Hassenplug v. Hassenplug

• Citation: 346 So.3d 149
• Decision Date: 29 June 2022
• Docket Number: 2D21-2729
• Parties: Melinda D. HASSENPLUG, Appellant, v. Brian HASSENPLUG, Appellee.
• Court: Florida District Court of Appeals

346 So.3d 149

Melinda D. HASSENPLUG, Appellant,

v.Brian HASSENPLUG, Appellee.

No. 2D21-2729

District Court of Appeal of Florida, Second District.

June 29, 2022

K. Dean Kantaras II of K. Dean Kantaras, P.A., Palm Harbor, for Appellant.

Lindsey M. French of George & French, Dunedin, for Appellee.

LaROSE, Judge.

Melinda D. Hassenplug (Former Wife) appeals the final judgment dissolving her marriage to Brian Hassenplug (Former Husband). We have jurisdiction. See Fla. R. App. P. 9.030(b)(1)(A). Former Wife focuses on the trial court's decision to end the parties' minor child's homeschooling and direct that she attend public school. Our record lacks competent substantial evidence to support this ruling.

Laudably, the trial court sought to minimize conflict and facilitate communication between the parties. Unfortunately, our record is bereft of evidence addressing our "paramount concern": the child's best interests. Sabatini v. Wigh , 98 So. 3d 244, 246 (Fla. 1st DCA 2012) ("The paramount concern in family law cases involving a child is the best interests of the child."). We reverse those portions of the final judgment pertaining to the child's schooling.¹ We do not decide what manner of education is in the child's best interests. The trial court, in the first instance, must make that assessment on remand. See Duncan v. Brickman , 233 So. 3d 477, 482 (Fla. 2d DCA 2017) ("For more than a decade, these parents have been in litigation over how to rear their child, and so it troubles us to leave them in this state of affairs. But we, as an appellate court, cannot fashion a parenting plan for A.L.D.").

Background

After seven years of marriage, Former Wife petitioned to dissolve the marriage. The parties have an eight-year-old daughter diagnosed with autism

.

A Marital Settlement Agreement resolved most of the parties' legal issues. The trial court entered a partial final judgment and scheduled a July 2020 final hearing to address "[t]he remaining issues of child support, parental responsibility[,] and time-share [sic]." Before the final hearing, the parties agreed upon child support, shared parental responsibility, and equal time-sharing.

And so, the final hearing dealt with the outstanding issue of the child's schooling. See D.M.J. v. A.J.T. , 190 So. 3d 1129, 1132 (Fla. 2d DCA 2016) ("Where the final judgment reserves jurisdiction to determine school enrollment and the parties are unable to agree on the minor child's school, they are required to obtain a court order on the issue. ‘In such a circumstance, the court must resolve the impasse by determining the best interests of the child.’ " (first citing and then quoting Dickson v. Dickson , 169 So. 3d 287, 289–90 (Fla. 5th DCA 2015) )); e.g. , Otto-Jones v. Jones , 69 So. 3d 986, 987 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011) (reversing an order requiring the parties' child to spend half the school year in private school and half in public school because "there was no evidence that this rotating school schedule [wa]s in the best interest of the child"); Norris v. Norris , 926 So. 2d 485, 488 (Fla. 2d DCA 2006) (reversing an order requiring placement of the parties' children in public school because the record did not support the contention that the public school was in the children's best interests).

Former Wife homeschooled the child since the child was four years old. Former Wife requested that the trial court continue home schooling for at least the next school year, after which she proposed enrolling the child in "a private school that can accommodate her ... special ... and unique needs." At the final hearing, Former Wife observed that the new school year was scheduled to start in a matter of weeks. Consequently, in Former Wife's view, continued home schooling would be in the child's best interests because it would provide the child with continuity and stability.

Former Husband is a commercial pilot. Former Wife has a credentialed and extensive background in the Pinellas County School District as an administrator, teacher, and trainer.

By all accounts, the child flourished in her homeschool setting. The Guardian ad Litem (GAL) described the child as "learning at or above expectations for her cognitive functioning." Former Wife and other witnesses extolled the benefits of keeping the child's routine unchanged. They also recommended that the child's educational setting allow for individualized attention and minimal distractions.²

At the conclusion of the final hearing, the trial court praised the parties for sharing time equally with the child and participating in her upbringing. However, the trial court recognized that the parties had communication problems. Seemingly, Former Wife refused to share information openly and honestly, thereby impeding fruitful co-parenting. The trial court reasoned that Former Wife's continued homeschooling would hamper Former Husband's ability to participate fully in their child's education.

To "level the playing field" and allow Former Husband to share an equal role in the child's education, the trial court ordered that Former Husband's address be utilized for school designation purposes.³

Specifically, the trial court stated as follows: "[F]or school designation I will say that the school designation will be Odessa because that's where the father is zoned for, and I have to list a parent here, so I'm going to list the party as Mr. Hassenplug ...."

The trial court also ordered the child to attend Odessa Elementary School for the 2021-2022 school year starting in August ("I'm saying that she's going to Odessa next year."), concluding that the public school offered the necessary special needs education programs. Unfortunately, those programs would not be put in place until the school completed its evaluation, at least sixty days after the child's enrollment.

The trial court apparently disregarded or minimized testimony from several witnesses who explained the special education needs of an autistic child; namely, that children with autism

have a heightened need for stability and a corresponding necessity for reduced distractions, and an abrupt transition into a populated public school would have a negative impact on the child's educational, emotional, and mental welfare.

Analysis

"A trial court's decision regarding school designation is reviewed for abuse of discretion." Johnson v. Johnson , 313 So. 3d 651, 655 (Fla. 4th DCA 2021) (citing Bruce v. Bruce , 243 So. 3d 461, 464 (Fla. 5th DCA 2018) ). This standard of review affords the trial court considerable leeway, because

[i]f reasonable men could differ as to the propriety of the action taken by the trial court, then the action is not unreasonable and there can be no finding of an abuse of discretion. The discretionary ruling of the trial [court] should be disturbed only when [its] decision fails to satisfy this test of reasonableness.

Canakaris v. Canakaris , 382 So. 2d 1197, 1203 (Fla. 1980).

This deferential standard of review still requires that a trial court's decision be guided by what is in the child's best interests. See § 61.13(2)(c), Fla. Stat. (2020) ("The court shall determine all matters relating to parenting and time-sharing of each minor child of the parties in accordance with the best interests of the child ...."); (3) ("For purposes of establishing ... parental responsibility and creating ... a parenting plan, ... the best interest of the child shall be the primary consideration."); e.g. , Scaringe v. Herrick , 711 So. 2d 204, 205 (Fla. 2d DCA 1998) (Blue, J., specially concurring) (emphasizing the importance of the trial court's "fact-finding and decisional responsibilities" in determining the best interests of the child); cf. Bainbridge v. Pratt , 68 So. 3d 310, 313 (Fla. 1st DCA 2011) ("Although there is no statutory requirement that a trial court engage in a discussion as to each of the [ section 61.13(3)(a), Florida Statutes (2010),] factors, a discussion of the relevant factors can be helpful in determining whether the trial court's judgment is supported by competent, substantial evidence.").

Indeed, the child's best interests are the polestar guiding the trial court's decisions in these matters. Snyder v. Snyder , 685 So. 2d 1320, 1321 (Fla. 2d DCA 1996) (citing Burgess v. Burgess , 347 So. 2d 1078, 1079 (Fla. 1st DCA 1977) ); e.g., Andrews v. Andrews , 624 So. 2d 391, 392 (Fla. 2d DCA 1993) ("Decisions affecting child custody require a careful consideration of the best interests of the child." (citing § 61.13, Fla. Stat. (1991) )). And so, section 61.13(2)(b) 3.b., Florida Statutes (2020), requiring that a parenting plan contain a designation of residence for school registration, "must [also] be made based on ‘the best interests of the child.’ " Bruce , 243 So. 3d at 464 (quoting Schwieterman v. Schwieterman , 114 So. 3d 984, 987 (Fla. 5th DCA 2012) ).

The trial court's examination of the best interests of the child requires consideration of a nonexhaustive list of factors affecting the child's welfare and interests. § 61.13(3). Although the trial court need not address each factor independently, at a minimum, it must find that its school designation is in the best interests of the child. This finding must be stated on the record or contained in the final judgment. Clark v. Clark , 825 So. 2d 1016, 1017 (...