Opinion ID: 2207800
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Belcourt

Text: Belcourt asserted that the Board abused its discretion in not renewing her contract for lack of funds. A school board abuses its discretion in determining not to renew a teacher's contract when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner. Dobervich, 302 N.W.2d at 752 n. 7. We conclude that the Board did not abuse its discretion. Bear King presented several exhibits to the Board on the financial condition of the school district. He testified that, because of possible cuts in state foundation aid payments and cuts in federal funding, the school district could face a budget decrease of as much as $148,000 in the next school year. Belcourt was one of three learning disabilities tutors-in-training employed by the Board. No qualified special education director or teacher was employed by the Board at the time. Belcourt asserted that the Board could not refuse to renew her contract, as well as the contracts of the other tutors-in-training, for lack of funds because special education was a mandatory program. However, there was evidence in this record that the school district would receive substantially greater state reimbursement if one qualified special education director or teacher was hired than if its three tutors-in-training were continued, thereby alleviating some strain on the budget while allowing retention of the special education program. Bear King informed the Board of options for providing special education during the following year. We believe the Board received sufficient information about the finances of the school district to determine, in good faith, that the reason given for Belcourt's nonrenewal was substantiated. We conclude that the Board did not abuse its discretion in not renewing Belcourt's teaching contract.