What to know
Finance Director Karen Garza told the board it had spent $1.11 million on legal expenses within the last three years prior to the approval. Board President Misty Odenweller stated during the presentation that she, Garza and former interim Superintendent Ted Landry have worked on finding a new general counsel for the district since July.
According to board policy, the board can retain external legal counsel.
The contract with O’Hanlon, Demerath, & Castillo will cost the district a total of $360,000 for non-litigation costs for a term of one year, or $30,000 a month, and the contract can be terminated at any time, said Kara Belew, a partner with the law firm. The board's previous contract was for $32,000 monthly, meaning it would see a $24,000 annual savings, according to a presentation.
By the numbers
Garza said in the last three years, the district's annual legal expenditures included items such as:
- Total general counsel compensation: $234,000
- Non-litigation services (general): $100,000
- Non-litigation services (special education): $50,000
- Hearing officers (complaints/ethics): $97,300
