Opinion ID: 2040373
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Stewart's Substantial Evidence Argument

Text: Stewart's second state law claim is that the school board's decision is not supported by the evidence before it. After reviewing the record, we hold that the board's decision in this case was not clearly erroneous. Facing a declining student population and dwindling financial resources, the school system was forced to reduce its teaching and administrative staff. These reductions were complicated by a variety of pressures. First, many of the teachers, like Stewart, had tenure rights that had to be accommodated. Second, the State of Indiana prescribed minimum educational standards that further limited the board's flexibility. Third, the private accreditation system prescribed additional minimum standards that had to be met if the school system was to retain its accreditation. The board decided that it could reduce its staff and still satisfy these pressures by combining the positions of psychometrist and guidance counselor. In combining these positions, however, the school board was forced to choose between Stewart and two non-tenured psychometrists. Both of the non-tenured employees already had classroom teaching certificates that enabled them to teach a class or two should the need arise. Stewart was not certified to teach in the classroom. Had she been retained, the board would have had to look elsewhere for a certified classroom teacher. Moreover, both of the non-tenured psychometrists were closer to being certified as guidance counselors, and they exhibited greater willingness to pursue the certification. Considering these factors along with the rest of the record, the school board's decision to retain the non-tenured psychometrists over Stewart was quite a reasonable choice. The board's decision survives the substantial evidence test.