1. Legal Services
Session VI – March 28, 2017

2. General Responsibilities
Provide daily legal advice to LTISD leadership
Represent LTISD in legal matters
Legal trainings
Coordinate outside provision of legal services as needed
LT CLASS Project

3. Governance Matters - Example
John Pulitzer, a news reporter, requests to see all of the District’s financial statements for the last 10 years. Does the District have to comply with his request and allow access to this information?
What if he asks for a list of all teachers and their salaries?
LT CLASS Project

4. Governance Matters Open Meetings Act Public Information Act
Board policy and administrative regulations
Handbooks (students, employees) / Student Code of Conduct
Grievances/appeals of decisions by leadership
Legislative work and implementation
LT CLASS Project

5. Employment Matters - Example
Gilbert Gottfried teaches second grade. Parents have complained all semester long that his voice is so difficult to listen to that their children have not learned a thing and, as a consequent, are going to be behind all of the other fourth grade students. At semester break, Parents and other staff start demanding that Gilbert not come back to teach next year. Can the District get rid of Gilbert?
LT CLASS Project

6. Employment Matters Hiring / Contracts Employee misconduct
Discipline, write ups, nonrenewal, termination
Employee complaints that need legal attention
Employment law compliance (e.g., ADA, FLSA, FMLA, Whistleblower Act, Workers’ Compensation)
Claims of harassment, retaliation, discrimination – Local grievance, EEOC, OCR
LT CLASS Project

7. Business Matters - Examples
The District purchases frozen meat every week. These purchases over a 12-month period cost the district $85,000. Can the District just call up HEB every week and have them sell us the frozen meat?
LT CLASS Project

8. Business Matters Procurement process Vendor contracts Construction
Acquisition & sale of real property
Miscellaneous (e.g., advertising agreements, affiliation agreements, MOUs, consultant agreements, donation agreements, broadcast agreements)
LT CLASS Project

9. Student Matters - Examples
Paul is a star athlete and has a home basketball game next Tuesday. Father indicates that he would like to attend the basketball game and asks for information about when and where the game will be held. Mother finds out that Father has been in contact with the school and is planning to attend the next home basketball game. Mother calls the school and insists that we not allow Father to attend the game because she has custody of Paul and “it’s not his turn to have Paul.” The divorce decree on file indicates that father does not have legal possession of the child on Tuesdays, but the father does have the conservatorship right to “attend all school activities.”
Can we agree to the Mother’s request and not allow Father to attend?
LT CLASS Project

10. Student Matters Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Students’ rights issues
First Amendment
Discrimination, retaliation, harassment
Bullying
Misconduct/discipline
Grievances
Residency/enrollment/transfers
Family law issues
LT CLASS Project

11. Student Matters Students with disabilities Section 504 or IDEA
Daily compliance
ARD meetings
TEA complaints & due process hearings
Discrimination (Office of Civil Rights)
Discipline
LT CLASS Project