Othello Sarweh Nimely
Monrovia-Students of the More Than Me Academy were forced out of their classrooms early Tuesday morning after sheriff’s deputies and police officers arrived at the school to enforce a court order for the institution’s eviction from the property it has occupied on Ashmun Street.
The eviction, which took place amid heavy rainfall, left students and school staff visibly distressed as school property and belongings were removed from the premises.
Some students were seen crying and standing along the street as the eviction was carried out, creating an emotional scene outside the school.
School officials who spoke to journalists said they were not given prior notice that the eviction would be carried out, leaving the administration unprepared for such an incident.
Residents familiar with the matter said the dispute over the Ashmun Street property has lasted for more than 10 years between the school authorities and the Montgomery family.
The Montgomery family said that the long-running legal dispute centers on the ownership and possession of the property occupied by More Than Me Academy while the matter was being litigated in court.
Erica Davies, spokesperson for the Montgomery family, welcomed the outcome and expressed appreciation to the justice system following the enforcement of the court’s order. ”Justice delayed is not justice denied,” Davies said.
She described the ruling as a long-awaited moment for the family and thanked the justice system for bringing the matter to a conclusion after years of legal proceedings.
The eviction has also raised concerns among parents of students enrolled at the school. Some parents are calling on the government to intervene, saying they had already prepared and enrolled their children for the current academic year.
For many parents, the immediate concern is where their children will continue their education following the unexpected closure of their school premises.
The development has left the future of the school uncertain, with attention now turning to whether the school administration and the Montgomery family can reach a mutual understanding or whether the institution will have to find another location.
As the court’s order has now been enforced, students and parents are left waiting to see whether More Than Me Academy will be given another opportunity.
Followers are also concerned about what will become of the resource spend by parents to prepare the their children. Who is going to refund it?
The dispute has now entered a new phase, with the welfare and education of the affected students becoming an immediate concern.
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