Berry v. School Board

As the plaintiff's physical infirmity, and not the distance from his home to the schoolhouse, renders his transportation necessary, his case would be the same however short the distance, if it were one which he was unable to walk. To entitle him to transportation as matter of law, it must therefore appear that the legislative intent in authorizing expenditure from the school fund for that purpose was to relieve unfortunate individuals in the plaintiff's situation at the expense of the remaining scholars, since the amount so expended would diminish to that amount the sum available for the general purposes of the district.

The first legislation authorizing such expenditure is found in chapter 55, Laws of 1878. Section 2 of that chapter empowered school districts to authorize the prudential committee "to use a part of the school money, . . . not exceeding ten per cent, for the conveyance to and from the school of pupils living more than one mile and a half from the school." Section 3 made provision in districts having less than twelve scholars for their attendance upon the schools of adjoining districts and authorized in such case the expenditure of the same percentage of the school money in the conveyance of scholars. Under this section the conveyance was a substitute for a school in the district, and under section 2 distance was the only rule given for the guidance of the committee. Scholars living more than one mile and a half from the schoolhouse might be transported at the expense of the school fund. Others living a less distance might not be. The physical capacity of the individual scholar to walk was not considered if he lived within the prescribed distance, nor is there a suggestion that distinction because of physical condition could be properly made between two scholars similarly situated, more than a mile and a half from the school. In 1885, by the statute abolishing school districts, the amount expendable by the school board for the conveyance of scholars was increased to twenty-five per cent of the school money. Laws 1885, c. 43, s. 6.

"One general purpose of the law abolishing school districts was to gather the children into larger schools where they might receive better instruction for longer terms. The conveyance was intended as a substitute for school accommodations in a neighborhood where the scholars were too few to render the maintenance of a separate school reasonable or profitable. . . The purpose of the law is the education of the child. Accordingly, the existing statute provides: `The school board of every district shall provide schools at such places within the district . . . as will best subserve the interests of education and will give to all the scholars of the district as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable. They may use a portion of the school money, not exceeding twenty-five per cent, for the purpose of conveying scholars to and from the schools.' P. S., c. 92, s. 1. If the school board are unable to so arrange the schools as to give all the scholars reasonably equal advantages, they may by providing conveyance render such advantages as equal as practicable." State v. Hall, 74 N.H. 61,63, 64.

As it does not appear that the school board have not arranged the schools so as to give all the scholars, including those living one mile from the schoolhouse, as does the plaintiff, reasonably equal opportunity for school attendance, they cannot be required as matter of law to transport the plaintiff. The misfortune of a particular scholar rendering transportation necessary in a particular case is not the rule prescribed. The duty of the board is general: to do in arranging schools and providing conveyance what "will best subserve the interests of education and will give to all the scholars of the district as nearly equal advantages as may be practicable." In the absence of a finding, or conclusive evidence, that the course they have pursued has not as matter of fact had this result, the court cannot as matter of law interfere to control their action.

The defendants further contend that if they might be required to transport the plaintiff because of his infirmity, their refusal to do so was not an abuse of discretion because expenditure of the school fund for this purpose would result, by diminishing the school year, in depriving the district of a considerable sum receivable from the state. The expenditure of school money for the transportation of pupils is a matter within the discretion of the school board. Fogg v. Board of Education, 76 N.H. 296. The substance of the defendants' claim on this point is that expenditure for the purpose asked by the plaintiff "would occasion a substantial curtailment of school advantages to all other scholars in the town" and would "so far diminish the facilities for general education in the town as to be deemed impracticable." The fact suggested has some tendency to prove the wisdom of the discretion exercised. Fogg v. Board of Education, supra. It does not establish, as matter of law, error of fact in their refusal to transport the plaintiff. Whether as matter of law the fact alleged is sufficient to sustain the action of the board need not be considered, even if the second ground of defense were controlling, in view of the order of the court that the petition should be denied unless as matter of law transportation must be furnished. The order is,

Petition denied.

All concurred.