Butler Area School District solicitor Tom King filed a complaint in Commonwealth Court against Gov. Tom Wolf, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega on behalf of the district, the school board and nine district parents over the state required attestation form to provide in-person instruction.

State officials usurped the authority of the Butler Area School Board and the state legislature by requiring the board to sign an attestation form to provide in-person instruction, according to a lawsuit filed Monday by the school district.

The form makes public school officials commit to safety measures to ensure the safety and well-being of students and educators.

District solicitor Tom King filed the complaint in Commonwealth Court against Gov. Tom Wolf, Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine and acting Secretary of Education Noe Ortega on behalf of the district, the school board and nine district parents.

The board voted to sign the form under protest at an emergency meeting Nov. 30.

Public schools in counties like Butler that were in the substantial transmission level for COVID-19 for at least two consecutive weeks were required to sign the form.

Read more in Monday's Butler Eagle