The consolidation of schools in the Ligonier Valley School District will stand, a Westmoreland County judge ruled Friday.

In a 32-page opinion, Judge Gary Caruso found that school board members acted appropriately when they voted in April to close Laurel Valley Middle/High School near New Florence. This school year, about 300 students transferred to schools 13 miles away in Ligonier.

Save Our Rams Education, a grass-roots group of consolidation opponents, filed a lawsuit in the summer that alleged board members acted arbitrarily and capriciously and not in the best interest of the students when they voted to reconfigure the district.

The group wanted Caruso to overturn the board vote and order that the Laurel Valley school be reopened.

"We're certainly pleased with the outcome," school board Solicitor Dennis Rafferty said. "The school year has gone well for the district. Everybody seems to be getting into stride with the consolidation. This has obviously been a cloud over everybody's head, but it's nice to have it removed."

SORE attorney Joel Sansone said an appeal is being considered.

"I respectfully disagree with Judge Caruso's conclusion," Sansone said.

SORE member Mary Raich said other options are being contemplated.

"We're like a wheel, and we have many spokes. So now we're to pull ourselves together and see what's our next avenue, whether it's the next (school board) election, a secession to United School District or to maintain the status quo," Raich said.

After seven days of testimony over five weeks, Laurel Valley supporters argued that board members never fully considered the ramifications of their decision to close the school and that some district officials gained a personal benefit from the move.

Caruso rejected those arguments.

The judge wrote: "I do not find that the action of the Ligonier School Board in closing the Laurel Valley Middle/High School was the product of arbitrary will or caprice; nor did the board abuse its power or discretion; nor was the action of the board based upon ignorance resulting from a lack of inquiry into the facts necessary to make an informed decision; nor did the decision result from an improper influence; nor was the decision a product of corruption, fraud or bad faith."

SORE attempted to show that the consolidation plan was an attempt by Director Irv Tantlinger to add value to an oil and gas lease he sold on his personal property.

Caruso found those allegations were based only on innuendo and were "without proof."

Tantlinger said yesterday that he felt vindicated by Caruso's ruling.

"The allegations against me were totally unfounded and totally false. It hurt not only me, but my family and business were smeared," Tantlinger said.

He said the consolidation has gone smoothly and again defended that plan as something the district needed to save money and provide better educational opportunities.

Officials have said the consolidation will save up to $1.2 million a year with the shift of Laurel Valley's sixth-, seventh- and eighth- graders to Ligonier Valley Middle School and high school students to Ligonier Valley High.

"The children are getting along fine, and the Laurel Valley kids are represented in every activity. Some parents need to accept the closing was necessary. In the long run it is better for the whole education system in the district," Tantlinger said. "I have great empathy for the parents, but it was a change that needed to be done. It should have been done five decades ago."

The SORE group sought to prohibit the board from selling the Laurel Valley property, should a future board decide to reopen it.

In his order, the judge placed no restrictions on what the board can do with the Laurel Valley facility.

Long time in the making

June 1966: Ligonier Valley School District forms when Bolivar, St. Clair, Fairfield and Ligonier districts merge under a state mandate.

1969: Ligonier Township's master plan urges the district to consolidate Ligonier and Laurel Valley high schools to eliminate "duplication of facilities and curriculum."

April 1986: The board directs staff to study how to reorganize students from two buildings into one for specific classes.

January 1987: A Pennsylvania Economy League study concludes the high schools should merge to "achieve a more equitable educational program" and "reduce the duplication of services and inconsistencies."

February 1987: In the first public discussion on consolidation, resident Mary LeMantia says Laurel Valley residents oppose the merger. "If we lose our school, we lose everything."

June 1990: Celli-Flynn and Associates presents a $10,000 study with four options to reorganize. One includes a centralized high school.

October 1990: The board approves building a $10 million new school to merge the two high schools.

February 1991: The board decides to pursue purchasing the Menzie Farm for a new high school.

April 1991: Ligonier Borough and Ligonier and Cook townships commission a $3,000 study that suggests expanding Ligonier Valley High would be more cost-effective. Lawsuits seek to stop the land purchase.

May 1991: The board shelves plans to build a high school after four directors lose nominations for re-election. "In light of the election ... it is obvious that the voters of the Ligonier Valley School District are not supportive," says Director Roger A. Luther.

April 1993: In a $19,000 study, Ingraham Planning Associates recommends building a school at a "neutral site" or keeping two high schools.

June 1993: The board votes 6-2 to consolidate the high schools at the Ligonier campus.

August 1994: United School District officials say they will not pursue a merger with Laurel Valley residents who want to secede from Ligonier Valley.

November 1995: Voters elect five anti-consolidation school directors.

September 2004: The board asks administrators to study moving Laurel Valley students in grades 9-12 to Ligonier Valley.

December 2004: The board unanimously rejects the consolidation plan.

July 2009: Warner Concepts LLC presents a $50,000 study that recommends closing Laurel Valley Middle-High School.

April 19, 2010: Board votes to permanently close Laurel Valley Middle-High School.

May 10, 2010: Save Our Rams Education files suit against the district and eight directors who voted for the merger.

Aug. 30, 2010: Laurel Valley students report for first day of classes at consolidated schools in Ligonier.

Oct. 8, 2010: Westmoreland County Judge Gary Caruso upholds the consolidation.

Sources: Tribune-Review and Ligonier Echo archives

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