The DeKalb County Board of Education will retain a School Board Attorney knowledgeable in school law to provide legal advice and counsel to the Board in the performance of its duties, litigation, and other legal services. The 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 serves at the pleasure of the Board and will be compensated for services rendered. The School Board Attorney will attend Board meetings and other meetings when requested by the Board Chair as a representative of the Board.
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, or pursuant to the majority of the Board. 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.
Legal References
- O.C.G.A. 50-14-0002 — Open Meetings Act: Certain privileges not repealed (Lexis)
- Rule 160-5-1-.36 — Local School Board Governance