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Legal counsel trains board on authority limits: follow chain of command, avoid investigations and protect confidentiality
Summary
District legal counsel Denise Lowell‑Britt reminded board members that their authority comes from Arizona law and applies only when the board acts collectively in official meetings; she also advised following policy, routing press communications through the superintendent and not accessing student or personnel records without an official purpose.
Denise Lowell‑Britt, the district’s legal counsel, presented governing‑board training to the Window Rock Unified School District on March 3, emphasizing the legal limits and ethical requirements for board members.
Lowell‑Britt told the board that authority "comes from Arizona law" and that members act officially only when the board meets together; she advised board members to follow policy and the chain of command when concerns arise and to avoid conducting independent investigations. The counsel also instructed that board members should not access student or personnel records without an official board purpose and that press communications should go through the superintendent to ensure consistent information.
Board members were advised to avoid unscheduled school visits and to protect confidential information. The presentation was informational and no policy changes were adopted at the work‑study session.
