Board debates who can contact district counsel and reviews RFQ for legal services

Board members spent time reviewing board policy language that governs how and when legal counsel may be engaged and discussed an RFQ for outside legal services.

One trustee said they had "reached out" to counsel and been rebuffed and asked for clearer policy language specifying whether only the president or vice president may contact counsel or whether individual members may seek advice. "I was rebuffed that I was not allowed to seek legal," the trustee said, describing the origin of the item. Trustees agreed the policy language was ambiguous and suggested drafting a protocol to clarify interim contact methods and to address 'intervening' periods between meetings; the board planned to address norms and protocols at a May work session.

Staff explained the RFQ currently used by several local districts and said it will be distributed to law firms and posted on the district website. Trustees suggested trimming the RFQ to a concise proposal with appendices and appointing a small group to refine the document before wider dissemination; staff said evaluation criteria will be developed and finalists will be presented to the board with scoring and a recommendation.

The board did not adopt immediate policy language changes at the meeting but asked staff to bring a draft protocol and to consult MSBA or similar sources before changing standard policy text.

What’s next: staff will draft a protocol for member access to counsel, present it at the May work session, and finalize RFQ timing and evaluation criteria for review and later approval.