Opinion ID: 2218181
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: The Grievance Appeal

Text: As to the grievance appeal, we reach another result. SDCL 13-43-10.2 states, in pertinent part: During the conference, the teacher shall be provided a statement of reasons which have lead to the intention not to renew the teacher's contract. This section shall not be interpreted as granting tenure to any such teacher in the first or second full term of employment; the purpose of the statement of reasons for non-renewal shall be to assist the teacher involved in making his own personal assessment of his teaching abilities and prospects and for discussing the reasons for the non-renewal during the conference. The statement of reasons shall not constitute any grounds whatsoever for challenging the non-renewal. A decision by the 470/> board shall be final and may not be subject to appeal to the Courts. A grievance may not be filed on the provisions of Chapter 3-18 unless local policy provides otherwise. In essence, SDCL 13-43-10.2 states that a statement of reasons, as provided during the informal conference, shall not constitute grounds for challenging the decision to non-renew the teaching contract; and that no grievance may be filed unless local policy provides otherwise. Our state legislature, by express direction in SDCL 13-43-10.2 stated: A decision by the board shall be final and may not be subject to appeal to the Courts.  We believe this statute is meaningful and should not be eroded. Jensen was a non-tenured teacher. This is undisputed. Teacher Jensen was in her second year of employment; as such, she was probationary and non-tenured. Jensen was timely notified, in the spring of 1988, pursuant to state law, that her teaching contract would not be renewed for a third year. Jensen was entitled to an informal conference with the Board of Education of the Bonesteel-Fairfax School District. Pursuant to state law, one was granted. She was notified thereafter of the reasons for her non-renewal. Employees are limited to grievances that are not inconsistent with the agreement. Jensen contends that there does exist an agreement. She is right on that fact. However, under Rapid City Education Association v. Rapid City School District, 433 N.W.2d 566 (S.D.1988), she is limited to a grievance that is not inconsistent with the agreement. She contends that the teacher's association and the school district may negotiate any terms they wish to include as a condition of employment. In effect, she is contending that there must be specific language within a negotiated agreement policy that a first or second year teacher is expressly precluded from filing a grievance pertaining to the statement of reasons. Thereby, she misreads SDCL 13-43-10.2. That statute does not require such a provision. Rather, that statute provides: [a] grievance may not be filed under the provisions of Chapter 3-18 unless local policy provides otherwise.  (emphasis supplied). In essence, there is simply no grievance policy within the District authorizing the right of a non-tenured teacher to grieve either non-renewal of a contract or the statement of reasons given at the informal conference. All of her complaints against this school district arise from her not being renewed; the circuit court determined that the local policy did not provide for the filing of a grievance. The circuit court is right. In Moran v. Rapid City Area School District, 281 N.W.2d 595, 600 (S.D.1979), we held, inter alia, that the school board's action, in making decisions on rehiring, is presumed to be done in good faith. Essentially, Jensen is arguing that either the courts or some agency go behind the school board's decision not to rehire her. We cannot do so under the statutes and we cannot do so under the decisional law of this state. This Court noted in Murphy v. Pierre Independent. School District No. 30-2, 403 N.W.2d 418 (S.D.1987), that SDCL 13-43-10.2, as amended, requires that reasons be given for the non-renewal of a non-tenured teacher's contract, but a school board's decision cannot be challenged on these grounds. Murphy, at 419, fn. 2; Murphy, at 420 fn. 3. Jensen, in her prayer for relief, seeks reinstatement, in the proceedings below. She is, in actuality, challenging the statement of reasons as to why she was not renewed. If she is permitted to do this, the net result is that our previous decisions are shattered, for the door is then opened to attack the board's reasons. In lieu thereof, a non-tenured teacher could come forth and say: It was for other reasons that I was not rehired. It would eviscerate the clear statement of SDCL 13-43-10.2. She has absolutely no property interest, as a nontenured teacher, which is protected by a due process hearing. Coull v. Spearfish Bd. of Educ., 340 N.W.2d 695, 697 (S.D.1983). The decision of the circuit court to dismiss the grievance, based upon lack of jurisdiction, is affirmed. 471/> MILLER, C.J., WUEST, J., and HERTZ, Acting J., concur. SABERS, J., concurs in part and dissents in part. AMUNDSON, J., not having been a member of the Court at the time this action was submitted to the Court, did not participate.