburbs form their own municipal districts.

The suburbs voted in August to create their own districts after the Legislature passed a bill allowing it. A few months later a federal judge ruled the law was unconstitutional.