Independent School District No. 709 v. Bonney

705 N.W.2d 209, 2005 Minn. App. LEXIS 775, 2005 WL 2850439
CourtCourt of Appeals of Minnesota
DecidedNovember 1, 2005
DocketA05-84
StatusPublished
Cited by4 cases

This text of 705 N.W.2d 209 (Independent School District No. 709 v. Bonney) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Minnesota primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Independent School District No. 709 v. Bonney, 705 N.W.2d 209, 2005 Minn. App. LEXIS 775, 2005 WL 2850439 (Mich. Ct. App. 2005).

Opinion

*212 OPINION

KALITOWSKI, Judge.

Relator Independent School District No. 709, Duluth, challenges respondent Minnesota Board of Education’s (MDE) order concluding that relator violated state and federal law as it pertains to children with disabilities attending Little Learners Enrichment Center (LLEC), a private early intervention program. On appeal, relator argues that respondent acted arbitrarily, unreasonably, and in violation of the law by (1) deciding that relator failed to provide transportation to children attending LLEC; (2) deciding that relator did not properly implement individualized education plans (IEP) for children attending LLEC and requiring relator to provide compensatory education; (3) deciding that relator did not adequately consider extended school year (ESY) services for children attending LLEC and requiring relator to revise those services; (4) concluding that relator failed to provide parents of children attending LLEC with adequate written notice of proposed special-education services and ordering corrective action; (5) concluding that members of relator’s IEP teams were not qualified as district representatives and requiring that an LLEC representative be part of every IEP team for children attending LLEC. Relator also argues that MDE’s complaint process was arbitrary, unreasonable, and contrary to the requirements of 34 C.F.R. §§ 300.660-300.662 (2004).

FACTS

The Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) requires school districts to provide special education and related services. 20 U.S.C. § 1400(d)(1)(A) (2000). Independent School District Number 709 in Duluth, Minnesota, provides early childhood special education services at Little Learners Enrichment Center (LLEC), a licensed treatment and daycare program. Children at LLEC receive special education services as well as other preschool or daycare services. Details of the services provided to each child are described in that child’s individual education program (IEP). Each IEP sets out the types of special education and related services that the child should receive at LLEC.

On August 3, 2004, complainant Linda Bonney of the Minnesota Disability Law Center entered a complaint against relator with respondent on behalf of students attending LLEC. Respondent’s investigator gathered information regarding the claims in the complaint and respondent issued a complaint decision addressing them on January 4, 2005.

Relevant to this appeal, respondent found that relator (1) failed to provide transportation for LLEC students; (2) failed to properly implement students’ IEPs; (3) failed to properly address whether students required extended school year (ESY) services and failed to provide proper notice to parents when ESY was refused; (4) failed to provide proper written notice to parents of LLEC students; and (5) did not have the required personnel present at IEP team meetings. In conjunction with its findings, respondent ordered relator to undertake corrective action, including orders (1) to provide transportation for children enrolled at LLEC; (2) to develop compensatory education plans for students; (3) to revise and implement policies concerning ESY and notice of ESY refusal; (4) to revise policies regarding parental notice; and (5) to revise policies so that all required team members will attend IEP team meetings.

Relator petitioned this court for a writ of certiorari to review respondent’s decision. This court issued a writ of certiorari on January 14, 2005. Petitioner chai- *213 lenges each of the aforementioned findings and corrective orders as well as respondent’s complaint process itself.

ISSUES

1. Did respondent err in finding that relator was required to provide transportation for children attending LLEC?

2. Is respondent’s finding that relator failed to properly implement children’s IEPs supported by substantial evidence?

3. Are respondent’s findings that relator’s Extended School Year services (ESY) policy was deficient and that relator did not properly consider ESY services for children attending LLEC supported by substantial evidence?

4. Is respondent’s finding that relator failed to provide proper written notice to parents of LLEC students supported by substantial evidence?

5. Is respondent’s finding that relator failed to meet attendance requirements at IEP meetings supported by substantial evidence?

6. Did respondent’s complaint resolution process violate the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act?

ANALYSIS

“When reviewing agency decisions we adhere to the fundamental concept that decisions of administrative agencies enjoy a presumption of correctness, and deference should be shown by courts to the agencies’ expertise and their special knowledge in the field of their technical training, education, and experience.” In re Excess Surplus Status of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Minn., 624 N.W.2d 264, 278 (Minn.2001) (quotation omitted).

“When an agency performs the quasi-judicial function of receiving and weighing evidence, making factual findings, and applying a prescribed standard to reach a conclusion, a reviewing court applies the substantial-evidence test.” Hurrle v. County of Sherburne, 594 N.W.2d 246, 249 (Minn.App.1999) (quotation omitted). Substantial evidence is defined as: “(1) such relevant evidence as a reasonable mind might accept as adequate to support a conclusion; (2) more than a scintilla of evidence; (3) more than some evidence; (4) more than any evidence; or (5) the evidence considered in its entirety.” Minn. Ctr. for Envtl. Advocacy v. Minn. Pollution Control Agency, 644 N.W.2d 457, 466 (Minn.2002). Under the substantial evidence test, the reviewing court evaluates “the evidence relied upon by the agency in view of the entire record as submitted.” Cable Communications Bd. v. Nor-West Cable Communications P’ship, 356 N.W.2d 658, 668 (Minn.1984). If an agency engages in reasoned decision-making, the reviewing court will affirm, even though it may have reached a different conclusion than the agency. Id. at 669.

I.

Relator argues that respondent erred in its interpretation of MinmStat. § 123B.88 (2004) by construing the statute to require school districts to transport children with disabilities when the children receive special instruction and daycare services in the same location. Relator contends that such a broad interpretation im-permissibly contradicts the transportation requirements of the federal IDEA. We disagree.

Both Minnesota and federal laws address transportation requirements for disabled students.

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Related

Independent Sch. Dist. v. DEPT. OF EDUC.
743 N.W.2d 315 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2008)
Independent School District No. 281 v. Minnesota Department of Education
743 N.W.2d 315 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2008)
Independent School District No. 192 v. Minnesota Department of Education
742 N.W.2d 713 (Court of Appeals of Minnesota, 2007)

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Bluebook (online)
705 N.W.2d 209, 2005 Minn. App. LEXIS 775, 2005 WL 2850439, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/independent-school-district-no-709-v-bonney-minnctapp-2005.