The years-long battle between District 5 and a former board member hangs on a single thing – silence.

Kim Murphy’s lawyer Paul Porter told the Chronicle a proposal to end the district’s suits against her is a pledge she will not sue the district for at least 5 years.

Porter says that request is unconstitutional.

The district’s board voted last week to drop its suit against Murphy after her lawsuit to stop an expansion at Chapin High caused years of delays and $10 million in added costs due to delays, according to the district.

In return, Murphy would have to get court approval to file any new suits against the district for 5 years or face a $2 million fine.

“We will not accept this offer,” Porter said.

Murphy had until April 18 to accept the district’s conditions.

Murphy has been a longtime critic of the district and the board. She was elected to the board representing Lexington County but the board took her to court stating she actually lives in Richland County.

A court ruling kicked her off the board after another high-profile legal battle.