Clay County board selects Chris McCarty as school board attorney; board discusses billing and expertise

The Clay County Schools Board on March 13 voted to retain attorney Chris McCarty as its school board attorney, after a discussion of his experience in education law and the firm’s billing approach.

Board members said they had previously used an attorney at a small firm (referred to in the record as Mr. Winkler) but had consulted McCarty for matters requiring broader education-law expertise. A board member summarized that McCarty “is involved very heavily with a lot of the state legislature and the laws that are passed regarding school systems,” and members said McCarty had recently provided continuing-education training to district staff.

Board members discussed terms of engagement: McCarty will bill by the hour with no retainer, his hourly rate is “a little bit higher,” and the firm can assign associates at lower rates for routine work. One board member said that although the higher rate may apply, McCarty’s quicker responses and subject-matter familiarity could save time overall. The board noted they had used the previous attorney for several years but that the district’s increased need for specialized education-law guidance prompted the change.

The board moved the item and, after discussion, took a roll-call vote. The roll call recorded votes of aye by Mister Sherrill, Mister West, Miss Weir, Mister Henson, Mister May, Mister Ashlock, Mister Lynn, and the chair (who said, “I vote aye”), and the chair announced the motion carried.

The board noted there is no retainer; work will be billed hourly. The motion did not include a detailed contract in the provided transcript and no specific hourly rates were read into the record. The board indicated that the arrangement will continue until the board decides to change counsel.