The school board can't allow another line to be drawn, Mendenhall said. Mendenhall said she has not discussed with other school board members the possibility of suing the commissioners. However, school board member Pam Allen also was ready to go to court Wednesday. There's too much at stake. Allen said she is tired of having to depend on the commissioners for money.
State law gives school boards the authority to make and administer school policy.
They are dependent on county commissioners, however, for the money to carry out that policy. Two years ago a Republican-dominated Board of Commissioners promised to provide the school board with funding equal to 10 percent of the schools' annual operating budget. However, the Democrats, who now control the Board of Commissioners, say it is unlikely that the county will be able to continue with the 10 percent construction plan. That's the amount the school board says it needs to just begin implementing its redistricting plan. Allen said she cannot understand why a commissioner such as Democrat Jeff Thigpen, who cited the need for a school bond referendum during his campaign last year, could say that now is not the time for a referendum.