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School board votes to open bidding for board attorney after review of legal costs
Summary
At its Feb. 25 meeting the DeSoto County School Board voted to open bids for its board attorney contract after a board member reported rising outside legal costs and questioned on-site availability.
The DeSoto County School Board voted Feb. 25 to open the contract for its board attorney to competitive bids after a board member raised concerns about rising legal costs.
Board member Mrs. Shannon moved to open bidding for the board attorney contract; Mrs. Chancey seconded the motion and the board approved it by voice vote. The contract is set to renew Jan. 1 if no action is taken.
The motion followed financial details presented by a board member who said the district pays a $60,000 retainer and is billed in 15-minute increments for work outside that retainer. "Thus far this year we have spent $70,523 on attorney services," the member said. She added that the district spent $94,000 last year and that the amount "can go up to $100,000." The board did not set a procurement timeline at the meeting.
The motion does not amend existing terms; it directs staff to begin a competitive process to identify other counsel options and to return to the board with recommendations. No roll-call tally was recorded on the transcript; the motion passed on a voice vote.
The vote to solicit bids is procedural and does not itself change who provides legal services. Any new contract or change to billing structure would require a later board action.
Action recorded: motion to open bidding for the board attorney contract passed by voice vote; mover Mrs. Shannon, seconder Mrs. Chancey.
