Court Opinion

ID: 3154922
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2015-11-16 16:08:13.984389+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T12:29:47.337424
License: Public Domain

[Cite as Betscher v. Governing Bd. of Putnam Cty. Educational Serv. Ctr., 2015-Ohio-4727.]

                      IN THE COURT OF APPEALS OF OHIO
                          THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT
                              PUTNAM COUNTY

JACKSON BETSCHER,

        PLAINTIFF-APPELLANT,                                       CASE NO. 12-15-05

        v.

GOVERNING BOARD OF
PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL
SERVICE CENTER,                                                    OPINION

        DEFENDANT-APPELLEE.

                 Appeal from Putnam County Common Pleas Court
                            Trial Court No. 14CV184

                       Judgment Reversed and Cause Remanded

                          Date of Decision: November 16, 2015

APPEARANCES:

        Brian J. DeSantis for Appellant

        Elizabeth A. Braverman for Appellee
Case No. 12-15-05

PRESTON, J.

      {¶1} Plaintiff-appellant, Jackson Betscher (“Betscher”), appeals the

judgment of the Putnam County Court of Common Pleas dismissing his complaint

against defendant-appellee, the Governing Board of the Putnam County

Educational Service Center (“PCESC”). For the reasons that follow, we reverse.

      {¶2} On October 26, 2014, Betscher filed his complaint against the PCESC

alleging that the PCESC failed to provide him “statutorily-mandated paid vacation

leave as required by [R.C.] 3319.084.” (Doc. No. 1). In his complaint, Betscher

alleged that he was “a non-teaching employee under a written continuing contract

pursuant to [R.C.] 3319.081” from April 5, 2011 through December 31, 2013.

(Id.). Attached to his complaint are three employment contracts executed by the

PCESC, the Putnam County Commissioners (“Commissioners”), and Betscher.

The first contract (“contract one”), which was effective from April 5, 2011

through August 14, 2012, states that Betscher would work two days each week for

the Commissioners as a County Administrator and work “[a]ll other times * * *

per the terms of his employment agreement with the [PCESC].” (Id.). The second

contract (“contract two”), which was effective from August 15, 2012 through

August 14, 2013, is similar to contract one, but provided that Betscher would work

two and one half days each week for the Commissioners and work “[a]ll other

times * * * per the terms of his employment agreement with the [PCESC].” (Id.).

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The third contract (“contract three”), which was effective from August 15, 2013

through December 31, 2013, also provided that Betscher would work two and one

half days each week for the Commissioners and work “[a]ll other times * * * per

the terms of his employment agreement with the [PCESC].” (Id.).

      {¶3} On February 19, 2015, the PCESC filed a motion to dismiss

Betscher’s complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6). (Doc. No. 7). On March 3, 2015,

Betscher filed a memorandum in opposition to the PCESC’s motion to dismiss and

a motion for leave to file an amended complaint. (Doc. No. 8). On March 16,

2015, the PCESC filed a reply memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss.

(Doc. No. 9).

      {¶4} On March 20, 2015, Betscher filed a motion for leave to file an

amended complaint instanter, which the trial court granted. (Doc. Nos. 10, 13).

Betscher’s amended complaint was filed on March 25, 2015. (Doc. No. 13). On

April 15, 2015, the PCESC filed a motion to dismiss Betscher’s amended

complaint under Civ.R. 12(B)(6). (Doc. No. 17). On April 29, 2015, Betscher

filed a memorandum in opposition to the PCESC’s motion to dismiss his amended

complaint.      (Doc. No. 20).   On May 8, 2015, the PCESC filed a reply

memorandum in support of its motion to dismiss Betscher’s amended complaint.

(Doc. No. 21). On May 21, 2015, the trial court granted the PCESC’s motion to

dismiss Betscher’s amended complaint after concluding that Betscher’s

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employment contracts are invalid, and, as such, Betscher, was not a full-time

employee of the PCESC and not entitled to compensation for vacation benefits

under R.C. 3319.084. (Doc. No. 22).

      {¶5} On June 10, 2015, Betscher filed his notice of appeal. (Doc. No. 26).

He raises one assignment of error for our review.

                              Assignment of Error

      The Trial Court Erred in Dismissing Plaintiff’s Complaint
      Pursuant to Civ. R. 12(B)(6) for Failure to State a Claim Upon
      Which Relief Can be Granted.

      {¶6} In his assignment of error, Betscher argues that the trial court erred in

granting the PCESC’s Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to dismiss. Specifically, while

Betscher argues that the trial court was correct in finding that he was a non-

teaching employee of the PCESC, he argues that the trial court erroneously

concluded that the PCESC lacked legal authority to contract with the

Commissioners prior to the enactment of R.C. 3313.846. Therefore, Betscher

argues that the trial court erred in interpreting his employment contracts to mean

that he was a part-time employee of both the PCESC and the Commissioners.

      {¶7} “A [Civ.R. 12(B)(6)] motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim

upon which relief can be granted is procedural and tests whether the complaint is

sufficient.” Bd. of Health of Defiance Cty. v. McCalla, 3d Dist. Defiance No.

4-12-07, 2012-Ohio-4107, ¶ 33, citing State ex rel. Hanson v. Guernsey Cty. Bd.

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Of Commrs., 65 Ohio St.3d 545, 548 (1992). “In order for a trial court to grant a

motion to dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, it

must appear ‘beyond doubt from the complaint that the plaintiff can prove no set

of facts entitling her to relief.’” McBroom v. Safford, 10th Dist. Franklin No.

11AP-885, 2012-Ohio-1919, ¶ 7, quoting Grey v. Walgreen Co., 8th Dist.

Cuyahoga No. 96846, 2011-Ohio-6167, ¶ 3, citing LeRoy v. Allen, Yurasek &

Merklin, 114 Ohio St.3d 323, 2007-Ohio-3608, ¶ 14. “[A]s long as there is a set

of facts, consistent with the plaintiff’s complaint, which would allow the plaintiff

to recover, the court may not grant a defendant’s motion to dismiss.” York v. Ohio

State Hwy. Patrol, 60 Ohio St.3d 143, 144 (1991).

      {¶8} “We review de novo a judgment on a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion to

dismiss for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.” McCalla at

¶ 33, citing Perrysburg Twp. v. Rossford, 103 Ohio St.3d 79, 2004-Ohio-4362, ¶ 5.

“Under de novo analysis, we are required to ‘accept all factual allegations of the

complaint as true and draw all reasonable inferences in favor of the nonmoving

party.’” McBroom at ¶ 9, quoting Grey at ¶ 3, citing Byrd v. Faber, 57 Ohio St.3d

56 (1991).

      {¶9} “When reviewing a Civ.R. 12(B)(6) motion, courts are confined to the

allegations contained in the complaint.”       Cooper v. Highland Cty. Bd. Of

Commrs., 4th Dist. Highland No. 01CA15, 2002-Ohio-2353, ¶ 9, citing State ex

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Case No. 12-15-05

rel. Alford v. Willoughby Civil Service Comm., 58 Ohio St.2d 221, 223 (1990).

“But courts may consider written instruments if they are attached to the

complaint.” Id., citing First Michigan Bank & Trust v. P. & S. Bldg., 4th Dist.

Meigs No. 413, 1989 WL 11915, *4 (Feb. 16, 1989), citing Slife v. Kundtz

Properties, Inc., 40 Ohio App.2d 179 (8th Dist.1974), paragraph two of the

syllabus. “However, courts should avoid interpreting these written instruments at

the pre-trial stage unless the instrument is clear and unambiguous on its face.” Id.,

citing Slife at 184-185. See also Natl. City Mtge. Co. v. Wellman, 174 Ohio

App.3d 622, 2008-Ohio-207, ¶ 21 (4th Dist.) (concluding that, because the parties’

agreement was clear and unambiguous on its face that the parties agreed “to waive

any and all claims, no set of facts would have allowed appellants to maintain a

counterclaim against appellee”).      “If the written instrument is unclear or

ambiguous, trial courts are forced to look outside the pleadings in order to

interpret the written instrument.” Cooper at ¶ 9.

       {¶10} “If a motion to dismiss refers to, or depends on matters outside the

pleadings, the motion to dismiss must be converted to a motion for summary

judgment under Civ.R. 56(C).” Id., citing Civ.R. 12(B) and State ex rel. The V.

Cos. v. Marshall, 81 Ohio St.3d 467, 470 (1998). “If the court converts the

motion to dismiss to a motion for summary judgment, the parties must be given

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notice and a reasonable opportunity to present all of the available evidence that

Civ.R. 56(C) permits.” Id., citing Marshall at 470.

        {¶11} In his complaint, Betscher alleges that he was “a non-teaching

employee under a written continuing contract pursuant to [R.C.] 3319.081,”1 and,

as a non-teaching employee of the PCESC, Betscher alleges that he is entitled to

vacation leave under R.C. 3319.084. (Doc. No. 1). R.C. 3319.084 provides, in

relevant part, “In all school districts each full-time non-teaching school employee

* * *, shall be entitled * * * to vacation leave[.]” (Emphasis added.) In its motion

to dismiss, the PCESC argues that Betscher was not a full-time, non-teaching

employee of the PCESC. Instead, the PCESC argues that Betscher was an “other

administrator” within the meaning of R.C. 3319.02 and not entitled to

vacation-leave benefits.

        {¶12} Because the trial court was required to accept as true all of the factual

allegations in Betscher’s amended complaint and draw all reasonable inferences in

his favor when it considered the PCESC’s motion to dismiss, the trial court

assumed without deciding that Betscher was a non-teaching employee of the

PCESC. However, the trial court concluded that Betscher was not entitled to

vacation leave under R.C. 3319.084 because he was not a full-time employee of

the PCESC. In determining whether Betscher was a full-time employee of the

1
 R.C. 3319.081 governs contracts for non-teaching “school-district” employees. State ex rel. Tempesta v.
City of Warren, 128 Ohio St.3d 463, 2011-Ohio-1525, ¶ 37.

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PSCEC, the trial court appears to have concluded that Betscher’s employment

contracts are unclear and ambiguous. In particular, the trial court stated, “The

contract does not spell out the exact status of the relationship.” (Doc. No. 22).

Therefore, to determine whether Betscher’s employment contracts made him a

full-time employee of the PCESC and assigned to the commissioners or a part-

time employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners, the trial court applied R.C.

3313.846.2 The trial court interpreted R.C. 3313.846 to bar the PCESC from

contracting with any entity other than a school district prior to September 29,

2011. After making that conclusion, the trial court concluded that there was no set

of facts that would allow Betscher to recover vacation leave under R.C. 3319.084

because the PCESC did not have legal authority to contract with the

Commissioners at the time Betscher’s first contract was executed, and, therefore,

the only way to interpret Betscher’s employment contracts is to conclude that

Betscher was a part-time employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners. (Id.).

        {¶13} We conclude that the trial court erred in granting the PCESC’s

motion to dismiss since there is a set of facts, consistent with Betscher’s

complaint, which would allow him to recover—that is, Betscher’s allegation that

he was a full-time, non-teaching employee is a set of facts under which he could

recover. Because the trial court’s decision to grant the PCESC’s motion to dismiss

2
 In what appear to be typographical errors in its entry, the trial court noted that it was applying “R.C.
3318.864” and “R.C. 3313.864.” (Doc. No. 22).

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focuses on the interpretation of Betscher’s employment contracts, we will first

review Betscher’s employment contracts.

        {¶14} “The principal goal in construing contract language is to effectuate

the intent of the parties.” Beard v. New York Life Ins. & Annuity Corp., 10th Dist.

Franklin No. 12AP-977, 2013-Ohio-3700, ¶ 13, citing In re All Kelley & Ferraro

Asbestos Cases, 104 Ohio St.3d 605, 2004-Ohio-7104, ¶ 29. “‘The intent of the

parties to a contract is presumed to reside in the language they chose to employ in

the agreement.’” Id., quoting Kelly v. Med. Life Ins. Co., 31 Ohio St.3d 130

(1987), paragraph one of the syllabus. “A court will resort to extrinsic evidence in

its effort to give effect to the parties’ intentions only where the language is unclear

or ambiguous, or where the circumstances surrounding the agreement invest the

language of the contract with a special meaning.” Kelly at 132. “A contract term

is ambiguous if it is susceptible to more than one reasonable interpretation.” St.

Marys v. Auglaize Cty. Bd. of Commrs., 3d Dist. Auglaize No. 2-05-17, 2006-

Ohio-1773, ¶ 20, citing U.S. Fidelity and Guaranty Co. v. St. Elizabeth Med. Ctr.,

129 Ohio App.3d 45, 55 (2d Dist.1998) and Westfield Ins. Co. v. Galatis, 100

Ohio St.3d 216, 2003-Ohio-5849, ¶ 11-12.

        {¶15} Betscher’s employment contracts3 state, in relevant part:

3
  Contracts one, two, and three are substantially similar. (See Doc. No. 1). Substantive differences
between the contracts are footnoted.

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Case No. 12-15-05

      This management contract is made and entered * * * by and between

      PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER and

      the BOARD OF PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS and Jack

      Betscher (hereinafter referred to as “Employee”).

      WHEREAS, the PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE

      CENTER currently employs Jack Betscher; and,

      WHEREAS,            the         BOARD       OF    PUTNAM   COUNTY

      COMMISSIONERS is desirous of retaining the services of Jack

      Betscher as the County Administrator; and

      WHEREAS, the PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE

      CENTER        and         the     BOARD     OF    PUTNAM   COUNTY

      COMMISSIONERS wish to allow Jack Betscher to maintain

      employment with the PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL

      SERVICE CENTER and contract his services to the BOARD OF

      PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS;

      ***

      1.    SERVICES

      Employee shall work and provide services as the County

      Administrator       for     the    BOARD     OF   PUTNAM   COUNTY

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        COMMISSIONERS two (2)4 days per week (these days may be

        utilized to coincide with each entities [sic] need and are not set each

        week, but may be moved for scheduling needs). All other times

        Employee shall work and provide services per the terms of his

        employment           agreement        with      the      PUTNAM            COUNTY

        EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER. * * *

        2.      COMPENSATION

        The PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER

        shall      invoice      the      BOARD          OF       PUTNAM            COUNTY

        COMMISSIONERS for Employees [sic] services to the BOARD OF

        PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS * * *.

        The BOARD OF PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS shall be

        responsible for all travel and on the job expenses incurred by

        Employee arising out of and in the course of his duties as County

        Administrator and shall reimburse Employee directly * * *.

4
 Contract two provides that Betscher will serve as the County Administrator “two (2 ½) [sic] days per
week” and Contract three provides that Betscher will serve as the County Administrator “two and a half (2
½) days per week.” (Doc. No. 1).

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        The BOARD OF PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS shall

        also pay and/or be responsible for any unemployment expenses * *

        *.5

(Emphasis sic.) (Doc. No. 1). Contract three further provides, “At the end of the

term the BOARD OF PUTNAM COUNTY COMMISSIONERS have expressed

interest in the direct employment of Jack Betscher and would like to contract days

back to the PUTNAM COUNTY EDUCATIONAL SERVICE CENTER.”

(Emphasis sic.) (Id.).

        {¶16} We agree with the trial court that Betscher’s employment contracts

are unclear and ambiguous regarding his employment status—that is, Betscher’s

employment contracts can reasonably be interpreted to mean that he was a full-

time employee of the PCESC and assigned to the Commissioners or that he

directly contracted as a part-time employee with the PCESC and the

Commissioners.

        {¶17} For instance, Betscher’s employment contracts could reasonably be

interpreted to mean that he was a full-time employee of the PCESC and assigned

two to two and one half days per week to the Commissioners because, for

example, the contracts state (1) that Betscher will “work and provide services per

the terms of his employment agreement with the [PCESC]” at “[a]ll other times,”

5
 Contract three does not provide that the Commissioners will pay or be responsible for any of Betscher’s
unemployment expenses. (Doc. No. 1).

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(2) that the PCESC was to invoice the Commissioners for the time Betscher

worked for the Commissioners, and (3) that contract three indicates that the

Commissioners “expressed interest in the direct employment of Jack Betscher and

would like to contract days back to the [PCESC].” Yet, Betscher’s employment

contracts could reasonably be interpreted to mean that he was a part-time

employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners because, for example, (1)

Betscher was a party to the contracts, (2) the “whereas provisions” of the contracts

could be interpreted to mean that the PCESC was permitting Betscher to seek

outside employment with and “contract his services to” the Commissioners two to

two and one half days per week, (3) the Commissioners paid Betscher directly for

any travel and on-the-job expenses that he incurred from his duties as County

Administrator, and (4) the Commissioners were responsible, under contracts one

and two, for Betscher’s unemployment expenses.

       {¶18} Concluding that a contract is unclear and ambiguous permits a court

to review extrinsic evidence to determine the intent of the parties. Ordinarily,

concluding that a contract is unclear and ambiguous and reviewing extrinsic

evidence to determine the parties’ intent constitutes reversible error at the Civ.R.

12(B)(6) stage, unless the trial court converts the motion to dismiss to a motion for

summary judgement and provides the parties notice and a reasonable opportunity

to present Civ.R. 56(C)-type evidence. However, the trial court neither considered

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extrinsic evidence nor converted the PCESC’s motion to dismiss to a motion for

summary judgment.

      {¶19} Rather, the trial court concluded that the interpretation that Betscher

was a full-time employee of the PCESC is barred by statute; therefore, there is

only one reasonable interpretation of his employment contracts—that he was a

part time-employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners and, as a result, there is

no set of facts that would allow Betscher to recover. That is, the trial court

concluded that because the first contract was executed April 5, 2011, more than

five months prior to R.C. 3313.846’s effective date, Betscher could be considered

only a part-time employee of the PCESC and a part-time employee the

Commissioners. We disagree.

      {¶20} The trial court’s conclusion that the contracts could only mean that

Betscher was a part-time employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners because

R.C. 3313.846 prohibited the PCESC from contracting with the Commissioners is

erroneous. R.C. 3313.846 provides:

      The governing board of an educational service center may enter into

      a contract with any political subdivision as defined in section

      2744.01 of the Revised Code, not including school districts,

      community schools, or STEM schools contracting for services under

      section 3313.843, 3313.844, 3313.845, or 3326.45 of the Revised

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      Code, under which the educational service center will provide

      services to the political subdivision. Services provided under the

      contract and the amount to be paid for such services shall be

      mutually agreed to by the parties and shall be specified in the

      contract. The political subdivision shall directly pay an educational

      service center for services specified in the contract. The board of the

      educational service center shall file a copy of each contract entered

      into under this section with the department of education by the first

      day the contract is in effect.

The ability of the PCESC to contract with the Commissioners was not impossible

prior to R.C. 3313.846’s September 29, 2011 enactment. Rather, as we explain

below, at least R.C. 3313.17 authorized the PCESC to contract with the

Commissioners.

      {¶21} The concept of an educational service center was established by the

General Assembly in 1995 to replace county school districts. See, e.g., 1999 Ohio

Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 99-023 (“An educational service center is the successor to what

was formally known as a county school district.”), citing Am.Sub.H.B. No. 117,

1995 Ohio Laws File 28; State ex rel. Nese v. State Teachers Retirement Bd. of

Ohio, 136 Ohio St.3d 103, 2013-Ohio-1777, ¶ 4 (“An ‘education service center’ *

* * is a statutory creation.”). See also 2014 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 2014-012

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(“An educational service center is administered by a governing board, the

successor to a county board of education.”), citing R.C. 3313.01, R.C. 3313.055,

and 2010 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 2010-028. An “educational service center” is

considered a school district, school board, or board of education, whenever in R.C.

Title 33 the terms “school district,” “school board,” or “board of education” are

used “‘without expressly referring to boards governing city, local, exempted

village, or joint vocational school districts, or some specific combination

thereof.’”   2014 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 2014-012, quoting R.C. 3311.055.

“Therefore, ‘the governing board of an educational service center has many of the

same powers and duties as the board of education of a school district.’” Id.,

quoting 2005 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 2005-033. In describing those powers and

duties, the Ohio Attorney General noted that educational service centers have

“general powers to contract.” 1999 Ohio Atty.Gen.Ops. No. 99-023, citing R.C.

3313.17 and 3313.36-3313.371.

       {¶22} Specifically, R.C. 3313.17 provides:

       The board of education of each school district shall be a body politic

       and corporate, and, as such, capable of suing and being sued,

       contracting and being contracted with, acquiring, holding,

       possessing, and disposing of real and personal property, and taking

       and holding in trust for the use and benefit of such district, any grant

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       or devise of land and any donation or bequest of money or other

       personal property.

(Emphasis added.)     Thus, because R.C. 3313.17 does not expressly refer to

“boards governing city, local, exempted village, or joint vocational school

districts, or some specific combination thereof” in describing a “board of

education,” R.C. 3313.17 indicates that educational service centers may contract

and be contracted with.

       {¶23} In discussing the powers of Ohio boards of education, the Supreme

Court of Ohio stated, “Ohio boards of education are creations of statute, and their

authority is derived from and strictly limited to powers that are expressly granted

by statute or clearly implied therefrom.” Cincinnati City School Dist. Bd. of Edn.

v. Conners, 132 Ohio St.3d 468, 2012-Ohio-2447, ¶ 9, citing Schwing v. McClure,

120 Ohio St. 335 (1929), syllabus.      Similarly, the Supreme Court noted, “In

enacting R.C. 3313.17, the General Assembly gave boards of education the

discretionary authority to contract with other parties in order to administer Ohio’s

system of education.” Id. at ¶ 10. These principles also apply to educational

service centers. Cincinnati City School Dist. Bd. of Edn. v. State Bd. of Edn., 122

Ohio St.3d 557, 2009-Ohio-3628, ¶ 17 (“A school district board of education is a

statutorily created entity composed of individual members responsible for

governing a school district or educational service center. It is described as ‘a

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body politic and corporate.’”), citing R.C. 3311.055 and 3313.17. Indeed, in

discussing the General Assembly’s intent in enacting R.C. 3313.17, the Supreme

Court concluded that the General Assembly authorized boards of education,

which, as we stated above, are responsible for governing a school district or

educational service center, the discretionary authority to contract with other

parties—that is, an educational service center’s discretionary authority to contract

with other parties is not limited to only contracting with other school districts.

       {¶24} Therefore, the trial court erred in dismissing Betscher’s amended

complaint for failing to state a claim upon which relief can be granted.

Specifically, the trial court erred in applying R.C. 3313.846. The PCESC was

authorized by at least R.C. 3313.17 to contract with the Commissioners. Thus, the

trial court erred by relying on R.C. 3313.846 to conclude that Betscher was a part-

time employee of the PCESC. Accordingly, a determination whether Betscher

was a full-time employee of the PCESC and assigned to the Commissioners or a

part-time employee of the PCESC and the Commissioners is necessary. However,

the answer to that question depends on the interpretation of Betscher’s unclear and

ambiguous employment contracts, which exceeds the scope authorized by Civ.R.

12(B)(6) and necessarily involves factual issues outside Betscher’s amended

complaint that may be addressed at trial or, if appropriate, at the

summary-judgment stage. Moreover, not only does Betscher’s full-time or part-

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time employment status need to be ascertained, but also necessary is a

determination whether he was a “non-teaching employee” under R.C. 3319.081,

an “other administrator” under R.C. 3319.02, or some other type of employee.

       {¶25} Betscher’s assignment of error is sustained.

       {¶26} Having found error prejudicial to the appellant herein in the

particulars assigned and argued, we reverse the judgment of the trial court and

remand for further proceedings consistent with this opinion.

                                                            Judgment Reversed and
                                                                 Cause Remanded

ROGERS, P.J. and SHAW, J., concur.

/jlr

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