Court Opinion

ID: 9661257
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-23 22:33:47.457017+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:14:26.752852
License: Public Domain

WOLLMAN, Justice
(dissenting).
In Mortweet v. Ethan Board of Education, S.D., 241 N.W.2d 580, we held that the de novo trial required by SDCL 13-46-6 permits an independent inquiry into the facts by the trial court for the purpose of passing on the legality of the board’s decision. Surely such independent inquiry into the facts must encompass an implied authority on the part of the trial court to determine the credibility of witnesses in the process of deciding whether the school board’s decision was arbitrary or capricious or based on an abuse of discretion, for if it does not then the appeal de novo under SDCL 13^46-6 is in reality nothing more than an appeal on the record, with the record in effect being reconstituted live before the trial court.
The trial court made an independent inquiry into the facts in the instant case and concluded that the board had abused its discretion and that its action was unreasonable, arbitrary and capricious. If we are not to render the independent inquiry procedure totally meaningless, we must accord deference to the trial court’s findings.
As I read the record, there is no substantial evidence that the school board offered respondent the new contract in order to accommodate changes in enrollment, classroom size or available funds, or for any *652other reason that might legitimately have warranted transferring respondent from the elementary school level to the junior high level. Rather, it is clear that the superintendent of schools recommended that respondent be offered the new contract in the hope that such a move would forestall litigation over the board’s refusal to renew respondent’s original contract. This was not a reasonable exercise of the board’s power to reassign teachers, Goodwin v. Bennett County High School Independent School District, S.D., 226 N.W.2d 166, and should not be held to immunize the board from liability for having failed to renew respondent’s continuing contract without good cause.
I would affirm the judgment in all respects.