Let's see. At this rate CCSD will dole out something approaching a million dollars for attorney fees during this school year. Is anyone crying, "Stop! Hold! Enough"? Yes, but it's not 75 Calhoun. It's Arthur Ravenel, Jr., who has questioned the ballooning costs of the district's arrangement with Alice Paylor's law firm. In one of her most it-goes-without-saying statements so far, Superintendent McGinley has pointed out that "every call the district makes to its legal counsel is billed." Duh.
What could be costing so many hours' worth of Alice Paylor's time? Why, that would be
- personnel issues (hmm),
- construction contracts (mm-hmm),
- special education (huh?), and
- charter schools (oh! yes, of course).
([See Charleston Schools Looking to Hire Attorney.]
So, why did CCSD cut out the position of staff attorney "years ago"? Whose boondoggle is this? Is CCSD getting its money's worth? Or are its actions so ill-advised that it will always cost this much to defend them in court?
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Why does the reporter not note the name of the firm and what school board members worked as attorney for it in the not so distant past? The firm and their placement of employees on the school board is the worst sort of Charleston cronyism. The gravy train continues.
First, Toya Green is the only member of the board who ever worked for the law firm. Second, Toya left the firm, so that is hardly a basis for cronyism. Third, the law firm represented the district for years and years before Toya was ever hired.
Didn't Meyers once work there too?
I don't think so. The firm has been around under one name or another for fifty years, so it is possible, I suppose. But, I don't think so.
Also, the newspaper coverage this morning compared the CCSD legal fees to those of the Dorchester County School District Two ($51,000 for a district half the size). The suggestion was that their fees are far, far less than those paid to Rosen, Rosen & Hagood. However, what the article did not mention is that RRH is the firm for BOTH of those districts. If anything, that shows that the CCSD Board is to blame for the fees, not the law firm.
This law firm actually did a pretty good job at one time, but that was years ago when Robert Rosen was the lead attorney for the school district. He's no longer with this firm. He's no longer involved with representing the school district and hasn't been for years.
It's the adversarial approach that has really cost CCSD so much in legal fees. Arthur Ravenel said as much.
Not long ago it was reported that they spent over $7 million in just 5 years, as I seem to recall. It's anyone's guess as to whether this is a reflection of the County School Board's defensive attitude, the administration's the public be damned approach or the lawyers' total focus on billable hours. I think it's all three.
Protracted disputes can become very expensive, when an organization this large is not in the mood to find common ground or seek a middle course when it finds itself in a disagreement with the people it's supposed to be serving. Ultimately it's CCSD's leadership that sets the tone for drawnout confrontations or speedy resolutions. The lawyers in the end will bill accordingly.
I notice that the full article over at charleston.net says Nancy McGinley thinks they could hire a lawyer and administrative assistant, and provide necessary reference materials (I assume this means a law library) for $200,000. That sounds on the low side to me, if she's looking for an experienced lawyer and including benefits. However, I'm not a lawyer, so what the heck - I'm talking off the top of my head.
The P&C article notes that larger districts like Greenville and Richland I have staff attorneys, but it doesn't say what their legal budget is. That would be good to know.
What would be really interesting to know is if any other school district in the state has legal fees of this magnitude.
But then again, how many other districts have a Buist? And an "it's okay if we don't provide safe environments for all kids" approach?
The reporter should look into the role the Rosen law firm had in the last school board election.
Buist parent,
Tell us what grade your children are in...and I can tell you who your children are really going to school with.
Looks can be deceiving. Your Principal has made many mistakes...mistakes in the lack of discipline with her students and mistakes with the lack of competency of certain teachers. In time, you will see it...unless you choose to keep your blinders on...
All the way back to the days of Associate Superintendent Darrell Johnson's reluctance to back teachers at Brentwood, the precedent was set. Non-supported teachers could, and did, sue CCSD.
"Ultimately it's CCSD's leadership that sets the tone for drawnout confrontations or speedy resolutions. The lawyers in the end will bill accordingly." Attorneys shouldn't be held responsible when CCSD administrators elect not to follow policy or heed the advice of their lawyers.
Darrell Johnson is a perfect example - completely backed by Goodloe-Johnson he treated teachers with arrogance and contempt. Currently at least one other Associate Superintendent is allowed the same latitude. How much will this person cost the District?
Examining the legal fees is pointless if the actions of the Administrators involved are not also considered.
Let's get right to the point.
Robert Rosen is no longer with the Rosen Firm.
Alice Paylor is lead counsel on litigation matters involving the School Board.
Alice never tries to resolve disputes through negotiation. Larry Kobrovsky--and others-- beats Alice like a drum. Alice laughs all the way to the bank.
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