The disagreement-in-progress involving state Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12th, and Dean Berkebile, Seneca Valley School Board president, isn't likely to accomplish anything substantial. It's doubtful Metcalfe will change his core opinions about state school districts' spending practices, and it's unlikely that Berkebile and his board colleagues can be convinced that they are not doing all they can to keep spending under control.

However, there can be a better understanding of both sides' opinions, and better feelings for one another, if the board and Metcalfe meet for a non-adversarial fact-finding discussion - simply to bring each other up to date on issues and concerns.

Over the long run, that could benefit Seneca Valley in its dealings with the state government, and Metcalfe in his work on the House Education Committee.

In the current disagreement involving Berkebile, it was unbecoming of Metcalfe to accuse the school board president of political motivation in inviting Metcalfe to sit in on 2005-06 Seneca Valley budget preparation. It was not the first time Metcalfe cried "politics" in response to a school official who disagreed with him.

Last year, he accused a Mars school director of "political posturing" in response to a disagreement over the issue of requiring voter referendums for school tax increases. In connection with that issue, Metcalfe accused school boards across the state of catering to special-interest groups while eliminating representation of taxpayers in preparing school budges.

In this latest tiff, Metcalfe accused Berkebile of using the invitation in question primarily as a tool for kicking off his campaign for re-election.

What Metcalfe's accusations about "playing politics" fail to acknowledge, however, is that school directors of Seneca Valley, Mars and the remaining 499 public school systems in the commonwealth serve because of their commitment to good education - and they accept all of the hard work, long hours, tough decisions and grief that go along with the job without receiving a cent of compensation.

On the other hand, Metcalfe's state legislative duties are well compensated, and he receives generous fringe benefits and other perks. In regard to his elective office, which he sought voluntarily, just like the state's school directors, he ought to be capable of accepting criticism and should be a voice for the pursuit of cooperation and understanding, rather than promoting an attitude that invites divisiveness.

The Seneca Valley School Board and Metcalfe have the opportunity - indeed, the obligation - to smooth out the rough edges that have been allowed to strain their relationship. The voters should demand that of both. The 7-1 vote by the board to extend the invitation to Metcalfe establishes a forum for that to happen.

School funding is not a new issue. School directors more than 30 years ago complained about the state not living up to its subsidies mandates - and such complaints have been ongoing since then.

Over the years, school districts have been held hostage at budget-preparation time because of the General Assembly's failure to expedite approval of its state budget that determines how much education money will be available to the schools.

Meanwhile, last year, the General Assembly crafted a property-tax-reform law as part of a slot machine gambling measure that is not really in taxpayers' or school districts' best interests. The benefits that would come to the taxpayers is projected to be much less than what real tax reform should entail, and, in order to participate, school districts must agree to stipulations that many school directors regard as counterproductive, even dangerous, to districts' well-being.

Metcalfe, as an elected state representative, has the responsibility to meet with the Seneca Valley School Board in the special session announced by Berkebile, as long as he receives the assurance that the meeting will be conducted on a foundation of positive intentions. So that the meeting proceeds in such fashion, Berkebile and his board colleagues should do their homework prior to the meeting, so they can speak in an informed way about the issues that are of concern to them.

Responsible officials can disagree; that's healthy. However, allowing differing opinions to scuttle cooperation and discourage dialogue is not.

The Metcalfe-Seneca Valley disagreement is an embarrassment that should be put to rest immediately and permanently.