Agenda Item
1. SECOND READ: Amendment to the Bylaws & Policies: Board Policy: BBE: School Board Attorney
Summary: Presented by: Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Services
Request: It is requested that the DeKalb County Board of Education approve the proposed revisions to Board Policy BBE: School Board Attorney lay on the table as a second read at the July 13, 2026, board meeting and be considered for adoption at a future board meeting.
Why: These policy revisions are being proposed for language updates and clarification.
Details: The proposed policy updates to Board Policy BBE: School Board Attorney include language revisions clarifying the School Board Attorney’s role. A revision to the current regulation also includes language further clarifying the role of the School Board Attorney and the Chief Legal Officer's Roles and responsibilities. The Policy Review Committee reviewed the proposed revisions and recommended placement of this policy on today’s agenda.
Financial impact: No Financial Impact
Contact: Mr. H. Eric Hilton, Chief Legal Officer, Division of Legal Services
Effective: Upon Board Approval
Status: Attorney Approval Not Required
Board Policy Manual
DeKalb County School District
Board Policy BBE: School Board Attorney Status: DRAFT
Original Adopted Date: 08/10/2009 | Last Revised Date: 10/07/2024 | Last Reviewed Date: 05/04/2026
RED LINED VERSION
The DeKalb County Board of Education will retain general counsel a School Board Attorney knowledgeable in school
law to provide legal advice and counsel to the board Board in the performance of its duties, litigation, and other legal
services. The general counsel School Board Attorney represents the Board. The Board may retain special counsel
when appropriate due to subject-matter need, workload, conflict of interest, or other circumstances determined by
the Board.
The School Board Attorney will serves at the pleasure of the board Board andwill be compensated for services
rendered. The School Board Attorney will Unless otherwise directed by the Board Chair, the The general counsel
School Board Attorney will must attend all bBoard meetings and other meetings when requested by the Board Chair
as representative of the Board. at the request of the board, where legal services may be needed.
In that the The Board Chair chair represents the board, Board. if an individual Individual board member requests for a
formal legal opinion from the School Board Attorney deems it necessary to seek a formal legal opinion from the
general counsel, it must be coordinated through the chair Board Chair.
The Board Chair serves as the Board's spokesperson and coordinates communications with the School Board
Attorney on behalf of the Board. Individual Board member requests for formal written legal opinions or guidance
must be coordinated through the Board Chair in accordance with Board procedures. The School Board Attorney will
not provide counsel to individual Board members regarding matters of personal concern that do not relate to Board
service or represent individual Board members in personal legal matters.