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Taxpayer Takes School District to Court

WILLIAMSPORT — The controversy over building a $36 million high school in the Montoursville Area School District is headed to court. A taxpayer is suing t...

WILLIAMSPORT -- The controversy over building a $36 million high school in the Montoursville Area School District is headed to court.

A taxpayer is suing the school district to try to stop the project and you are about to see how much support he had on Monday..

The Montoursville Area School Board is scheduled to approve construction bids Tuesday for that high school expansion project, but on Monday about 80 taxpayers showed up at the Lycoming County courthouse to hear if a judge would postpone those plans.

Some of the Montoursville Area School District taxpayers are at odds with each other over the project.

"I feel both sides there were support because I think our community is very split right now," said Marjory Belzer.

The construction project to renovate and reconstruct the Montoursville Area High School was a hot issue in the May primary election. Write in candidates including Ron Snell backed an alternative idea, called Option 6. It calls for less expensive repairs to the high school.

"Have a good education for our students while maintaining sensible school taxes," said Ron Snell.

Because the district went ahead with its renovation plans, Ronald Snell who's now a candidate for the school board sued the Montoursville Area School District.

"Three and a half month delay would not cost the district money," said Snell.

After listening to testimony at Monday's hearing the judge promised a decision by Tuesday on whether he'll issue an injunction to stop the project. Opponents hope the judge will stop the project until at least the November election.

"I hope they stop it dead in its tracks after election," said one taxpayer.

As for the district, the superintendent released a statement this afternoon, “The Montoursville Area School District was pleased in how the case proceeded this [Monday] morning and feels very confident the judge has the information he needs to provide us with a very sound legal and just decision."

The judge is expected to make a decision on the injunction before a school board meeting Tuesday, that's when school board members are expected to approve bids on the $36 million project.

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