Harris County Board approves legal-fee increase, several personnel and consent items; resignation-policy change tabled
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Summary
At its January meeting the Harris County Board of Education approved an increase to its outside counsel hourly rates, appointed a recreation-board representative, approved the consent agenda and personnel recommendations, and tabled a proposed employee-resignation policy (liquidated-damages language) for 30 days.
The Harris County Board of Education approved several routine items at its January regular meeting, including an increase to the hourly rates charged by outside counsel Hall Booth Smith PC, a slate of personnel recommendations, and the consent agenda covering purchases, finance, enrollment and school nutrition. The board also tabled a proposed change to its GAO employee-resignation policy for 30 days to allow further review.
The board voted to adjust Hall Booth Smith PC’s billing to $220 per hour for partners, $180 per hour for associates and $135 per hour for paralegals, citing rates that had been unchanged since 2020. ‘‘They are respectively requesting an increase in the hourly rates,’’ the superintendent said while summarizing the firm’s request. The motion to approve the rate schedule passed by voice vote after a second.
In other business, the board appointed a district representative to the Harris County Recreation Center Board for calendar year 2026; the chair volunteered to serve, saying Mister Goodno had passed the role to them. The board approved the district’s consent agenda — the major purchases, financial, enrollment and school nutrition reports — in one motion. The superintendent’s personnel recommendations were approved, with one hire (Paige Bowden for a high-school position) pulled for an individual vote and confirmed separately.
A proposal to revise GAO, the district’s employee-resignation policy, drew more extended discussion. The draft would allow the district to apply liquidated-damages fees when a certified employee seeks release from a contract; the superintendent and legal advisers said other counties use such fees and that typical amounts reviewed ranged from roughly $700 to $1,500. Several board members asked for clearer limits or a ceiling and for guidelines to ensure consistent application. Legal counsel recommended leaving the methodology to administrative rule and the superintendent’s discretion while the policy sets the principle. The board agreed to table the policy and to take a final vote at the second February meeting (the revision will remain on the books for 30 days).
The meeting proceeded by voice votes on procedural items; where recorded, motions were seconded and carried without a roll-call tally indicated in the minutes. The board adjourned after completing the published agenda.
Votes at a glance
- Approve meeting agenda as written — mover: Mister Goodno; seconder: Doctor Sparks; outcome: carried by voice vote. - Move to executive session (personnel, interviews, student records, litigation) — mover: Mister Proctor; seconder: Doctor Sparks; outcome: carried. - Exit executive session — mover: Mister Goodnose; seconder: Mister Johnson; outcome: carried. - Approve December 2025 meeting minutes — mover: Mister Proctor; seconder: Mister Green; outcome: carried. - Annual review of ethics/conflict-of-interest policies (BH/BHA) — mover: Mister Johnson; seconder: Mister Proctor; outcome: carried. - Appoint district representative to Harris County Recreation Center Board (2026) — mover: Mister Proctor; seconder: Mister Green; outcome: carried (advisory, nonvoting position). - Approve Hall Booth Smith PC hourly rates (legal services) — mover: Mister Goodnose; seconder: Doctor Sparks; outcome: carried. - Table GAO employee-resignation policy revision for 30 days (vote at second February meeting) — outcome: tabled for further input. - Approve consent agenda (major purchases, financial, enrollment, school nutrition) — mover: Miss Oliver; seconder: Doctor Sparks; outcome: carried. - Approve Paula/Paige Bowden (high-school position) — mover: Mister Goodno; seconder: Mister Proctor; outcome: carried. - Approve remaining personnel recommendations (batch) — mover: Miss Oliver; outcome: carried. - Adjourn — mover: Chair; seconder: Doctor Sparks; outcome: carried.
What’s next: The GAO policy revision will be returned for final action at the board’s second February meeting; board members were invited to submit recommended language to the superintendent and legal counsel ahead of that meeting.