Board appoints Lizana Smith as interim general counsel; motion passes after roll call

The Solano County Board of Education voted on Oct. 29 to retain interim legal services and appoint Lizana Smith as interim general (in‑house) counsel until the board selects permanent counsel. Trustee Sharp moved the appointment and Trustee Cohen Thompson seconded; the board approved the motion by roll call.

The board’s motion directed that the interim designation remain in place only "until such time that we contract for permanent counsel," a friendly amendment added during the motion. The roll call recorded affirmative responses for Trustee Cohen Thompson, Trustee Dean, Trustee Dunn, Trustee Lavelle (as recorded in the roll call), Trustee Sharp and Trustee Coleman; the motion was described in the meeting as "unanimous minus trustee G." Staff indicated the interim appointment will bridge the office while an ad hoc committee and a future RFP process identify permanent counsel. "We'll appoint Lizana Smith as interim counsel and that we would work on our board policies in January," a trustee said during the motion discussion.

The designation followed an extended study‑session conversation about legal services agreements and the board’s desire for clearer notification and conflict protocols. Trustees asked staff and counsel to prepare proposed policy amendments and timelines, and they agreed to schedule any necessary closed sessions consistent with the Brown Act to discuss matters that require confidentiality or potential litigation.