Opinion
Decided February 20, 1928.
Schools — Boards of education — Vacancy created by member moving with family into another district — Although owning residence in former district and intending to return thereto — Section 4748, General Code — "Removal" defined.
Where member of board of education moved into another school district with wife and children, who attended school in that district, such member had removed from district within meaning of Section 4748, General Code, relating to vacancy in board of education, though he still owned residence property in first district and intended to return at some future time; word "removal" meaning change of place, especially of habitation.
IN QUO WARRANTO.
Mr. David F. Naylor, for relator.
Messrs. Fitzpatrick, Quane Carney and Mr. Calvin Shook, for respondent.
This is an original action in quo warranto, in which Charles J. Van Den Eynden seeks to oust the defendant as a member of the board of education of the St. Bernard city school district.
The prayer of the petition is that the defendant be ousted, and that the relator be adjudged entitled to the office.
It appears from the evidence that the board of education of the St. Bernard city school district claimed a vacancy in the board by reason of the relator's removal from the district; that the relator purchased a residence in Mt. Airy, which is without the St. Bernard city school district; that he is living in the residence at Mt. Airy with his wife and two minor children; and that he is sending his two minor children to the Mt. Airy public school.
The relator claims he still owns residence property in St. Bernard, and has some furniture in the residence, and denies that under the facts he has disqualified himself from holding office as a member of the board of education of the St. Bernard city school district, and claims that he expects, at some future time, to return to St. Bernard, but does not know when.
Section 4748, General Code, deals with vacancies in any board of education. The pertinent part of the section provides that:
"A vacancy in any board of education may be caused by * * * removal from the district * * *."
The lexicographers define removal as a change of place, especially of habitation.
The court is of opinion that, under the facts in this case, the relator removed from the district within the meaning of the statute.
The prayer of the relator will be refused, and the petition dismissed.
Petition dismissed.
MILLS and CUSHING, JJ., concur.