The Hancock County Board of Education is gathering information on a variety of options for legal counsel. A discussion of legal expenses was listed on the Special Meeting agenda Monday under Unfinished Business. Board President Chris Gillette said that he and members recently elected to the Board had heard concern from voters about the amount the Board was spending on legal counsel. The Board currently contracts with Dinsmore & Shohl and has currently spent $64,980.06 with that firm to date in FY 22. Dinsmore has been representing the Board of Education since FY 20.
Gillette said he and several Board members had spoken to other law firms about Board representation. Superintendent Dawn Petrovich was instructed to meet with Prosecutor Stephen Dragisich and collect information about the Prosecuting Attorney providing legal counsel for the Board. Under a prior agreement with the Prosecuter’s Office, Assistant Prosecutor David Cross had represented the Board.. Cross subsequently entered into a separate agreement with the Board to representthem on all legal matters for $64, 767.00 per year.
Controversy arose over the cost of legal fees under former Superintendent Tim Woodward when in addition to Cross’s annual contract, he opted to also use the firm of Bowles Rice for $214,104.58 in FYs and Steptoe & Johnson for $20,986.88 that same year. Cross’s cost for 2019 was $44,200.82 when the Board voted to eliminate the contract with Cross and continue to use Bowles Rice. The total cost for 2019 was $279,292.28.
Board member Ed Fields observed that former Board President Dan Kaser had told him that among his biggest regrets while on the Board was getting rid of Cross. The Board will also ask Cross for a proposal.
A brief discussion was held on the upkeep of the school grounds. Gillette noted that someone had sent him a photo of the weeds growing at the JDR Career Center and he had placed the item on the agenda for discussion. Petrovich said that upon the recent return to school, both teachers and school service personnel had spent the first three days in in-service training. She said the principals at the individual schools direct whether work is done inside or outside the school.
In other business, the Board:
**Granted a leave of absence to Dominique Dober and Velda Icard;
**Approved an administrative release to county wide substitute teacher Luke Tacosik who has secured other employment;
**Approved teaching in lieu of planning period for the following teachers: Weir High: Alisa Hannah (Block 1) Geometry; Jason Bennett ( Block 3) Applied Statistics; Stacy Porter; (Block 4,)Financial Algebra; Emily Hores, (Block 1) Music Appreciation; Jason Angle ( Block 2) Band (class teaching only; Oak Glen Middle: : Adam Davis (Period 1) Multi-Categorical/Autism Class; Brooke Haynes (Period 2) Multi-Categorical/Autism Class; Mallory Markowitz (Period 3)Multi-Categorical/Autism Class; Sydney Wagstaff (Period 4)Multi-Categorical/Autism Class.
**Approved coaching assignments for Shawn Young as an unpaid volunteer Assistant Wrestling and Boys’ Track Coach;
**Approved Kelly Lawton as Weir High Band Director;
**Granted a leave of absence to Classified employee Kayli Ferguson and Betty Dennis;
**Approved an unpaid leave of absence for a day for Tiiffany Warner;
**Approved substitute Supervisory Aides Karli Sutton and Laura J. Palmer;
**Set the next Regular meetings for Sept. 12 and 26.
