Opinion ID: 613389
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Violation of South Dakota Constitution and Statutes

Text: Finally, the parents argue that South Dakota's constitution, statutes, and common law require that the Board provide educational programs at the school's campus. As set forth more fully below, we conclude that the Board's actions did not violate South Dakota law. As recounted earlier, in 1889 section 1 of article XIV of the South Dakota Constitution provided that the state's charitable institutions shall consist of ... a school for the deaf.... The 1944 constitutional amendment removed the school for the deaf from section 1 and placed the school under the control of the Board. See S.D. Const. art. XIV, §§ 1, 3. As amended, section 1 cannot be construed to require a full-service education for deaf students at the Sioux Falls campus for the school for the deaf. See Kneip v. Herseth, 87 S.D. 642, 214 N.W.2d 93, 100 (1974) (Even though an amendment does not expressly repeal a constitutional provision, yet, if it rewrites and covers the same subject provided for in such provision the amendment will supersede and be regarded as a substitute therefor.). Thus, the parents' argument to the contrary must fail. The South Dakota Constitution places the school for the deaf under the control of the Board. S.D. Const. art. XIV, § 3. We look to the state statutes to determine the extent of the Board's control because the general scope of the powers of the board as to courses of study and the kind, type or nature of the school that shall, in fact, be maintained, are limited by the foundation purpose of the school as prescribed by the Legislature. State ex. rel Bryant v. Dolan, 61 S.D. 530, 249 N.W. 923, 924 (1933) (quoting State ex rel. Prchal v. Dailey, 57 S.D. 554, 234 N.W. 45, 52 (1931) (Campbell, J., concurring)); see Kanaly v. State ex rel. Janklow, 368 N.W.2d 819, 825 (S.D.1985) (noting that the Board's control is subject to constitutionally authorized legislative rules and restrictions (internal quotation omitted)). Thus, the educational institution's curriculum must conform to the character and purpose of the school. Prchal, 234 N.W. at 47. The legislature has given the Board the power to govern and regulate each institution under its control in such manner as it deems best calculated to promote the purpose for which the institution is maintained. S.D. Codified Laws § 13-49-13. South Dakota Codified Laws section 13-62-1 provides that the State School for the Deaf, located at Sioux Falls, in Minnehaha County, shall be under the control of the Board of Regents and so maintained and managed as to afford an appropriate education to those entitled to its benefits. Section 13-62-6 sets forth the eligibility requirements for the school's programs: All persons under twenty-one years of age, whose hearing impairment precludes successful educational benefits of public schools, who are residents of the state, and capable of receiving instruction are eligible for programs provided by the state school for the deaf. These statutes do not preclude the Board from affording an appropriate education to eligible students on an outreach basis or through its service agreements with other school districts. Similarly, section 13-33B-3, which requires that the school be considered when determining the placement of a deaf or hard-of-hearing student, does not mandate that educational programs be offered at the school's campus. We thus conclude that it was within the Board's power to discontinue offering educational programs at the school's campus, in favor of contracting with other school districts to offer those programs and maintaining funds in its budgets for students to attend residential programs.