Court Opinion

ID: 9740189
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-26 20:29:38.156466+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:24:16.726494
License: Public Domain

UHLENHOPP, Justice
(dissenting).
I agree with the opinion of the Court of Appeals. The introductory clause of the sentence in question states:
In the event necessary reduction in staff cannot be adequately accomplished by attrition given the necessity to hire and/or maintain the most competent and qualified staff available in the interest of perpetuating the highest quality education program possible, .
The sentence then proceeds to say
the Administration shall base its decision as to resulting renewals on the relative skill, ability, competence and qualifica*406tions of available teachers to do the available work.
(Emphasis added in both quotations.)
In using the word “qualified” in the introductory clause and the words “relative . qualifications” in the main part of the sentence, I think the contracting parties were talking about teachers’ qualifications in a broad sense, not in the narrow sense of whether teachers are certified. Especially is this true in view of the other three words in the group: “skill,” “ability,” and “competence.” “Noscitur A Sociis,” Black’s Law Dictionary 1209 (Rev. 4th ed. 1968); 66 C.J.S. Noscitur A Sociis, 607-08 (1950).
I would affirm the decision of the Court of Appeals.