Munro v. Elk Rapids Schools

178 N.W.2d 450, 383 Mich. 661
CourtMichigan Supreme Court
DecidedNovember 30, 1970
DocketCalendar 24, Docket 52,508
StatusPublished
Cited by32 cases

This text of 178 N.W.2d 450 (Munro v. Elk Rapids Schools) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Michigan Supreme Court primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
Munro v. Elk Rapids Schools, 178 N.W.2d 450, 383 Mich. 661 (Mich. 1970).

Opinions

Kelly, J.

May 20, 1968, plaintiff filed in the circuit court for the county of Antrim his complaint seeking a writ of mandamus and other relief, alleging that he is a duly certified and qualified teacher holding a provisional certificate issued by the Department of Education of the State of Michigan; that he commenced employment in defendant school dis[665]*665trict in September of 1966 and taught at the Elk Rapids High School during the entire 1966-67 and 1967- 68 school years; that on or about November 21, 1967, the principal of the Elk Rapids High School, Mr. Donald Bellinger, evaluated plaintiff after having observed his teaching, said evaluation showing plaintiff’s work to be satisfactory in every respect and stating that Mr. Bellinger would “not hesitate to recommend him for tenure at the end of this year”; that on about January 17,1968, Mr. Bellinger once again evaluated plaintiff and once again showed plaintiff to be a satisfactory teacher in every respect and recommended that he be given a tenure contract for the 1968-69 school year; that plaintiff received a letter from defendant school board, dated February 20,1968, stating:

“I regret to inform you that on February 12,1968, the Elk Rapids School Board directed me to notify you that you would not be offered a contract for the 1968- 69 school year.”

Plaintiff further alleged that defendant school board through its letter of February 20, 1968 to plaintiff, purported to comply with the provisions of the Michigan teachers’ tenure act (MCLA § 38.71 et seq. [Stat Ann 1968 Rev §15.1971 et seq.]), but, in fact, did not comply with the express mandatory requirements of Article II, § 3, of said act that probationary teachers be sent “a definite written statement as to whether or not his work has been satisfactory”; that plaintiff, acting through his attorneys, sent a letter to defendants requesting them to place him on tenure and issue him a tenure contract for the 1968-69 school year and refrain from hiring any person to replace him.

In Count II of his complaint, plaintiff alleged:

“Defendants’ action in attempting to discharge plaintiff have been unreasonable, arbitrary and ca[666]*666pricious, and defendants have attempted to deprive plaintiff of his employment without according him either the substantive or procedural due process of law to which he is entitled under the equal protection and due process clauses of the United States and Michigan Constitutions or the Michigan teacher tenure act.

“Defendants’ action have further deprived plaintiff of those rights he enjoys under § 1985 and other sections of the Federal Civil Rights Act, as amended, see 42 USCA § 1985.”

On the hearing to show cause why a writ of mandamus should not issue (June 3, 1968), counsel for defendants informed Circuit Judge Charles L. Brown that on that day he had filed a motion for summary judgment and realized that he had not given the statutory four-day notice, but that counsel for plaintiff “has indicated I may argue that matter today, and the arguments, as far as summary judgment, would be the same arguments as against the complaint filed in this matter.”

Disagreeing, plaintiff’s counsel stated:

“It is my understanding we are here today on the writ of mandamus, why it shouldn’t issue. I cannot see why we cannot just limit our argument on that point. And I am not waiving notice on the summary judgment. I am not sure at this time I would want to waive four-days notice. I think on the hearing of the order to show cause we can dispose of this case, and there is no need to get into argument as to whether we should argue the order to show cause or the summary judgment.”

No affidavits or testimony were presented and the hearing was completed on that day and confined to arguments of counsel.

Plaintiff’s position before the trial court can be summarized by quoting the following two paragraphs :

[667]*667“As I see this case, there are essentially two main issues: the first contention of the plaintiff is that the school board did not follow the simple but express provisions of the teacher tenure act in attempting to dismiss the plaintiff; and it is my contention, if the court holds for plaintiff in this point, that, of course, will end the case, and the board would have to give him a contract. The second point is that even if it can be assumed that proper notice was given under the tenure act, the actions of the Elk Rapids Board were arbitrary and capricious, and contrary to the terms of the Michigan teacher tenure act and the due process clauses of the Michigan State Constitution.

* #

“It is the plaintiff’s first contention, and I think it is most important, that this Board of the Elk Rapids Schools did not follow the very simple but express mandates of the teacher tenure act; that is, they did not give him a definite written statement as to whether or not his work was satisfactory; and a mere letter stating that he would not be given a contract does not meet the express statutory requirement.”

Defense counsel informed the trial court that he was not arguing “whether his [plaintiff’s] work was satisfactory or not”; that the board had a reason, “but they have not given him the reason [and] I don’t think they are bound to.”

The following from transcript of hearing before the trial court, we believe, sufficiently summarizes defendants’ position:

“Our school board did act. On the 20th day of February, 1968, they sent Mr. Scott Munro a letter telling him they regretted it but he was not to be offered a contract for the next year; which was within their right.

“Mr. White has jumped over to the continuing tenure provisions of this tenure act in using that as [668]*668an example, the fact he has completed two years that they cannot discharge him, even if they don’t like the way ‘he parts his hair.’

“It is the privilege and.within the discretion of the school board to determine whether or not they will give a contract to anybody who is a probationary teacher, whether their work is satisfactory or un-satisfactory. The school board acted, and they told him he was not to get a contract for the next year. He complains as to not getting notice as to why.

“I don’t believe that is necessary. This is a discretionary matter with the school board; and what plaintiff is asking this court to do is to substitute the orders of the school board by ordering the school board to give this tenure contract; and this is not within the provisions of the law or the tenure act itself, or the intention of the legislature.”

On July 16, 1968, the trial court filed its “Decision and Order Denying Mandamus,” and on May 26, 1969, the Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court.1

Plaintiff’s brief in this Court (October 31, 1969), presents two issues:

1. Did defendants’ action violate the provisions of the Michigan teachers’ tenure act?

2. Were the actions of the board violative of plaintiff’s rights under the due process and equal protection clauses of the Michigan and United States Constitutions?

Defendants’ brief in this Court (January 17,1970) under the heading “Counter-Statement of Question Involved,” states:

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Bluebook (online)
178 N.W.2d 450, 383 Mich. 661, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/munro-v-elk-rapids-schools-mich-1970.