Opinion ID: 1229733
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: standard of review

Text: On appeal, Hoven School District argues that the trial court erred in not giving the proper deference to its school board decision. It asserts that the trial court, rather than determining whether the Board abused its discretion, impermissibly substituted its judgment for that of the Board. SDCL 13-6-85 provides in part: A boundary change, affecting not more than two percent of the assessed valuation of the school district from which the area is to be taken, may be made upon an application for a boundary change to the school board of the school district from which the area is to be taken and to the school board of the school district to which the area is to be annexed, in the form of a petition signed by over fifty percent of the voters residing in the area to be transferred by the boundary change. Copies of the petitions shall also be delivered by the petitioners to the board of county commissioners having jurisdiction over the school districts affected. Any petitioner who is aggrieved by a decision of the school board under this section may appeal that decision. An appeal from the decision of the school board may be made to the circuit court in the time and manner specified by § 13-46-1 or to the state superintendent of education within thirty days from the date of the decision of the school board by filing a notice with the superintendent of the school board and mailing a copy thereof to the superintendent of education.... Nothing in this section shall affect the right of an aggrieved party to appeal from the decision of the school board to the circuit court. (Emphasis added.) SDCL ch. 13-46 applies to appeals on school matters. SDCL 13-46-6 provides: The trial in the circuit court shall be de novo [2] according to the rules relating to special proceedings of a civil nature so far as such rules are applicable and not in conflict with the provisions of this chapter and the court shall enter such final judgment or order as the circumstances and every right of the case may require and such judgment or order may be enforced by writ of execution, mandamus, or prohibition, or by attachment as for contempt. In Dale v. Board of Education, Etc., 316 N.W.2d 108, 112 (S.D.1982), we stated on appeal to the circuit court, pursuant to SDCL 13-46-6, the doctrine of separation of power limits the scope of review to that provided in SDCL 1-26-36. [3]