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Board approves Legal Aid MOU to expand school‑based legal clinics
Summary
The Taylor County Schools Board approved two memoranda of understanding with Legal Aid of West Virginia to continue monthly legal clinics and school referrals, after program staff described services for families and school referral processes; the vote was recorded as unanimous.
The Taylor County Schools Board voted to approve two memoranda of understanding with Legal Aid of West Virginia to continue the district’s ‘Lawyer in the School’ clinics. The board’s action followed a presentation by Legal Aid staff describing monthly clinics at the county library and the program’s plans to expand school‑based outreach and referral pathways.
Madison (identified in the packet as the local attorney for the program but not named on the record) explained the clinics allow families to speak directly with an attorney about civil legal needs and often bypass the usual intake step so attendees can get immediate guidance or referrals. “We’ve been able to help about 79 families and roughly 60 individuals through the clinic since 2021,” the attorney said, asking the board to approve the MOU to permit backpack flyers and referrals from any school.
Amber Hannah, program supervisor for the Lawyer in the School program, said the organization partners with community and school representatives and with McKinney‑Vento contacts to help families with housing, public benefits and guardianship needs. “We never take cases where the school could be a party,” Hannah said, emphasizing the program’s intention to partner with — not sue — school districts.
Board members voiced support for providing more help to families. The superintendent recommended approval of items in the 2,000 series that included the MOU. Mr. Doughty moved to approve the items; Ms. Gallo seconded and the motion passed by voice vote (recorded in the minutes as 5–0).
Next steps: campus staff will coordinate distribution of flyers and referral forms with Legal Aid and notify principals about clinic dates and contact procedures.
