Cartwright v. Sharpe

162 N.W.2d 5, 40 Wis. 2d 494, 1968 Wisc. LEXIS 1088

• Court: Wisconsin Supreme Court
• Decided: November 1, 1968
• Docket: 28
• Status: Published

Opinions

Beilfuss, J.

Prior to 1967 it was not constitutionally permissible, in Wisconsin, for a public school district to provide transportation for children attending parochial or private schools,¹ although it was mandatory in some instances and permissible in others to provide transportation for students attending public schools.

In 1967, by virtue of the mandate of a statewide referendum, the Wisconsin Constitution was amended to provide:

Art. I, sec. 23. “Transportation of school children. Nothing in this constitution shall prohibit the legislature from providing for the safety and welfare of children by providing for the transportation of children to and from any parochial or private school or institution of learning.”

Pursuant to authority provided by the constitutional amendment, the legislature did elect to provide for the transportation of children to any parochial or private school by amending the existing statutes for public school transportation so as to provide for transportation for students attending private or parochial schools and public schools upon a reasonably uniform basis.

This enabling legislation was created by chs. 68 and 313, Laws of 1967.² Sec. 1 of ch. 68 provides:

“Purpose. The intent of this act is to provide for the safety and welfare of children by providing for their transportation to and from public and private schools.”

The controlling statutes as they now exist became effective in January, 1968, and are as follows:

“121.54 (1). City Option. Subsections (2) and (6) and s. 121.57 do not apply to pupils who reside in cities, except that where an annual or special meeting, of a common school district or a union high school district, or the school board of a city school district or unified school district determines to provide transportation for such pupils, state aid shall be paid in accordance with s. 121.58 and there shall be reasonable uniformity in the transportation furnished pupils who reside in cities as between pupils attending public and private schools.”

“121.54 (2) General Transportation, (a) Except as provided in sub. (1), every school board shall provide transportation to and from public school for all pupils who reside in the school district 2 miles or more from the nearest public school they are entitled to attend.

“(b) 1. Except as provided in sub. (1), the school board of each district shall provide transportation to and from the school he attends for each pupil residing in the school district who attends any elementary grade, including kindergarten, or high school grade, comparable to any grade offered by such school district, at a private school located 2 miles or more from his residence, if such private school is the nearest available private school which the pupil may reasonably choose to attend and is situated within the school district. . . .”

It is the position of the respondent-petitioner that sec. 121.54 (2) (b) 1, Stats., requires that the school board provide transportation for his children to St. Mary’s Springs Academy because they reside more than two miles from the school and it is the nearest parochial school that they may reasonably choose to attend. It is the contention of the appellant school board that by virtue of sec. 121.54 (1) it is optional with the school board whether students who reside in the city and more than two miles from school will be transported, and that if transportation is furnished to the petitioner’s children transportation must be furnished to all other children, public or parochial, who reside in the city and are more than two miles from their school, and to do otherwise would violate the statute in that transportation would not be reasonably uniform as to pupils of public and private schools.

Before discussing the principal issue, namely the construction of the statutes in question, it may be well to define the scope of the writ of mandamus. In Menzl v. Milwaukee (1966), 32 Wis. 2d 266, 145 N. W. 2d 198, this court stated that mandamus was a discretionary writ and added, at pages 275, 276:

“ ‘Mandamus is a summary, drastic, and extraordinary writ issued in the sound discretion of the court. Although classed as a legal remedy, mandamus is equitable in its nature and its issuance is generally controlled by equitable principles. The rights of the public and of third persons may be considered.’

“ ‘The [trial] court has discretion as to the issuing of a writ of mandamus directed to a public officer. The order of the court will not be reversed except for abuse of such discretion.’ State ex rel. New Strand Theatre Co. v. Common Council (1930), 201 Wis. 423, 425, 230 N. W. 60.

“Moreover, it is an abuse of discretion for a court to compel action through mandamus when the officer’s duty is not clear and unequivocal and requires the exercise of the officer’s discretion. Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Asso. v. Lee (1953), 264 Wis. 325, 58 N. W. (2d) 700; State ex rel. Drew v. Shaughnessy (1933), 212 Wis. 322, 249 N. W. 522, Anno. 90 A. L. R. 368; State ex rel. Adams County State Bank v. Kurth (1939), 233 Wis. 60, 288 N. W. 810. But it is equally well settled that a writ of mandamus will issue to enforce the performance of plain imperative duties of a ministerial character imposed on executive agencies. State ex rel. West Allis v. Zawerschnik (1957), 275 Wis. 204, 207, 81 N. W. (2d) 542; State ex rel. Krause v. Jones (1928), 196 Wis. 464, 220 N. W. 373. Furthermore, it is the proper remedy to compel public officers to perform their clearly prescribed statutory duty. State ex rel. Martin v. Zimmerman (1939), 233 Wis. 16, 288 N. W. 454; State ex rel. Ingold v. Mayor (1919), 170 Wis. 133, 174 N. W. 471.”

Mandamus is not the proper remedy to control the acts of governmental bodies when acting within the scope of their legal powers. Beres v. New Berlin (1967), 34 Wis. 2d 229, 148 N. W. 2d 653. Nor can mandamus be used to compel specific action by a municipal body or officer where such action is discretionary. State ex rel. Cornstock v. Joint School Dist. (1886), 65 Wis. 631, 27 N. W. 829.

The basic issue is whether under the law and the facts of this case is it a mandatory obligation of the school district to provide transportation of the in-city students (all of whom live more than two miles from the school) to St. Mary’s Springs Academy. If the determination by the school board is discretionary rather than mandatory it is clear the petitioner cannot obtain the desired relief by means of mandamus.

The respondent-petitioner relies upon sec. 121.54 (2) (b) 1, Stats., which provides the more than two-mile standard for children attending private schools and the overall safety and welfare of children provision of the intent of the legislative act (ch. 68, Laws of 1967), and the constitutional amendment (art. I, sec. 23, Wis. Const.).

The appellant school board asserts that sec. 121.54 (2) (b) 1, Stats., by its own specific terms, is subject to sec. 121.54 (1), which makes it optional with the school board as to whether children who reside in the city will be provided transportation and if transportation is provided it must be reasonably uniform as to all children who reside in the city, both as to public and private students.

From a literal reading of these statutes (set forth above), there is no question from language which is plain and unambiguous that the “over two mile” provision for mandatory transportation does not “apply to pupils who reside in cities” except where the school board “determines” to provide such transportation.

Both the appellant school board and respondent-petitioner cite authorities in support of their construction of the statute. The school board cites the familiar rule that when a statute is plain and unambiguous no interpretation is necessary; and that a court may not review matters outside the statutory language to determine its meaning,³ nor can the court add language to a statute to obtain a desired result — such is prohibited judicial legislation.

The petitioner-respondent cites authorities to the effect that even though the language of a statute may be plain and unambiguous, if to give the statute its apparent meaning would result in an absurdity or obscure the legislative purpose the court may look to the history of the legislation to find the real intent of the legislature and may substitute the right word for one clearly wrong if need be.⁴

For many years, the “over two miles” and city option statutes have existed in almost identical form as they do today. The important change provided by the constitutional amendment and the enabling legislative acts was to provide that where transportation is furnished, either mandatory or permissive, it must be on a reasonably uniform basis to children attending either public or private schools.

It is true that the safety and welfare of the children were the laudable motivating factors of the transportation statutes. There is no reason to suspect that these factors were not relied upon by the legislature before the enactment of the constitutional amendment and the enabling legislation of the present statutes. What the constitutional amendment and the enabling legislation accomplished was to provide that the same consideration of safety and welfare should apply to public and private students alike.

It cannot be said that the school board under its authority as provided in sec. 121.54 (1), Stats., discriminated against students of either private or public schools. The school board determined not to provide transportation to any students (public or private) who resided in the city of Fond du Lac and whose schools were more than two miles from their residence.

The safety and welfare motivations have express legislative limitations. There is no mandatory provision for transporting any child (public or private), regardless of his residence, who lives less than two miles from his school (except statutory provisions for handicapped children or hazardous routes). Certainly a child who lives one and nine-tenths miles from his school can be subjected to substantially the same safety and welfare hazards as one who lives two miles from his school. The legislature drew the line at two miles and could reasonably do so.

The answer to the problem before us is a determination as to whether the classifications provided by the legislature are reasonable. If the classifications are unreasonable the legislation is unconstitutional.⁵ Stated conversely, when differences reasonably suggest different treatment and when all persons in a class are treated alike, the classifications will not be struck down.⁶

The statutory sections are not ambiguous. They clearly create four major classifications ⁷ in every school district: those who live more than two miles from school; those who reside in cities; those who do not; and those who reside in the district but not in cities and attend schools which are located not more than five miles outside the district. The petitioner would have the court create a fifth classification, namely — students who reside in the city but attend school outside the city. To do so would require the court to impose an exception upon a legislative exception. The statutes clearly state that transportation shall be provided for those who live more than two miles from their school except those who reside in cities. To add an exception to the exception is to indulge in judicial legislation which we refrain to do. To be sure there may be differences in method, mode, ease and safety of travel within and without a city. All present some hazards. In a given situation, travel may be more hazardous in the city than outside the city and vice versa. As stated by counsel for the appellant school board, inequities will result in the extremes of any classification unless and until all students are transported all the way. In Union Free High School Dist. v. Union Free High School Dist. (1934), 216 Wis. 102, 108, 256 N. W. 788, where a classification was based upon the distance from a school, the court stated: “In every classification there are always cases just within or just without the border lines.”

The majority of the court is of the opinion that the classification of students who reside within a city more than two miles from their school is a reasonable classification that can and should be applied to all members of the class equally. The school board exercised its discretion in a manner provided for by a valid statute and the writ of mandamus should be quashed. If the relief requested by the petitioner-respondent is to be authorized it should be done by the legislature considering the problem as it affects the state as a whole and not by the court in one limited factual situation.

A further reason appears why the judgment of the trial court cannot stand. The judgment directs the issuance of a writ which would compel the school board to provide transportation for a specified group of students who reside in the city and more than two miles from their school. This would mean that 392 students in the legislative class would be transported and 400 would not. Under the terms of the statute, if transportation is to be provided for students who reside in the city and more than two miles from their school, it must be provided to all students in that class with reasonable uniformity whether the students attend a public or private school.

The appellant school board raises another issue that warrants the court’s attention. At the hearing on the petition for mandamus Mr. Heinzen, a member of the assembly, was called to testify. As a member of the legislature he was serving his fourth consecutive term and was vice-chairman of the education committee of the assembly at the time of the introduction and passage of the enabling legislation. He testified over the objection of the school board as to the intention of the legislature insofar as it applied to the facts at hand.

We deem it was error to permit the legislator to testify as to the intention of the legislature.

“When a statute is plain and unambiguous interpretation is unnecessary, and intentions cannot be imputed to the legislature except those to be gathered from the terms of the law.” Estate of Ries (1951), 259 Wis. 453, 459, 49 N. W. 2d 483, 50 N. W. 2d 397; State ex rel. United States Fidelity & Guaranty Co. v. Smith (1924), 184 Wis. 309, 316, 199 N. W. 954.

Members of the legislature have no more right to construe one of its enactments retrospectively than has any other private person. Northern Trust Co. v. Snyder (1902), 113 Wis. 516, 89 N. W. 460.

Respondent cites Bendorf v. Darlington (1966), 31 Wis. 2d 570, 143 N. W. 2d 449 and Nekoosa-Edwards Paper Co. v. Public Service Comm. (1959), 8 Wis. 2d 582, 99 N. W. 2d 821, to the contrary. Those cases, however, go to documents that are part of the legislative history and public records, or learned articles by the draftsman which attempt to explain the purpose of the statute and are distinguishable from the situation where a legislator, in retrospect, attempts to incorporate into a statute a specific fact situation not fairly raised by the language of the act.

The trial court did state in his memorandum opinion that he did not rely on the legislator’s testimony in coming to his conclusion. The error, therefore, is harmless.

The respondent-petitioner has filed a motion to review. In the trial court the respondent took the position that inasmuch as the school board had recommended an amount sufficient to provide for transportation of in-city students in its proposed budget it was bound by that determination and could not at a later date delete the amount necessary for this transportation. The trial court did not accept this argument and thus the respondent’s motion to review.

As set forth in the statement of facts, the appropriating authority fixed the amount of the budget as it is authorized to do. In doing so it reduced the overall budget for the school district by the amount of $200,000 without specific designation as to any item. Faced with this situation the school board by necessity had to eliminate or alter some of the items of the proposed budget.

The cost of transportation for the in-city students was estimated to be $48,200. The resolutions of the school board in connection with contract negotiations for this transportation were conditioned upon funds being available. Some items of a school budget obviously cannot be deleted or reduced. Transportation of in-city students was one item that was permissible but not required. The school board had to exercise its discretion as to what items were to be deleted or reduced.⁸ It cannot be said the school board acted in an arbitrary or unreasonable manner and in doing so it treated the students of the public and private schools in a uniform manner.

By the Court. — Judgment directing the issuance of the writ of mandamus is reversed.

1 See State ex rel. Reynolds v. Nusbaum (1962), 17 Wis. 2d 148, 115 N. W. 2d 761.

2 Chapter 313 became necessary to reconcile other acts of the 1967 legislature, relating to schools, with the revision of the school laws as accomplished by ch. 92.

3 Weather-Tite Co. v. Lepper (1964), 25 Wis. 2d 70, 130 N. W. 2d 198; Miller v. Wadkins (1966), 31 Wis. 2d 281, 142 N. W. 2d 855; Beck v. Hamann (1953), 263 Wis. 131, 56 N. W. 2d 837; State ex rel. Badtke v. School Board (1957), 1 Wis. 2d 208, 83 N. W. 2d 724.

4 Pfingsten v. Pfingsten (1916), 164 Wis. 308, 159 N. W. 921.

5 The constitutionality of the statute is not specifically challenged but both parties refer to it in their briefs.

6 State ex rel. Harvey v. Morgan (1966), 30 Wis. 2d 1, 139 N. W. 2d 585.

7 We are not at this point concerned with the handicapped and extra hazardous route statutes.

8 See State ex rel. Board of Education v. Racine (1931), 205 Wis. 389, 236 N. W. 553; Board of Education v. Racine (1931), 205 Wis. 489, 238 N. W. 413.