By Tony Romeo

HARRISBURG, Pa. (CBS) - Both sides will be back before a federal judge today as the Chester Upland School District seeks a court order for more state funding to stave off a financial crisis.

The federal lawsuit filed by the Chester Upland district alleges that the state is unconstitutionally underfunding the district. But Tim Eller, spokesman for the state Department of Education, says local officials have not acted responsibly since taking back control of the district from the state.

“The board has taken no action since July of 2010 to rein in their spending and get a handle on their finances.”

Not so says Dr. Thom Persing, acting deputy superintendent for Chester Upland, who says he’d like to meet with Governor Corbett to show him “all the things that we have done to ensure that we are under firm financial management.”

The Chester Upland district wants a federal court to order immediate financial relief from the state.
Persing says if schools had to shut down there would be an attempt to continue special education and high school senior classes.