Opinion ID: 1763887
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Consideration of All Relevant Information Allowed

Text: The city board's next argument in support of their contention that the state board acted arbitrarily and capriciously is that the state board considered information beyond that required by the three standards of the MSIP rule. The specific information that the city board claims was improperly considered was the stability of the St. Louis public school district's leadership and other information presented in the special advisory committee report, including its recommendation. The city board also claims the state board improperly relied on information concerning the school district's finances. While the rules do require consideration of three certain standards, they do not prohibit consideration of other relevant information outside the standards. The city board does not cite any authority to support its claim that the state board cannot consider other information. The state board acted properly in considering the St. Louis public school district's situation as a whole. This Court would be remiss to unduly restrain the Board's discretion when it [utilized] a fair and common sense approach to considering all the standards and relevant information. See Curtis v. Bd. of Police Comm'rs of Kansas City, 841 S.W.2d 259, 262 (Mo.App.1992). The state board made its decision based on guidelines and criteria in a promulgated rule, and it did not conduct an irrational review or make a decision based on guesswork by considering other information relevant to the St. Louis public school district's stability and viability. The state board's consideration of relevant information beyond the standards does not constitute an arbitrary or capricious decision.