A judge is giving the Bibb County school system and former Chief Financial Officer Ron Collier until Thursday to decide if they want to try to stop a landlord from joining a lawsuit that seeks to stop rent payments.

Bibb County Superior Court Judge Edgar Ennis issued the order Tuesday morning, about a day after the Central Georgia Partnership For Individual and Community Development Inc. asked to join the case. Among other things, Collier wants Ennis to throw out a 10-year, $5.75 million lease agreement between the partnership and the school system. The school system agreed to rent half the building for Macon Promise Neighborhood initiatives.

Attorneys for the school system and Collier have not responded to requests for comments on the partnership’s motion to join the case.

In Monday’s filing, the partnership said the school system might not represent its interests and could cut a deal with Collier on other parts of his legal case, giving a defense of the lease agreement short shrift.

Hearings in Collier’s motion to dismiss the lease, and a different lawsuit seeking to dismiss Superintendent Romain Dallemand’s employment contracts, are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Friday in Bibb County Superior Court.

To contact writer Mike Stucka, call 744-4251.