HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-2782
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. I? S, ;} 712 CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
: (Local Agency Appeal)
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APPEAL AND PETITION FOR HEARING DENOVO
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AND NOW comes the minor petitioner, D. S., by his parents, Dr, Johff'Stdri~l:
and Elizabeth Riep, who file this appeal from the action of the ShippensburgArea,'
School District Board of Directors taken on May, 9, 2005, and respeCffOlly r~Qrese.Jits:
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1. The minor petitioner is 17 years of age, having been born July ft, 198'7 ahCl has
been a student in the eleventh grade at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School.
2. Petitioner is currently enrolled at Summit Achievement located at 69 Deer Hill
Road, Stow, Maine, 04037.
3. The Respondent School Board is a local agency as defined in Local Agency
Law, LAL, 2 Pa. C.S.A. S1 01, and has responsibility of administration and of proper and
lawful manner of the affairs of the Shippensburg Area School District.
4. The basis for jurisdiction of this court is Local Agency Law, 2 Pa. C.S.A. S752
and 42 Pa. C.S.A. s933(a)(2).
5. On May 9, 2005, Monday, a formal hearing was held in the Shippensburg Area
School District regarding the expulsion of petitioner pursuant to an April 29, 2005,
notice that was provided to petitioner by Shippensburg Area School District (exhibit 1
attached and incorporated herein as if fully set forth).
6. Via a May 11, 2005, communication addressed to petitioners counsel, petitioner
was advised that the Shippensburg Area School District School Board voted to expel
petitioner from "Schools of the Shippensburg Area School District for the remainder of
the 2004/2005 school year." ; in addition, petitioner was advised that "(petitioner) will be
placed in an alternative school for the remainder of the 2004/2005 school year and/or
receive homebound instruction, both at the parents expense, for the remainder of the
2004/2005 school year"; and that the "(petitioner) will be reevaluated in August 2005 for
possible re-admittance consideration."
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7. On May 12, 2005 the Shippensburg Area School District solicitor advised
petitioners counsel for the first time that the tape recording machine used to record
testimony at the May 9, 2005 formal hearing malfunctioned and that there is no record
for the May 9, 2005 formal hearing.
8. Before and at the May 9, 2005 formal hearing, petitioner raised due process
issues in two areas:
(a) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to follow the statutory
requirements providing for an opportunity to participate in an informal
hearing prior to the suspension of petitioner as well as during the ten
days suspension that occurred from April 12, 2005 through April 27,
2005.
(b) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to provide sufficient
and proper formal hearing notice to the petitioner.
9. No adjudication has been issued and even were one to issue, an appeal and
petition for denovo review would follow as a result of the nonexistent record for the May
9, 2005 hearing.
10. Petitioner is expected to complete his junior year at Summit Achievement.
Wherefore, petitioner requests this honorable court schedule a denovo hearing in
this matter regarding petitioners inappropriate expulsion from Shippensburg Area
School District in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the record and for the sake of
judicial economy.
6ptth.r
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'Galen R. Waltz, Es
Turo Law Office
28 S. Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-245-9688
'.
Shippensburg Area School District
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Office of the Superintendent
717-530-2721
April 29, 2005
Elizabeth Riep
Dr. Stoner
106 Hollar Aveuue
Shippensburg, P A 17257
Dear Ms. Riep and Dr. Stoner:
The purpose of this correspondence is to notifY you and your son, Daniel Stoner, of the
rescheduled formal hearing to be held on Monday, May 9, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center
at the Middle School, 101 Park Place, Shippensburg, PA 17257. The Student Relations
Committee of the Shippensburg Area School District Board of School Directors will hear your
case.
The purpose of this formal hearing will be the disposition of charges made against Daniel Stoner
as a result of an incident that occurred at Shippensburg Area Senior High School on Tuesday,
April 12, 2005, involving the possession and distribution of controlled substances as presently
defined under School District policy.
Disposition of the following charges of alleged violations will occur at the scheduled hearing:
· Possession and distribution of a controlled substance on school property, in
violation of the Shippensburg Area School District's Policy #227, Controlled
Substances/Paraphernalia paraphrased within the Shippensburg Area Senior High
School Handbook pp. 71- 76 and the Code of Rights, Responsibilities and Student
Discipline.
The formal hearing will be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy #233, Suspension
and Expulsion and constitutional due process requirements and will be a private hearing unless a
public hearing is requested by the student or his parents.
The student, Daniel Stoner, shall be entitled to representation by legal counsel at the formal
hearing, as well as the opportunity to present evidence and to testify on his own behalf. The
student shall also have the right to present witnesses to testifY on his behalf, as well as the right
to disclosure of the names of District witnesses and the testimony to be provided by these
witnesses.
EXHIBIT
I I
Ms. FUep/I>r. Stoner
April 29, 2005
Page 2
The School District anticipates calling the following person as a witness in this proceeding but
reserves the right to provide a revised witness list in advance of the continued hearing date:
1. Mr. Greg Miller
Assistant Principal
Shippensburg Area Senior High School
The formal hearing shall be electronically recorded and shall be conducted with
all reasonable speed. The student has the right to receipt of a copy of the transcript of the
hearing, but this shall be at the expense of the student and not the school district.
Please be present promptly at 5:30 p.m. on May 9,2005 and be prepared at that time to proceed
with the formal disposition of the charges of alleged violations previously set forth in this
correspondence. Copies of the relevant School District policies herein are enclosed herewith to
aid you and your legal counsel in preparation for this proceeding.
SincerelY,./
Irv~'v\~
~eline i'esney ;'
Superintendent
JJL:myb
C: Greg Miller
Deb Westover
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
James Flower, Esquire
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire,/"
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Galen R. Waltz, Esquire hereby certify that I served a true and correct copy of
the Appeal and Petition For Hearing Denovo, by depositing same in the United States
Mail, first class, postage pre-paid on the ;:? 1 day of I"? ~ Y , 2005, from
/
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
Solicitor For SASD
126 East King Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Superintendent Jacqueline Lesney
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
James D. Flower, Jr., Esquire
Said is, Shuff, Flower & Lindsay
26 West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-2922
alen R. Waltz, Es
28 South Pitt Str
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9688; FAX 717.245.2165
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW JUN'
Petitioners : RECEIVED 01,
v. : NO. 05- ,;) 78;) CIVIL ~vv3 ..
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local Agency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
Order
AND NOW, This
/p.{).
day of
, 2005 after reviewing the
Appeal and Petition for Hearing Denovo regardin the non-existent record of a formal hearing a~
well as no existing adjudication in this public school expulsion matter, a denovo hearing is
scheduled for ~day of -C\.t..J..t 1 ,2005 at Courtroom Number _2L. at
\ JD A,MJPM before the Honorgble tooa,,- tJ. ~LI'Y .
At that hearing testimony shall be presented regarding the alleged violation of
"possession and distribution of a controlled substance on school property, in violation of the
Shippensburg Area School Districts Policy Number 227, Control Substance - Paraphernalia
paraphrased within the Shippensburg Area Senior School handbook pages 71-76 and the Code of
Rights, responsibilities and student discipline."
Either party may request a pre-hearing conference in advance of the ab . scheduled
denovo hearing. ///-.......- ,// ~
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Date J.
c.c~en R. Waltz, Esquire
Xrry A. Weigle, Esquire
/ames D. Flower, Jr., Esquire
.:.&perintendent Jacqueline Lesney
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566886.1
James E. Ellison, Esquire
Attorney J.D. No. 81372
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
Attorney I.D. No. 88411
RHOADS & SINON LLP
One South Market Square, 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1146
Harrisburg, P A 17108.1146
(717) 233-5731
Attorneys for Shippensburg Area School
District Board of Directors
D.s., a minor
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and
ELIZABETH RIEP
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Petitioner
v.
: NO. 05-2782 CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LOCAL AGENCY APPEAL
JUDGE EDGAR B. BAYLEY
Respondent,
MOTION TO OUASH APPEAL AND PETITION FOR HEARING DE NOVO
NOW COME, the Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors, by and through
their Attorneys, Rhoads and Sinon LLP, and file the within Motion to Quash Appeal and Petition
for Hearing De novo as follows:
1. The Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors (the "Board") oversees
the direction and maintenance of the Shippensburg Area School District (the "District").
2. Petitioner is a seventeen (17) year old minor student formerly enrolled within the
District.
-2-
3. On April 12, 2005, the Petitioner was involved in an incident that occurred at the
Shippensburg Area Senior High School concerning his possession and distribution of controlled
substances.
4. On May 9, 2005 an expulsion hearing regarding Petitioner's actions was held.
5. Following the hearing, but before an adjudication was issued by the Board, the
Petitioner filed a Local Agency Law appeal ("Appeal and Petition for Hearing Denovo[sic]")
with this Court on or about May 26, 2005. A true and correct copy of said appeal is attached
hereto as Exhibit "A".
6. The Local Agency law specifically provides in pertinent part that "[A ]ny person
aggrieved by an adjudication ofa local agency...shall have the right to appeaL.." 2 Pa. C.S.
S752 (emphasis added).
7. Indeed, in paragraph 9 of the Appeal and Petition for Hearing De novo, Petitioner
readily concedes that the Board did not issue an adjudication with respect to the May 9, 2005
hearing.
8. As Petitioner concedes that no adjudication was issued prior to filing his petition,
Petitioner's Local Agency Law appeal is not ripe.
9. Consequently, the instant appeal is improper under 2 Pa. C.S. S752 because, as
Petitioner concedes, there was no underlying adjudication.
By:
~/ CA~-....
WHEREFORE, The Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors respectfully
requests that this Honorable Court grant the instant Motion to Quash Appeal and Petition for
Hearing De novo.
RHOADS & SINON LLP
Dated: June 10,2005
James E. Ellison, Esquire
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
One South Market Square, 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1146
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146
(717) 233-5731
Attorneys for the Shippensburg Area School
District Board of Directors
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D. S.. a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents OR JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY. PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO.
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local Agency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
APPEAL AND PETITION FOR HEARING DENOVO
AND NOW comes the minor petitioner, D. S., by his parents, Dr. John Stoner
and Elizabeth Riep, who file this appeal from the action of the Shippensburg Area
School District Board of Directors taken on May, 9, 2005, and respectfully represents:
1. The minor petitioner is 17 years of age, having been born July 17,1987 and has
been a student in the eleventh grade at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School.
2. Petitioner is currently enrolled at Summit Achievement located at 69 Deer Hill
Road, Stow, Maine, 04037.
3. The Respondent School Board is a local agency as defined in Local Agency
Law, LAL, 2 Pa. C.S.A. ~101, and has responsibility of administration and of proper and
lawful manner of the affairs of the Shippensburg Area School District
4. . The basis for jurisdiction of this court is Local Agency Law, 2 Pa. C.SA ~752
and 42 Pa. C.S.A. ~933(a)(2).
5. On May 9, 2005, Monday, a formal hearing was held in the Shippensburg Area
School District regarding the expulsion of petitioner pursuant to an April 29, 2005,
notice that was provided to petitioner by Shippensburg Area School District (exhibit 1
attached and incorporated herein as if fully set forth).
6. Via a May 11, 2005, communication addressed to petitioners counsel, petitioner
was advised that the Shippensburg Area School District School Board voted to expel
petitioner from "Schools of the Shippensburg Area School District for the remainder of
the 200412005 school year." ; in addition, petitioner was advised that "(petitioner) will be
placed in an alternative school for the remainder of the 2004/2005 school year and/or
receive homebound instruction, both at the parents expense, for the remainder of the
2004/2005 school year"; and that the "(petitioner) will be reevaluated in August 2005 for
possible re-admittance consideration:
7. On May 12, 2005 the Shippensburg Area School District solicitor advised
petitioners counsel for the first time that the tape recording machine used to record
testimony at the May 9, 2005 formal hearing malfunctioned and that there is no record
for the May 9,2005 formal hearing.
8. Before and at the May 9. 2005 formal hearing, petitioner raised due process
issues in two areas:
(a) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to follow the statutory
requirements providing for an opportunity to participate in an informal
hearing prior to the suspension of petitioner as well as during the ten
days suspension that occurred from April 12, 2005 through April 27,
2005.
(b) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to provide sufficient
and proper formal hearing notice to the petitioner.
9. No adjudication has been issued and even were one to issue, an appeal and
petition for denovo review would follow as a result of the nonexistent record for the May
9, 2005 hearing.
10. Petitioner is expected to complete his junior year at Summit Achievement.
Wherefore, petitioner requests this honorable court schedule a denovo hearing in
this matter regarding petitioners inappropriate expulsion from Shippensburg Area
School District in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the record and for the sake of
judicial economy.
$;;6 /~ts-
.-Galen R. Waltz. Es
Turo Law Office
28 S. Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-245-9688
Shippensburg Area School District
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Office of the Superintendent
717.530-2721
April 29, 2005
Elizabeth Ricp
Dr. Stoner
106 Hollar Aveuue
Sbippensburg, P A 17257
E'l-h,b,+ 1
Dc~ Ms. Riep and Dr. Stoner:
The purpose of this corrcspondence is to notifY you and your son, Daniel Stoner, of the
rescheduled formal hearing to be held on Monday, May 9, 2005 at 5;30 p.m. in the Media Center
at the Middle School, 101 Park Place, Shippensburg, P A 17257. The Student Relations
Committee of theShippensburg Area School District Board of School Directors will hear your
case.
The purpose of this formal hearing will be the disposition of charges made against Daniel Stoner
as a result of an incident that occurred at Shippensburg Area Senior High Sc;hool on Tuesday,
April 12, 2005, involving the possession and distribution of conttoUed substances as presently
defined under School District policy.
Disposition of the following cl=gcs of alleged violations will occur at the scheduled hearing:
. Possession and distribution of a: controlled sUbstmce on schoo! oropertv. in
violation of the Shippensburg Area School District's Policy #227;, Controlled
SubstanceslParaphemalia paraphrased within the Shippensburg ArCa Senior High
School Handbook pp.71-76 and the Code of Rights, Responsibilities and Student
Discipline.
The formal hearing will be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy #233, Suspension
and Expulsion and constitutional due process requirements and will be a private hearing unless a.
public hearing is requested by the student or his parents.
The student, Daniel Stoner, shall be entitled to representation by legal counsel at the formal
hearing, as welI as the opportunity to present evidence and to testify on his own behalf. 'rhe
student shall also have the right to present witnesses to testifY on his behalf, as well. as the right
to disclosure of the names of District. witnesses and the testimony to be provided by these
witnesses.
Ms. Riep/Dr. Stoner
April 29, 2005
Pagc 2
The School District anticipates calling the following person as a wilDesa in this proceeding but
rescrves the right to provide a revised witness list in advance ofllie continued hearing date:
I. Mr. Greg Miller
Assistant Principal
Shippensburg Area Senior High School
The formal hearing shall be eleCtronically recorded and shall be conducted with
all reasonable speed. The student has the right to receipt of a copy of the transcript of thc
hearing, but this shall be at thc expense of the student and not the school district.
Pleasc be present promptly at 5:30 p.m. on May 9, 2005 and be prepared at that time to proceed
with thc formal disposition of the charges of alleged violations previously set forth in this
correspondence. Copies of the relevant School District policies herein are encloscd hcrewith to
aid you and your lcgal counsel in prcparation for this proceeding.
s;~~'~,
~,~q I
Superintendent
JJL:myb
c: Greg Miller
Deb Westover
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
James Flowcr, Esquire ,-
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire ./
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Galen R. Waltz. Esquire hereby certify that I served a true and correct copy of
the Appeal and Petition For Hearing Denovo, by depositing same in the United States
Mail, first class, postage pre-paid on the ,;:< 1 day of /"1 ~ of , 2005, from
/
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
Solicitor For SASD
126 East King Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Superintendent Jacqueline Lesney
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
James D. Flower, Jr., Esquire
Saidis, Shuff. Flower & Lindsay
26 West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-2922
alen R. Waltz, Es
28 South Pitt Str
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9688; FAX 717.245.2165
~~
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I hereby certify that on this 10th day of June, 2005, a true and correct copy ofthe
foregoing Motion to Quash Appeal and Petition for Hearing De novo was served by means of
United States Mail, postage prepaid upon the following:
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire
Turo Law Office
28 S. Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
/Edie Cassel
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James E. Ellison, Esquire
Attorney 1.0. No. 81372
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
Attorney 1.0. No. 8841 I
RHOADS & SINON LLP
One South Market Square, 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1146
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146
(717) 233-5731
Attorneys for Shippensburg Area School
District Board of Directors
D.S., a minor
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and
ELIZABETH RIEP
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
Petitioner
v.
: NO. 05-2782 CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS
LOCAL AGENCY APPEAL
JUDGE EDGAR B. BAYLEY
Respondent,
MOTION FOR RECONSIDERATION OF ORDER OF
COURT DATED JUNE 6. 2005
NOW COME, the Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors, by and through
their Attorneys, Rhoads and Sinon LLP, and file the within Motion for Reconsideration as
follows:
I. The Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors (the "Board") oversees
the direction and maintenance of the Shippensburg Area School District (the "District").
2. Petitioner is a seventeen (17) year old minor student formerly enrolled within the
District.
2
.'
3. On April 12, 2005, the Petitioner was involved in an incident that occurred at the
Shippensburg Area Senior High School concerning his possession and distribution of controlled
substances.
4. On May 9, 2005 an expulsion hearing regarding Petitioner's actions was held.
5. Following the hearing, but before an adjudication was issued by the Board, the
Petitioner filed a Local Agency Law appeal ("Appeal and Petition for Hearing Denovo[ sic]")
with this Court on or about May 26, 2005. A true and correct copy of said appeal is attached
hereto as Exhibit "A".
6. The Board received a copy of the Petitioner's Appeal and Petition for Hearing De
novo on or about June 1,2005.
7. On June 6, 2005, prior to the filing of a response by the Board, this Court granted
Petitioner's Appeal and Petition for Hearing De novo, and entered an Order scheduling a De
novo hearing on July 7, 2005 at 1 :30pm.
8. The Board respectfully submits that the entry of the June 6, 2005 Order
effectively eliminates any meaningful opportunity to respond to the averments set forth in the
Appeal and Petition for Hearing De novo and persuade the Court of the merits of its (the
Board's) position over that of Petitioner's prior to any judicial determination.
9. Providing the Board with an opportunity to respond to the Petitioner's Appeal and
Petition for Hearing De novo prior to ruling on the same will further interests of judicial
economy in that, upon consider of the Board's response, this Court may find it unnecessary to
hold a hearing De novo and elect to remand this matter to the Board for further proceedings.
By:
~/a.
, .
WHEREFORE, The Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors respectfully
requests that this Honorable Court grant its Motion for Reconsideration of Order of Court dated
June 6,2005 and permit an adequate opportunity to respond to the Petitioner's Appeal and
Petition for Hearing De novo.
RHOADS & SINON LLP
Dared: June 10,2005
James E. Ellison, Esquire
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
One South Market Square, 12th Floor
P.O. Box 1146
Harrisburg, P A 17108-1146
(717) 233-5731
Attorneys for the Shippensburg Area School
District Board of Directors
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERlAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
:NO.
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local Agency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
APPEAL AND PETITION FOR HEARING DENOVO
AND NOW comes the minor petitioner, D. S.. by his parents, Dr. John Stoner
and Elizabeth Riep, who file this appeal from the action of the Shippensburg Area
School District Board of Directors taken on May, 9, 2005, and respectfully represents:
1. The minor petitioner is 17 years of age, having been born July 17, 1987 and has
been a student in the eleventh grade at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School..
2. Petitioner is currently enrolled at Summit Achievement located at 69 Deer Hill
Road, Stow, Maine, 04037.
3. The Respondent School Board is a local agency as defined in Local Agency
Law, LAL, 2 Pa. C.SA 9101, and has responsibility of administration and of proper and
lawful manner of the affairs of the Shippensburg Area School District
4. . The basis for jurisdiction of this court is Local Agency Law, 2 Pa. C.S.A 9752
and 42 Pa. C.S.A. 9933(a)(2).
5. On May 9, 2005, Monday, a formal hearing was held in the Shippensburg Area
School District regarding the expulsion of petitioner pursuant to an April 29. 200S,
notice that was provided to petitioner by Shippensburg Area School District (exhibit 1
attached and incorporated herein as if fully set forth).
6. Via a May 11, 2005, communication addressed to petitioners counsel, petitioner
was advised that the Shippensburg Area School District School Board voted to expel
petitioner from "Schools of the Shippensburg Area School District for the remainder of
the 2004/2005 school year." ; in addition, petitioner was advised that "(petitioner) will be
placed in an alternative school for the remainder of the 2004/2005 school year and/or
receive homebound instruction, both at the parents expense, for the remainder of the
2004/2005 school year"; and that the "(petitioner) will be reevaluated in August 2005 for
possible re-admittance consideration."
7. On May 12, 2005 the Shippensburg Area School District solicitor advised
petitioners counsel for the first time that the tape recording machine used to record
testimony at the May 9, 2005 formal hearing malfunctioned and that there is no record
for the May 9, 2005 formal hearing.
8. Before and at the May 9, 2005 formal hearing, petitioner raised due process
issues in two areas:
(a) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to follow the statutory
requirements providing for an opportunity to participate in an informal
hearing prior to the suspension of petitioner as well as during the ten
days suspension that occurred from April 12, 2005 through April 27,
2005.
(b) Failure by the Shippensburg Area School District to provide sufficient
and proper formal hearing notice to the petitioner.
9. No adjudication has been issued and even were one to issue, an appeal and
petition for denovo review would follow as a result of the nonexistent record for the May
9, 2005 hearing.
1 D. Petitioner is expected to complete his junior year at Summit Achievement
Wherefore, petitioner requests this honorable court schedule a denovo hearing in
this matter regarding petitioners inappropriate expulsion from Shippensburg Area
School District in an attempt to maintain the integrity of the record and for the sake of
judicial economy.
5~t.;~.r
--Galen R. Waltz, Es
Tura Law Office
28 S. Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
717-245-9688
Shippensburg Area School District
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Office of the Superintendent
717-530-2721
April 29, 2005
Elizabeth Ricp
Dr. Stoner
106 Hollar Aveuue
Shippensburg, 1:' A 17257
E"l-h,b/-I-
Dc~ Ms. Riep and Dr. Stoner:
The purpose of this correspondence is to notify you and your son, Daniel Stoner, of the
rescheduled formal hearing to be held on Monday, May 9, 2005 at 5:30 p.m. in the Media Center
at the Middle School, 101 Park Place, Shippensburg, PA 17257. The Student Relations
Committee of the Shippensburg Area School District Board of School Directors will hear your
case.
The purpose of this forrnal hearing will be the disposition of charges made against Daniel Stoner
as a result of an incident that occurred at Shippensburg Area Senior High School on Tuesday,
April 12, 2005, involving the possession and distribution of controlled substances as presently
defined under School District policy.
Disposition of the following charges of alleged violations' will occur at the scheduled hearing:
. Possessi n distribution of a: c n I .\1 ce c 01 ro in
violation of the Shippensburg Area School District's Policy #2 ';: Controlled
SubstanceslParaphemalia paraphrased within the Shippensburg Area Senior High
School Handbook pp.71-76 and the Code of Rights, Responsibilities and Student
Discipline.
The formal hearing will be conducted in accordance with School Board Policy #233, Suspension
and Expulsion and constitutional due process requirements and will be a private hearing unless a.
public hearing is requested by the student or his parents.
The student, Daniel Stoner, shall be entitled to representation by legal counsel at the formal
hearing, as well as the opportunity to present evidence and to testify on his own behalf. TPe
student shall also have the right to present witnesses to testify on his behalf, as well. as the right
to disclosure of the names of District witnesses and the testimony to be provided by these
witnesses.
1
, .
Ms. RieplDr. Stoner
Apri129,2005
Page 2
Tbe School District anticipates calling the following person <IS a witness in this proceeding but
reserves the right to provide a revised witness list in advance ofthc continued hearing date:
1. Mr. Greg Miller
Assistant Principal
Shippensburg Area Senior High School
Tbe fo.rmal hearing shall be eleCtronically recorded and Shall be conducted with
all reasonable speed. The student has the right to receipt of a copy of the transcript of the
. .
hearing, but this shall be at the expense of the student and not the school district.
Please be present promptly at 5:30 p.m. on May 9, 2005 and be prepared atthat time to proceed
with the formal disposition of the charges of alleged violations previously set forth in this
corrcspondence. Copies of the relevant School District policies herein are enclosed herewith to
aid you and your legal counsel in preparation for this proceeding.
sm=~.~ .
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Superintendent
JJL:rnyb
c: Greg Miller
Deb Westover
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
James Flower, Esquire ,
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire ./'
, .
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Galen R. Waltz, Esquire hereby certify that I served a true and correct copy of
the Appeal and Petition For Hearing Denovo, by depositing same in the United States
Mail, first class, postage pre-paid on the ;:? 1 day of l"? 1"7- Y , 2005, from
I
Carlisle, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
Solicitor For SASD
126 East King Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Superintendent Jacqueline Lesney
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
James D. Flower, Jr., Esquire
Said is, Shuff, Flower & Lindsay
26 West High Street
Carlisle, PA 17013-2922
TURO LAW OFF
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alen R. Waltz, Es
28 South Pitt Str
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9688; FAX 717.245.2165
I hereby certify that on this 10th day of June, 2005, a true and correct copy of the
foregoing Motion for Reconsideration was served by means of United States Mail, postage
/..././~
a~~
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
prepaid upon the following:
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire
Turo Law Office
28 S. Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
Edie Cassel
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. 05-2782
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local Agency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
ANSWER FOR RECONSIDERATION
OF ORDER OF COURT DATED JUNE 6, 2005
NOW COMES, the Minor Petitioner D.S., by his parents, Dr. John Stoner and
Elizabeth Riep, who file this Answer For Reconsideration of Order of Court Dated June
6, 2005 and respectfully represent as follow:
1. Admitted.
2. It is admitted that Petitioner is a 17-year-old minor student; however it is
Petitioner's expectancy that Petitioner shall be enrolled at the Shippensburg
Area Scholl District at the beginning of the fall, 2005 semester.
3. It is Denied that on April 12, 2005 that Petitioner was involved in an incident
that occurred at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School concerning his
possession and distribution of control substances; this is a conclusion of law
which serves as a partial basis for the request for a Hearing Denovo in front
of this Honorable Court.
4. Admitted.
5. It is denied that Petitioner's appeal was filed "before an adjudication was
issued by the board"; to the contrary, on or about 10:00PM on May 9,2005
the Petitioner was contacted by the Attorney Representative of the
Shippensburg Area Senior High School advising that the Shippensburg Area
School District Board of Directors made a formal determination that the
Petitioner should be expelled effective May 9 or 10, 2005; subsequent
conversations between Petitioner's Counsel and Respondent's Counsel were
intervening and the appeal was filed May 26, 2005; an undated written
adjudication was received at Petitioner's Counsel office on or about May 31,
2005; as a result, Petitioner complied and remained absent from school
property beginning May 10, 2005 pursuant to the evening May 9, 2005
communication of the expulsion which in effect was a defacto or constructive
adjudication by the local agency.
6. The Petitioner's Appeal and Petition for Hearing Devono was filed and mailed
to the Attorney representing the board on May 26, 2005; the Petitioner does
not have any information available to either deny or confirm that the Board
received a copy of the Appeal on or about June 1, 2005; therefore proof is
demanded.
7. Admitted.
8. Denied, the Board had a "full blown" hearing on May 9, 2005 that consumed
approximately 21/2 to 3 hours of testimony that was not recorded as a result
was of malfunctioning tape recording device; immediately after the hearing
the Board was provided information from the representative Board Committee
relative to the expulsion hearing and the Board, after discussion, voted to
expel D.S. and that expulsion was to be effective May 10,2005; therefore, to
allow the Board a second opportunity to respond to the issues that were
previously presented to it in a lengthy hearing creates substantial
unnecessary expense to Petitioner and wastefulness of the adjudication
process since the Board already had one bite of the proverbial apple.
9. It is denied that providing the Board with an opportunity to respond to
Petitioner's appeal and Petition for Hearing Denovo "prior to ruling on the
same will further interests of judicial economy" considering that the very same
issue articulated in Petitioner's Appeal and Petition for Hearing Denovo were
the same issues that were thoroughly explored at the May 9, 2005 expulsion
hearing where 3 committee members of the Board were present and where
the hearing testimony was forwarded immediately thereafter to the School
Board Directors for a vote on expulsion.
Wherefore, the Petitioner respectfully request this Honorable Court deny the
Motion for Reconsideration of Order of Court dated June 6, 2005 and proceed with the
Denovo Hearing scheduled by this Honorable Court to occur on July 7,2005 at 1 :30PM
in Courtroom number 2.
~k/(}j~
Date
'Galen R. Waltz, Es
Turo Law Offices
28 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9655 ext 22
"
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Galen R. Waltz, Esquire hereby certify that I served a true and correct copy of
the Answer For Reconsideration of Order of Court Dated June 6, 2005, by depositing
same in the United States Mail, first class, postage pre-paid on this 13th day of June,
2005, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
James E. Ellison, Esquire
1 S Market Square
PO Box 1146
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146
Vincent L. Champion
1200 N ih Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
126 East King Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Shippensburg Area High School
Board of Directors
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Galen R. Waltz, Esqu' e
28 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, P A 17013
(717) 245-9688 ext 22
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. 05-2782
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local Agency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
ANSWER TO MOTION TO QUASH APPEAL
AND PETITION FOR HEARING DENOVO
AND NOW COMES, the Minor Petitioner D.S., by his parents Dr. John Stoner
and Elizabeth Riep who file this Answer to Motion of Quash Appeal and Petition For
Hearing Denovo and respectfully represent the following:
1. Admitted.
2. It is admitted that Petitioner is a 17-year-old minor student: however it is
Petitioner's expectancy that Petitioner shall be enrolled at the Shippensburg
Area School District at the beginning of the fall, 2005 semester.
3. It is Denied that on April 12, 2005 that Petitioner was involved in an incident
that occurred at the Shippensburg Area Senior High School concerning his
possession and distribution of control substances; this is a conclusion of law
which serves as a partial basis for the request for a Hearing Denovo in front
of this Honorable Court.
4. Admitted
5. It is denied that Petitioners appeal was filed "before an adjudication was
issued by the board"; to the contrary, on or about 10:00PM on May 9, 2005
the Petitioner was contacted by the Attorney Representative of the
Shippensburg Area Senior High School advising that the Shippensburg Area
School District Board of Directors made a formal determination that the
Petitioner should be expelled effective May 9, 2005; subsequent
conversations between Petitioner's Counsel and Respondent's Counsel were
intervening and the appeal was filed May 26, 2005: an undated written
II
adjudication was received at Petitioner's Counsel office on or about May 31,
2005; as a result, Petitioner complied and remained absent from school
property beginning May 10, 2005 pursuant to the evening May 9,2005
communication of the expulsion which in effect was a defacto or constructive
adjudication by the local agency.
6. Admitted.
7. It is admitted that Petitioner did not receive a written adjudication by the
Board until May 31, 2005; however, the May 9, 2005 10:00PM telephone
conversation from the Board's Attorney to the Petitioner's Parents advising of
the expulsion and the Petitioner's absence from the school district beginning
May 10, 2005 to present constitutes at the minimum a defacto or constructive
adjudication with respect to the May 9, 2005 hearing.
8. Petitioner concedes that the Petitioner did not receive a written adjudication
until May 31, 2005; however, the adjudication is undated and the Petitioner
has no way of knowing when the adjudication was drafted and executed;
furthermore, the Petitioner's expulsion effective May 10, 2005 to the present
is the result of a verbal adjudication that occurred the evening of May 9, 2005;
thus the appeal is timely.
9. The instant appeal was timely although no viable record was recorded; the
verbal representation by the Board's Counsel on May 9,2005 advising that
D.S. was expelled and shall not appear on school property beginning May 10,
2005 to the present represents a defacto/constructive adjudication to which
this appeal was taken.
WHEREFORE, the Petitioner respectfully requests that this Honorable Court
deny the instant Motion to Quash Appeal and Petition for Hearing De
Respe ully Su
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Date
l,
alen R. Waltz, E
Turo Law Offi
28 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9655 ex! 22
II
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CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I, Galen R. Waltz, Esquire hereby certify that I seNed a true and correct copy of
the Answer to Motion to Quash Appeal and Petition For Hearing Denovo, by depositing
same in the United States Mail, first class, postage pre-paid on this 13th day of June,
2005, from Carlisle, Pennsylvania, addressed as follows:
James E. Ellison, Esquire
1 S Market Square
PO Box 1146
Harrisburg, PA 17108-1146
Vincent L. Champion
1200 N ih Street
Harrisburg, PA 17102
Jerry A. Weigle, Esquire
126 East King Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
Shippensburg Area High School
Board of Directors
317 North Morris Street
Shippensburg, PA 17257
en R. Waltz, Esquire
28 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-9688 ext 22
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D.S., A MINOR BY HIS PARENTS
DR JOHN STONER AND
ELIZABETH RIEP,
PETITIONERS
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
RESPONDENT
05-2782 CIVIL TERM
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this
'''''
day of June, 2005, petitioners shall file within
seven (7) days of this date a response to respondent's motion to quash the within
appeal, which response shall set forth any authority in support of petitioners' position.
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By ;twcO~rt,
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Edgar B. Bayley, J.
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..-Galen R Waltz, Esquire
For D.S., a minor by his parents Dr. John Stoner and Elizabeth Riep
Aincent L. Champion, Esquire
For Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors
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D.S., A MINOR BY HIS PARENTS
DR. JOHN STONER AND
ELIZABETH RIEP,
PETITIONERS
V.
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
RESPONDENT : 05-2782 CIVIL TERM
ORDER OF COURT
AND NOW, this
lb
day of June, 2005, the motion of
Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors for reconsideration of the order
dated June 6, 2005, IS DENIED.
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire
For D.S., a minor by his parents Dr. John Stoner and Elizabeth Riep
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
For Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors
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D.S., A MINOR BY HIS PARENTS
DR. JOHN STONER AND
ELIZABETH RIEP,
PETITIONERS
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
V.
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
RESPONDENT : 05-2782 CIVIL TERM
ORDER OF COURT
\ '-" day of June, 2005, the motion of
AND NOW, this
Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors to quash the within appeal, IS
DENIED.
Galen R. Waltz, Esquire
For D.S., a minor by his parents Dr. John Stoner and Elizabeth Riep /
Vincent L. Champion, Esquire
For Shippensburg Area School District Board of Directors .. It-6Y
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR JOHN STONER and: CUMBEI~LAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. 05-2782
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local A!~ency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
AND NOW THIS .2'1
ORDER
T\
day of _~ ~ l-'\... c::
-
, 2005 upon
mutual agreement of both parties counsel and the representation that negotiations
toward resolution are almost complete in this matter, the hearing scheduled for July 7,
2005 shall be continued to July 18, 2005 at 1 :30PM in Courtroom Number 2.
c.c. Galen R Waltz
Vincent L Champion
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR. JOHN STONER and: CUMBERLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. 05-2782
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL : (Local A~lency Appeal)
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
ORDER
AND NOW THIS I') day of -J ..lc~....... , 2005 upon
\
mutual agreement of both parties counsel and the representation that negotiations are
complete and resolution of this matter is imminent, the hearing scheduled for July 18,
2005 shall be continued to August 29, 2005 at 1 :30PM in Courtroom Number 2.
c.c. Galen R. Waltz
Vincent L Champion
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D. S., a minor : IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF
By his parents DR JOHN STONER and: CUMBElqLAND COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
ELIZABETH RIEP : CIVIL ACTION LAW
Petitioners
v.
: NO. 05-2782
CIVIL 2005
SHIPPENSBURG AREA SCHOOL
DISTRICT BOARD OF DIRECTORS,
Respondent
PRAECIPE
TO THE PROTHONOTARY:
Please settle, withdraw and discontinue the above-captioned matter on behalf of
the Plaintiff.
Respectfully Submitted
TURO LAW OFFICES
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. Ga en R Waltz, Esquire
28 South Pitt Street
Carlisle, PA 17013
(717) 245-96138
Attorney for Plaintiff
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