Title: GALLUP v SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC

State: montana

Issuer: Montana Supreme Court

Document:

N o . 13459 I N THE SUPREME COURT O F THE STATE O F MONTANA 1977 GRANT R. GALLUP, P l a i n t i f f and Appellant, SUPERINTENDENT O F PUBLIC INSTRUCTION of t h e S t a t e of Montana, Defendant and Respondent. Appeal from: D i s t r i c t Court of t h e F i r s t J u d i c i a l D i s t r i c t , Honorable Gordon R. Bennett, Judge presiding. Counsel of Record: For Appellant: A s t l e and A s t l e , K a l i s p e l l , Montana David A s t l e argued, K a l i s p e l l , Montana For Respondent : W. Corbin Howard, Helena, Montana For Amicus Curiae: Cannon and G i l l e s p i e , Helena, Montana Richard G i l l e s p i e argued, Helena, Montana Submitted: April 18, 1 9 7 7 Decided: MAY - 4 l g n Filed: MAY . i 9 1 7 Mr. Justice John Conway Harrison delivered the Opinion of the Court. This is an appeal from an order of the district court, Lewis and Clark County, granting defendant's motion to dismiss with prejudice. Several issues are presented by plaintiff Grant R . Gallup, but we find the controlling issue to be whether his rights and remedies in this matter were foreclosed by his failure to timely pursue proper legal remedies in the district court from a decision of the state superintendent affirming the termination of his tenure. Gallup in 1973 was a tenured teacher of School District No. 9, Glacier County, Montana, having taught there for 9 years. In September 1973, the board of trustees of the district dismissed him pursuant to section 75-6107, R.C.M. 1947, which provides for dismissal of a teacher during the contract term. Gallup appealed the decision to the superintendent of schools o i Glacier County, who, following a hearing, reversed the board. The board of trustees appealed that decision to the state superin- tendent who upheld the decision of the county superintendent. That decision was appealed to the district court which reversed the deci- sion of the state superintendent. Gallup appealed to this Court and in a decision dated December 21, 1976, the Court reversed the district court's judgment and affirmed that of the state superin- tendent of public instruction reinstating Gallup for the remainder or his 1973-74 contract. See: Board of Trustees of School District No. 9, Glacier County v. Superintendent of Public Instruction, oL the State of Montana and Grant R. Gallup, Mont . 9 557 P.2d 1048, 33 St.Rep. 1221. : h i Ylarch 13, i914, when Gallup's case was s t i l l before the Glacier County superintendent on the dismissal of September 1973, the board of trustees met f o r the purpose of renewing teachersr contracts f o r the coming 1974-75 school year. The board voted t o terminate Gallup's tenured service a t the end of the 1973-74 school year pursuant t o section 75-6103, R.C.M. 1947. W e note t h a t i n September 1973, the board terminated all up's contract under section 75-6107, R.C.M. 1947. The March 13, 1974, action taken by the board was under a d i f f e r e n t s t a t u t e and during the pendency of the f i r s t appeal. A t t h i s point i n the case the board chose t o terminate any future employment with Gallup, regardless of the outcome of the f i r s t case. This decision was communicated t o Gallup by l e t t e r dated March 19, 1974. O n March 25, 1974, Gallup demanded reasons f o r h i s termination and the board gave eight reasons. A t a hearing before the board on April 26, 1974, Gallup appeared with counsel but refused t o t e s t i f y . After he l e f t , the board heard evidence and terminated h i s services as a tenured teacher f o r the school year 1974-75. Thereafter Gallup appealed the board's decision t o the Glacier County superintendent of schools. Both p a r t i e s appeared a t the hearing and stipulated t h a t two questions should be con- sidered and t h a t the t r a n s c r i p t of the hearing before the board of t r u s t e e s would provide the relevant background. The county superintendent found the charges unsupported and ordered Gallup reinstated. The board appealed t o the s t a t e superintendent, who reversed the county superintendent. The decision of the s t a t e superintendent was dated November 14, 1975. N o appeal was made t o the d i s t r i c t court u n t i l May 1 7 , 1976. Section 75-5709, R.C.M. 1947, a s amended by Sec. 1, Ch.300, L.1974, i s controlling. It provides i n pertinent p a r t : ' x The decision of the superintendent of public instruction shall be final, subject to the proper Legal remedies in the state courts. Such proceedings shall be commenced no later than sixty ( 6 0 ) days after . - the date of the decision of the superintendent of public instruction." (Emphasis povided. ) Lzr a recent case, Schweigert v. Board of Trus tees, 163 Mont. 29, 515 P.2d 85, this Court held that where a tenured teacher did not follow statutory procedure in making a written request within ten days for a statement of reasons and a hearing, her rights under the statute expired and she was foreclosed from thereafter bringing suit challenging the decision not to renew her contract. In the instant case more than six months passed and Gallup cannot at this late date breathe life into his complaint. Having failed to pursue his statutory administrative remedies within the time allowed by law, Gallup's right to contest the termination of his employment as a tenured teacher was at an end. The statutory time limitations are mandatory to provide for prompt resolution of teacher employment controversies in the public interest, as well as the respective interests of the principals involved. The judgment of the district court is affirmed. We Concur: I u J - 6 * - Chief Justice