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The Board will appoint a School Attorney for the District. The Attorney must be admitted to the bar of New York State. The Attorney will be the legal advisor to the Board. In that capacity, the Attorney’s duties will be:

1. to advise the Board with respect to all legal matters relating to the District, including, but not limited to, interpretation of the Education Law of the State of New York, and all other statutes, rules or regulations affecting the District;

2. to be easily accessible to the Board and the Superintendent (and, at the discretion of the Superintendent, to his/her administrative staff), in accordance with Board procedures, with respect to legal matters issuing out of the day-to-day administration of the District;

3. to review and to represent the District in the preparation of any and all contracts which the District may be obliged to execute (other than purchase orders usually issued for the purchase of goods, equipment and services);

4. to represent the District in matters of litigation;

5. to review the legality of all rules or regulations to be adopted by the Board;

6. to respond to all claims filed against the District or the Board;

7. to engage a bonding attorney when authorized by the Board to supervise the sale of bonds;

8. to review and advise with respect to any process served upon the District; and

9. to recommend the retainment of such special counsel as he or she may deem necessary in the circumstances, subject to the approval of the Board.

The District will then prepare a written request for a proposal which will contain critical details of the services sought and submit this request to prospective applicants.

In selecting a School Attorney, the District will consider:

1. the special knowledge or expertise of the lawyer/law firm;

2. the quality of the service provided by the lawyer/law firm;

3. the staffing of the lawyer/law firm;

4. the lawyers/law firms suitability for the district's needs; and

5. the cost of such services

Adoption date: December 1, 1995

Reviewed date: May 19, 2008

Amended date: September 11, 2017