1. Legal Services Public Information Policy Administration Board Services
BOARD WORKSHOP
April 2, 2015
Elneita Hutchins-Taylor HISD General Counsel

2. Legal Services
The Office of Legal Services serves as in-house counsel to the superintendent and staff providing legal advice and representation of the district on various local, state and federal issues, including:
Administrative matters; e.g., hearings, dispute resolutions, termination and nonrenewal hearings, investigation, staff training, etc.;
Judicial matters in municipal, state, federal and small claims courts;
U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights complaints and oversight;
Texas Public Information Act requests;
City of Houston / Texas Alcohol & Beverage Commission; i.e., liquor license protests, etc.

3. Mission
Our mission is to provide quality legal services to the district in a thorough, timely and cost-effective manner. The mission includes ensuring that the district, in providing educational services to students, protects the rights of students, parents, and employees, and ensuring that the actions of the district, including the Board of Education, are in accordance with established local, state and federal laws and regulations.

4. Objectives
Provide legal advice to superintendent, administrators and board members on various legal matters.
Provide preventive legal counseling.
Assist in developing and implementing policies affecting the district.
Effectively represent the district in administrative and judicial proceedings.
Monitor and evaluate services provided by outside counsel.

5. Organization Chart
Legal Services (March 2015)

6. Litigation
The Office of Legal Services represents the district in judicial and administrative proceedings and monitors the legal services contracted from outside law firms.
Legal Services serves as in-house counsel to the superintendent and staff on various issues in school law relating to local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations, as well as district policy and administrative procedures.

7. Itemized Legal Expenses
Description
2011
Amount Spent
2012
2013
2014
All matters dealing with Outside Counsel are paid from this budget. The funds outlined cover matters of General School Law Litigation, General Personnel Matters, Investigations, EEOC, Proceedings, Grievance Hearings, TEA Appeals, Open Records & payments for Hearing Officers residing over assigned cases. For the past four years the total amounts paid are as follows:
$3,260,150.00
$4,509,205.00
$3,348,607.00
$2,964,676.00
Real Estate
$75,000.00
$31,391.00
$68,501.00
$14,235.00
Open Meetings – Special Counsel to the Board
$100,000.00
$80,176.00
$112,692.00
$90,000.00
Contracts
0.00
$39,596.00
$15,000.00
Special Education and Section 504 Matters
$141,000.00
$68,524.00
$108,685.00
$90,226.00
Settlements Special Education
$115,000.00
$32,600.00
$39,900.00
$121,096.00
Settlements – Personnel and Other
$155,000.00
$7,500.00
$125,000.00
Construction
$5,000.00
Year-End Totals
$3,691,150.00
$4,921,492.00 
$3,700,885.00
$3,405,233.00

8. Total Legal Expenses

9. Annual School-Based Employment Recommendations

10. 2013 – 2014 File Review: Attorney Case Load

11. Executed Settlements

12. Administration Grievances

13. Contract Review SY 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015
Total
1,040
1,306
1,305
1,928
1,070

14. Public Information Requests
Months Y Y Y
Total
837
887
629

15. Attorney General Ruling Requests Sought on Behalf of HISD
Months Y Y Y
Total 38 65 24

16. Special Education Due Process Hearings
HISD Legal Services 4 15 16 5 8
Outside Counsel 6 - 1
Total Requests for Hearing 10 19 17

17. U.S. Department of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Position Statements
2014
2015
(As of 3/26/2015) 66 12

18. U.S. Department Of Education Office For Civil Rights Investigations
Year 2 3 5 7 4 6 9

19. Thank you
April 2, 2014
Elneita Hutchins-Taylor HISD General Counsel