Agenda Item
b. Hall Booth Smith, P.C., Law Firm Retainer AMENDED TO MONTH TO MONTH ~ UPDATED 1.12.2026
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
Request: It is requested that that the Board of Education (“Board”) approve the amended contract renewal of Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (“Hall Booth”) as General and SPLOST Counsel, to month to month, at the hourly rate of $250 for partners, $225 for associates and $150 for paralegals, excluding necessary expenses and any necessary complex litigation, which will be determined and authorized by the Board Chair and Superintendent on a case-by-case basis.
Why: Public school systems require sound legal advice on various issues. Therefore, it is prudent for the Board to maintain a law firm they determine to best represent its interests. The renewal of Hall Booth’s contract will enable the DeKalb County School District (“District”) to continue the efficient provision of legal services for general and SPLOST matters.
Details: The Board of Education approved retaining the Hall Booth Smith law firm at its called meeting on December 27, 2022. This approval was pursuant to the District’s Request for Qualifications (“RFQ”) 23-01, entitled District Wide Legal Services, dated October 27, 2022. RFQ 23-01 provides that the contract for legal services will contain four (4) one-year extension options. Since 2022, the Board of Education has renewed, each year, the Hall Booth Smith contract. The most recent renewal was on October 7, 2024. Therefore, the contract is up for renewal on December 27, 2025.
Financial impact: The account code from which the expense will be paid is 100.2300.530002.00011.7080.9990.8010.080.0000.
Contact: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance, 678- 676-0133
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Boulevard
Stone Mountain, GA 30083
MEMORANDUM
TO: Mr. Glinton R. Darien, Jr.
Director of Risk Management, Division of Finance
FROM: Dr. Vasanne S. Tinsley, Interim Superintendent
Office of the Superintendent
DATE: January 3, 2023
RE: Approval of District-wide Legal Services (Year 1 of 5)
At its Called Meeting and Executive Session on Tuesday, December 27, 2022, the DeKalb
Board of Education approved RFQ 23-01 District-wide Legal Services (Year 1 of 5). The
DeKalb County Board of Education approved a contract with Hall Booth Smith, P.C. (“Hall
Booth”) as General and SPLOST Counsel. The DeKalb County of Board terminated the Board
of Education’s engagement with Gregory, Doyle, Calhoun & Rogers, LLC (“Gregory Doyle”)
as General Counsel and SPLOST Counsel in its called and executive session.
Please take the appropriate action to affect this directive of the Board.
VST:cm
c: Ms. Carla Smith, Executive Director, Vendor Services, Division of Finance
Ms. Marie Jacob, Contractor, Division of Finance
Robert R. Freeman Administrative Complex
1701 Mountain Industrial Blvd. | Stone Mountain, GA 30083
678.676.1200 | www.dekalbschoolsga.org