Opinion ID: 1826878
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 10

Heading: jensensappeal # 17984

Text: As of November 1990, Jensens had four daughters: Nicole, a freshman; Melissa, a seventh grader; Courtney, a third grader; and Jo, a first grader. Jensens' children were attending school at Lake Preston. Jensens' residence is 8 miles from Lake Preston, 5-1/2 miles from Oldham and approximately 19 miles from Ramona. Jensens attend church in Lake Preston but, prior to the school district reorganization election, they attended church in Oldham. Jensens market most of their grain at Oldham and some at Lake Preston. They buy fertilizers and chemicals in Lake Preston and utilize the veterinarian, a doctor and a bank in DeSmet. Jensens' oldest daughter is a cheerleader and plays basketball and volleyball. She also participates in track, band, and chorus. However, all of these activities are available in the new Oldham-Ramona School District. Bus service is also available from both Lake Preston and the Oldham-Ramona District. Jensens' residence is on the Oldham telephone exchange and there is local phone service between Oldham and Ramona. The board denied Jensens' petition on the following basis: [T]he Oldham-Ramona School District hereby denies the petition from Steve and Linda Jensen for minor boundary change. Reasons being it would result in a loss of county revenue, state aid, and incentive money. It is the responsibility of the Board of Education to uphold the decision of the majority of the voters. There is no mileage hardship. There is no educational hardship. Bus service will be provided. Granting this petition will result in a change for the 3 remaining children. It is the responsibility of the Board of Education to educate the students of the district and to maintain the assets of the district, assets being land, students, and state aid. The breaking of ties with the community came about after the election. As with Usts' petition, the board took the economic factors as well as the educational and mileage factors into consideration in denying Jensens' petition. The board's findings are supported by the facts previously outlined. There is no mileage hardship as bus service will be provided to Jensens. Although they reside nearly twenty miles from Ramona and only eight miles from Lake Preston, the twelve mile difference is not so significant as to result in much longer bus rides and Jensens raise no such contention. Cf. McLaughlin, supra. There is no educational hardship as the Oldham-Ramona School District is accredited academically and all of the extra-curricular programs mentioned in Jensens' brief are available in Oldham-Ramona. Although Jensens mention having some relatives in Lake Preston, that does not appear to have been a significant consideration in their reasons for seeking a boundary change and they continue to maintain business and economic contacts within the Oldham-Ramona area. In short, like Usts, it appears Jensens' sole basis for seeking attachment to the Lake Preston School District is personal preference. Because the board weighed the appropriate factors in considering Jensens' petition, we do not find its disapproval of the petition clearly erroneous, arbitrary, capricious or an abuse of discretion.