13 S.E.2d 657 | Ga. | 1941
1. The attack the plaintiffs sought to make on the validity of Code § 32917 relates only to those portions of the section which provide for an election when "as many as one fourth of the patrons" object to the consolidation; and since it does not appear that any such objection was made, and it does appear that the consolidation was ordered without an election, such grounds of attack may not be considered.
2. Equity will not ordinarily interfere in local controversies arising under the laws of the State relating to public schools, but will leave their administration to the respective county boards of education, to which tribunals this power has been delegated by the legislature. *640
3. Under the foregoing principle, the judge did not err in dismissing the plaintiffs' action on demurrer.
In the present case complaint is made that the Code section 32-917, giving county boards of education power to consolidate school districts, is invalid, and that the power does not otherwise exist in the board except as provided in the terms of an amendment in 1932 to the constitution, the same now forming a proviso *642 in article 8, section 4, paragraph 1, of the constitution (Code, § 2-6901). The attack made on § 32-917 is that the provisions for a referendum with reference to consolidation are too vague, indefinite and uncertain for enforcement. An examination of that section discloses that it was not contemplated that in every consolidation ordered by a county board of education an election should be held. The power to consolidate the schools is clearly given to the board, but it is provided that if "as many as one fourth of the patrons of the said school or schools object to the consolidation" an election shall be held as prescribed. In the instant case it is not made to appear that one fourth of the patrons object to the consolidation or that an election was desired. While some allegations are made that the values of plaintiffs' property would be unfavorably affected as a result of the consolidation and the change of location of the school building, these charges are not considered sufficient to assert the violation of a property right which would give equity jurisdiction to interfere. The petition being thus wanting in essential allegations to confer jurisdiction in equity, the other complaints will not be considered. The judge did not err in sustaining the demurrer and dismissing the action.
Judgment affirmed. All the Justices concur.