There is a new battle in Brevard County as the Board of County Commissioners takes the school board to court.
The commission is suing the district, hoping to stop the closure of three schools.
The county attorney said the district failed to follow an interlocal agreement that requires the school board consult the commission before closing schools. So the county commission voted to sue the school district, seeking an injunction to stop the closures of Gardendale Elementary, South Lake Elementary and Clearlake Middle.
State statute requires cities, counties and schools to work together to ensure development, growth and economic development initiatives don’t have a wide-sweeping, negative impact.
The county board voted unanimously Tuesday to move forward with a lawsuit, claiming the board failed to run the closures pass them.
The school district has said in the past that they followed the agreement.
The county attorney said he’ll file the lawsuit rather quickly, to try and stop the school closure process.
The board is also facing another lawsuit right. A group of parents and civil rights leaders are suing the district, saying the closures disproportionately targets African American student populations.
A hearing is set for April 2 in Viera.
News 13 has learned the Florida Civil Rights Association will file a federal complaint against the board Thursday, calling on the U.S. Department of Education to launch a civil rights investigation.