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Trustee urges probe of Throne law-firm bills; board refers review to finance committee
Summary
Trustee Wilson asked the board to investigate thousands in legal fees paid to Throne law firm and accused the firm of 'ghost writing' documents for board members. The board voted to have its finance committee review Throne invoices from Jan. 2023 to present and deferred payment on a flagged invoice pending that review.
Trustee Lisa Wilson urged the Clintondale Community Schools board to investigate what she called potentially unauthorized or poorly documented legal spending with Throne law firm, saying she had found itemized charges and retainer fees that lacked clear board approval.
"Taxpayer dollars are important," Trustee Wilson said in a lengthy presentation of supporting documents. She cited a multi-year trend she summarized as roughly $76,000 in charges and singled out a March 2026 invoice described in documents as about $38,000, a $2,500 retainer and roughly $6,500 billed for one nonrenewal matter. She said one written reply to her cost the district $684 and accused the firm of drafting letters for board members she considered inappropriate: "They are ripping us off, in my opinion."
CFO Kevin Teratua and other trustees sought clarification about how the invoices were procured and whether portions of the material were attorney'client privileged. Several trustees cautioned that some invoice details could be confidential and recommended the board take care before public disclosure.
After discussion, the board adopted a narrowly worded referral: the finance committee will review and evaluate expenses billed through Throne law firm, sorted by category (for example, negotiations, staff employment matters, Title IX and student matters), beginning January 2023 through the present, and report findings or recommendations to the full board by the end of August. The motion also authorized the board to flag specific items for deeper review; the board agreed to defer payment on a Throne invoice (check #126797) while the committee examines the charges.
Trustees emphasized the difference between ordinary legal advice for routine district business and high-cost or recurring engagements that should be reviewed by elected members. "Follow the money trail," Treasurer Mitch Powers said, urging a fact-based review rather than an immediate public inquest.
The referral does not itself conclude wrongdoing; it instructs staff and the finance committee to assemble records, classify billed services and recommend next steps, which may include policy changes about who may authorize outside counsel and any additional oversight measures.
What happens next: the finance committee will convene to begin the review; trustees asked that findings and any recommendations return to the full board by the end of August. The board approved the referral in open session and instructed staff to provide the committee the requested invoice detail and related documents.
