Court Opinion

ID: 1077021
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2013-10-09 20:21:20.435368+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T15:43:52.763000
License: Public Domain

COURT OF APPEALS OF VIRGINIA

Present:    Judges Bray, Annunziata and Overton

ROBERT J. SANTORA
                                               MEMORANDUM OPINION *
v.   Record No. 2173-96-4                          PER CURIAM
                                                 MARCH 11, 1997
JULIA D. CLARK, F/K/A
 JULIA D. SANTORA

              FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF ARLINGTON COUNTY
                    Benjamin N. A. Kendrick, Judge
             (Robert J. Santora, pro se, on brief).

             No brief for appellee.

     Robert J. Santora (father) appeals the decision of the

circuit court allowing Julia D. Clark, formerly known as Julia D.

Santora (mother), to enroll the parties' son in an elementary

school in Fairfax County.    Father contends that (1) mother's

Petition to Amend Custody Schedule did not adequately notify him

that she was seeking a change in schools and (2) there was not a

full hearing on their son's best interests.    Upon reviewing the

record and father's opening brief, we conclude that this appeal

is without merit.    Accordingly, we summarily affirm the decision

of the trial court.    Rule 5A:27.

         "[O]n review the 'decision of the trial judge is peculiarly

entitled to respect for he saw the parties, heard the witnesses

testify and was in closer touch with the situation than the

     *
      Pursuant to Code § 17-116.010 this opinion is not
designated for publication.
[appellate] Court, which is limited to a review of the written

record.'"    Sutherland v. Sutherland, 14 Va. App. 42, 44, 414
S.E.2d 617, 618 (1992) (citation omitted).        "[T]hese matters are

left largely to the discretion of the trial court whose judgments

will not be reversed in the absence of a showing that the

discretion given has been abused."         Id.

     "'In all suits or legal proceedings, of whatever nature, in

which the . . . rights of a minor are involved, the protective

powers of a court of chancery may be invoked whenever it becomes

necessary to fully protect such rights.'"         Verrocchio v.

Verrocchio, 16 Va. App. 314, 319, 429 S.E.2d 482, 485 (1993)

(citation omitted).   The record demonstrates that mother's notice

squarely raised the issue of the custody and transportation of

the parties' son during the school year.         Mother also testified

that "I have told [father] over and over again that either the

school changes, the transportation changes or the schedule

changes.    Something has to give.       And I submit that we find the

best schooling and logistic schedule that best meets [the

child's] needs."   It also is apparent from husband's response to

mother's petition that he was aware of their son's possible

attendance at Keene Mill Elementary School.        Therefore, husband's

challenge to the court's ability to grant the ordered relief is

without merit.

     Mother testified that enrollment in the new school would

allow their son, who was under treatment for cancer, to be among

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other children with physical challenges as well as gifted and

talented children.   It would allow him to sleep later on school

mornings and avoid a ride in morning traffic.   The proposed

school had personnel trained to assist physically challenged

students.   Their son would enter Keene Mill in the oldest class,

rather than entering a middle school "at the bottom of the

pecking order; overweight, tired, pale, no hair on his head, and

a significant limp, with seventh and eighth graders."   Mother

noted that the child was "very concerned about being picked on."

     The court's decision that enrollment in Keene Mill was in

the child's best interest was supported by the evidence and was

not plainly wrong.
     Accordingly, the decision of the circuit court is summarily

affirmed.

                                                        Affirmed.

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