The Calhoun County Courthouse was packed Tuesday night as residents showed up in large numbers to contest the school board's possible approval of 80 acres of land to build the proposed new center high school.

This all surrounds the consolidation of Altha and Blountstown High Schools and whether to spend $7,500 per acre, which is double the appraisal price to build the school.

Residents were very outspoken on the issue and want board members to rethink the cost.

They got their wish and the board tabled the issue, which led to a division among board members.

"I've tried to talk to the people who are going to be leading us down this road. This is not Kelly King's personal opinion here. This has nothing to do with consolation. It's about us making good decisions," Kelly King, a school board member, said.

"We're looking at educating our kids and the value of the property. Yes, the appraisal is 34, 35, 3,600 dollars, but, you know, I've searched for 10 to 20 acres for the last two years and I can't find it for under $7,000 an acre," Danny Hassig, another school board member, said.

Board members voted to table the issue and send it to the Calhoun County Commission.

Members are asking commissioners to figure out the best possible solution and try and find a more reasonable cost for the project.