The Mars Area School District Board purchased land from Mars Home for Youth for $2.1 million, as reported Oct. 12 in the Butler Eagle.

This was not a simple purchase of land that MHY was willing to sell to the highest bidder. This was a settlement forced by the courts that ends over 30 years of the district bullying MHY. Interesting, as the school board portrays a stern focus on anti-bullying policies within the district.

The MASD began this lawsuit against MHY over 30 years ago to attempt to strip MHY’s tax-exempt status and take the land by eminent domain. In other words, if you will not sell me your land, I will condemn it and take it from you. That doesn’t sound like a good neighbor at all.

It took years of litigation and a court settlement to force the school district to stop bullying MHY. Adding this key fact and piece of history certainly can change one’s perspective of this most recent settlement. One could argue that at least MHY got money for its land.

But consider the litigation costs of 30 or more years and living in fear of ruining the core religious based element of MHY. It really isn’t such a great deal for MHY at all.

As a parent and taxpayer for over 10 years in the district, it has become quite clear from this event and many other recent events, like bullying of the support staff in recent contract negotiations, what the current school board priorities are and, unfortunately, it is not education.

The community continues to grow, as does the population in the schools, and the current board remains focused on sports fields, facilities, and bullying their own staff and other organizations in the community.

It is time for school board administrators to focus on full transparency, school children needs, advancing curriculum, and staff retention.

I urge the entire MASD community to be attentive to history and facts, research the current board, and attend board meetings. Get involved and see for yourself how your tax money is being spent and advocate for all of our community.