SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

1337 -- By-Laws

SUBJECT: DUTIES OF THE SCHOOL ATTORNEY

The Board of Education shall employ or retain one or more school attorneys. In addition to general counsel, special counsel may be retained for legal matters in the areas of special education, labor relations, construction and others as needed.

The school attorney who is designated general counsel will render advice to the Board, administrators, and staff of the District, and be responsible, except where special counsel has been retained, for all legal matters affecting the Board or District. The school attorney(s) will be expected to engage in the following activities in their areas of appointment:

  1. Prepare and/or review Board resolutions that are of a legal nature.

  2. Prepare and review all notices and documents necessary for annual or special District meetings.

  3. Prepare and review legal notices in connection with the normal business of the District.

  4. Preparation of any deeds, options or other documents related to the conveyance of real property, rendering advice concerning such transactions, and representing the District at any closings.

  5. Preparation and/or review of any contracts entered into by the District in the course of its business.

  6. Representation of the District in administrative proceedings including student disciplinary hearings, hearings related to the education of disabled students, grievance arbitrations, proceedings before the Public Employment Relations Board, and appeals to the Commissioner of Education.

  7. Representation of the District in all litigation except where counsel is provided by the District’s insurance carrier(s) or where special counsel has been retained by the District.

  8. Representation of the District in Collective Bargaining with it various bargaining units, in conjunction with the Superintendent of Schools and such other staff as he may direct.

  9. Acting as liaison to any special counsel, including bond counsel and any counsel retained by the District’s insurance carrier(s).

The school attorney shall provide advice and counsel, but shall not act on the direction of any individual Board member or administrator. The school attorney shall act on the direction of the Board or the Superintendent as the Chief Executive Officer of the District.

Adoption Date: December 12, 2006