home > news > local

Lawsuit Filed Over School Closing

Suit accuses school board of exceeding its authority

Tuesday, Aug 10, 2010 | Updated 11:16 PM EST

NBCWashington.com

The fight to save an elementary school in Fairfax County, Va., has gone to court.

Parents of students at Clifton Elementary School filed a lawsuit against the school board over its plans to close the building.

Clifton Elementary is one of the county's highest performing schools, but declining enrollment, water issues and renovation costs prompted the county to vote to close it.

The lawsuit claims the school board exceeded its authority, acted arbitrarily and capriciously, and abused its discretion.

It is supported by Friends of Community Schools, a non-profit group that works to save community schools.

"This community worked through every issue on the table, providing reasonable and fiscally prudent alternatives," said Elizabeth Schultz, of Friends of Community Schools.

"The school board had no interest in any solution which resulted in the school remaining open," Schultz said. "They have willfully turned their backs on this community and it is simply too great of a transgression to ignore."

The school system is not commenting on the lawsuit.