Butler School Board candidate Leland Clark and board member Bill Halle filed a preliminary injunction Thursday to stop the possible sale of four recently closed elementary schools in the Butler School District.

The injunction is an attempt to speed up the process of a lawsuit that was filed last month by Clark and Halle against the school district. The district began accepting sealed bids in August to buy the school buildings.

The 38-page suit that Clark and Halle filed has 53 points that support their reasoning. The preliminary injunction was reviewed Thursday morning by Butler County Judge S. Michael Yeager.

Judge Yeager will determine whether a hearing should be scheduled.

Clark said if the schools are sold before four new board members take office in December, it will limit their choices in making the next steps of the consolidation process.

“We want to make sure we can adjust the consolidation plan if necessary,” Halle said.

Clark explained the potential sales another way.

“The outgoing board has a scheme or a plan to bind our hands,” Clark told Yeager.

Tom King, district solicitor, “There is no such conspiracy that I’m aware of. That’s speculation on behalf of the plaintiffs.”

King said that because they don’t know if they even have any sealed bids, it’s too early to set a hearing date.