INDIANAPOLIS -- A group has taken legal action over a school board's effort to remove its superintendent.

After months of debate and division among board members in Perry Township in Marion County, the controversy now heads to a courtroom, 6News' Ericka Flye reported.

Security was in place and advance tickets were issued for a seat at Monday night's regularly scheduled school board meeting as an overflow crowd watched from the gym.

In November, the board voted 4-3 to place its superintendent, Dr. Doug Williams, on paid administrative leave. Citing confidentiality, it refused to go into detail about why it made the move.

With orange shirts and signs calling themselves "Take Back Perry Schools," a citizens group hopes a court will reverse the board's decision. Their attorney said the board majority is wasting money and stalling.

"You make a charge. If you think it's a serious charge, you suspend the person and you begin the process of having a hearing. This hasn't happened at all here," said Ed DeLaney, the citizens group's attorney. "Instead, what we have is a series of unending investigations and no charges. It would be reasonable to assume if they had a good charge, they would have brought it by now."

"I think by all means he needs to be back running the school district so we can get our kids back in focus," said Donna Andre, parent of a Perry Township student.

Board vice-president Nancy Walsh, who voted in favor of Williams' leave, said the lawsuit is frivolous.

"Any charges alleging unlawful conduct by board members are nothing but a ploy to bring negative publicity to a board strong enough to focus on the real needs of the community," Walsh said.

The lawsuit was not filed by Williams and he made no comment on it. A hearing on the suit is scheduled for May 9.