Opinion ID: 2144157
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Failure to articulate reasons.

Text: The stated reason for reducing the staff in this case was to alleviate financial stress caused by declining enrollment in the Edgeley Public School District. Reed concedes that these conditions existed. His argument is, however, that the school board should be required to articulate its reasons for selecting one teacher over another when the stated reason for reduction in staff is financial difficulty. He argues that the language of subsection (1) of Section 15-47-38, N.D.C.C., requiring the board to give maximum consideration to basic fairness and decency requires such an articulation. We do not believe the statute requires such an articulation. In Rolland v. Grand Forks Public School District No. 1, 279 N.W.2d 889, 893 (N.D. 1979), we said that subsections (1) and (5) of Section 15-47-38, N.D.C.C., merely require the board to vote to nonrenew the contract for reasons stated in the notice of contemplated nonrenewal, thus in effect confirming the action by which it decided to send the notice of the contemplated nonrenewal of the contract. In this case, Reed does not dispute that the reasons stated in his letter of contemplated nonrenewal were proper reasons for nonrenewal. Further, he does not dispute that the board confirmed those reasons by voting to nonrenew at his hearing. Therefore, the procedural requirements of Section 15-47-38, N.D.C.C., as interpreted in Rolland were met. The statute does not explicitly require the board to articulate its reasons for selecting one teacher over another for nonrenewal; nor do we believe such is implicitly required by the statute. In Dobervich v. Central Cass Public School District No. 17, 302 N.W.2d 745, 751-52 (N.D.1981), we warned agaisnt excessive involvement by the courts in the administration of the school system. We said: [E]xcept for procedural matters, the trial court's review of the reasons given for nonrenewal of the teacher's contract and the evidence submitted at the hearing pertaining thereto is limited to: (1) determining whether or not the reasons given are in accordance with the statutory provisions, i.e., they are not frivolous or arbitrary but, rather, are related to the ability, competence, or qualifications of the teacher as a teacher, or the necessities of the district such as lack of funds calling for a reduction in teaching staff; and (2) determiningif those reasons are legally sufficientwhether or not under the facts of the case the school board has abused its discretion in reaching the nonrenewal decision. Such a review will, in our estimation, permit the teacher his day in court and, at the same time, will not unduly involve the courts in the administration of the school system. [Footnotes omitted.] A school board abuses its discretion only when it acts in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner. Id. at 752, footnote 7; Fercho v. Montpelier Public School District No. 14, 312 N.W.2d 337 (N.D.1981). The facts of this case do not disclose that the board acted in an arbitrary, unreasonable, or unconscionable manner. The board in its letter of contemplated nonrenewal said that it contemplated nonrenewing Reed's teaching contract because of the financial need to reduce staff. There is no dispute that the Edgeley School District lacked funds and needed to reduce its teaching staff. To deal with the financial difficulties, the school board sent letters of contemplated nonrenewal to three teachers in the science and mathematics areas. Those teachers were Mrs. Aberle, Mr. Tofte, and Mr. Reed. Hearings were scheduled for all three teachers for the evening of March 27, 1980. Hearings for Mrs. Aberle and Mr. Tofte were held on that date. Reed, however, requested and was granted a continuance. His hearing was therefore held on March 31, 1980. On the evening of March 27, the board voted to discontinue the nonrenewal proceedings for Mrs. Aberle and Mr. Tofte. At Reed's hearing, the board voted to nonrenew his contract. After fully reviewing the record, we conclude that the school board did not act arbitrarily, unreasonably, or unconscionably. All three of the teachers are similarly qualified. Each holds a master's degree. Both Tofte and Reed are qualified to teach mathematics and science and Mrs. Aberle is qualified to teach mathematics, elementary education, English, and remedial reading. Mrs. Aberle is not qualified to teach science. Mrs. Aberle had 22 years of teaching experience, 17 of which were in the Edgeley School District. She advised cheerleaders and was also qualified in administration. Both Mr. Reed and Mr. Tofte were hired by Edgeley School District in the same year. Tofte did, however, take a year's leave of absence to do graduate study.