The South Butler County School District is asking a judge at the Court of Common Pleas to settle a dispute with Foreman Architects Engineers.

The district filed action Friday to ask for a declaratory judgement regarding Foreman's claim that the district must use it for architectural design for a number of improvements at the school as a result of a 2008 agreement between the firm and school district.

The district contends that the 2008 contract with Foreman for architectural services has expired and that the district planned to seek bids for the services at its May meeting.

According to the lawsuit documents, Foreman officials contend that David Foley, superintendent, signed an agreement in February that updated fees associated with the 2008 agreement, in which Foreman agreed to provide architectural services for a handful of significant district improvements.

A letter from Matt Hoffman, attorney for Foreman, said the 2008 contract is still in effect and that if the district sought another architect to provide services for upgrades, the contract would be broken and the district would owe Foreman termination expenses plus the amount Foreman would have charged for the project.

This is a breaking news report — subscribe online or in print to read the full article in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.