In-House School Board Lawyer Sought

Seems reasonable and does not take anything away from students in classrooms. It could save the district about $400,000, which is the equivalent of about 6 teachers' salaries or 1.5 superintendents. It might even save more if this person, through good planning, can prevent lawsuits -- as long as they don't wind up generating more outside contracts.

Find 11 more efficiencies like this, and there's your $5 million deficit.

Shouldn't the BoE's counsel be paid from the BoE's budget, and work for it and not the city?

Someone from the Freedom of Information Commission could teach the Board of Education members (again) how to comply with the law so there are no private conversations in or outside the meetings.

They dont need a lawyer, they need a brain transplant.

No money for lawyers---we need it for the kids. I want a BOE that actually does something useful. What we got here and now is a mock BOE whose only function is infighting and poor policy making.
I am against standardized testing, databanking kids, forced busing, firing good teachers. Every school must have a nurse fulltime, psych help, and a school librarian fulltime.

Wendy, you need money for lawyers, or there will be no money for kids. People sue the Board of Ed all the time.

1644, what's the difference. It's the same money - New Haven's.

"what's the difference. It's the same money - New Haven's."

Most of the BOE/NHPS budget comes from the state.

But, I'm told the city's legal office contracts with lots of outside firms, too, so maybe there would be no real savings in the end. <sigh>

So I don't understand why the Corporation Council made up of attorney's for the city of New Haven can not handle the legal issues in the city, including the BOE! Oh maybe because the city has just too many lawsuits against them for these attornies to handle. The Mayor and the Alders are always looking to outsource positions or hire more people, and we can't afford the budget we have now, let's continue to increase our spending!! I see a problem that needs fixin' that would be that the city straightens out all of the departments within and decrease the number of lawsuits slapped at them. Maybe we need to hire some competent employees, and perhaps it's time for a city-wide change up!! So let's be Positive for New Haven, is this even possible????

Positive 4 New Haven makes a lot of sense. We have lawyers on the payroll. On the other hand; with folks suing the BOE every 5 minutes, a personal attorney might be worth it. Let's see some cost calculations!

We always had an in house attorney in will Clark. This IS NOT a savings seeing as Will handled this as part of his Cheif Operating Officer responsibilities.

Jill: Well sure, if the city just takes over BoE functions, the BoE won't have to spend have more money to spend on other things. As it is, I doubt one could find competent legal counsel experienced in education law for the proposed salary, which itself is, of course, a fraction of the total cost for the position.

Alex: Other than funding schools aren't a city responsibility . As Jill says, BoE's get their funding from a variety of sources, and operate indecently from city/town government, being responsible directly to the state.

Pistive: Lawyers, like doctors, specialize, and education law has a lot of special ins and outs, such as IDEA, which most attorneys wouldn't be familiar with. Would you hire want an ENT guy doing a hysterectomy? An opthomologist replacing a hip?

1644 and everyone else, I see a massive problem with the city as do many residents, we pay extremely high taxes, and our government is not working efficiently nor effectively! There is a whole lot of wasted tax dollars. No, 1644 I will not suggest anyone have a hysterectomy done by an ENT, you are speaking like people running the city make clear sense. If the city has a Corporation Counsel to represent the cities legal needs, then why do we not have a specialized attorney for each significant entity of the city, i.e., contracts, employee lawsuits, police issues, BOE, etc. The Corporation Counsel does not have only one attorney; I believe that there are several. Oh yeah, I forgot, they're too busy with all of the lawsuits filed against the city. Again, let's be positive for New Haven, although it is tough when we have a significant spending problem!! We keep spending money that we don't have, an extra fifty thousand here an additional fifty thousand there!! No problem, we can increase taxes next year because we won't do it this year, (election year) we already raised taxes by 11%. I wish I could run my household like that, spend money that I don't have. Hey, maybe I'll plan a trip to China soon too, of course with my private driver. Let's try and continue to be positive 4 New Haven!! :)

I have recently filed an FOIA Inquiry regarding BOE employee and Harp Campaign Manager, J. Peter Wilson.

My initial inquiry was addressed to Corporation Counsel, Attorney Kathleen Foster, as is 'standard procedure' these days.

It read:

Attorney Foster,

Under the Freedom of Information Act, I am requesting certain materials regarding BOE Special Ed. Teacher J. Peter Wilson , who has also serves as the Treasurer for Mayor Harp's re-election campaign.

The information I am requesting is as follows:

1). A full list of all paid positions held by J. Peter Wilson as an employee of the City of New Haven and Board of Ed, and the timeline over which these positions were held.
2). A full list un-paid positions held by J. Peter Wilson, that are related to his employment with the City and the BOE, including but not limited to Union Positions, Commission Service, or Political Campaigns.
3). The most current resume on file for Special Ed Teacher, J. Peter Wilson.

Thanks for your attention to this matter,

Bill Saunders
Public Advocate

She deflected my inquiry to say:

Mr. Sauders:
"Corporation Counsel does not maintain any records re J Peter Wilson. If he is an employee of the BOE I suggest that you request records from Lisa Mack, the BOE HR Director, copied on this email."

My response was:
"I take this email as an acknowlegement of my request. Thank you for forwarding it to Lisa Mack, as is your responsibility.
I will be expecting an answer to my request from her.'

I have yet to receive a response. My initial inquiry is from March 18th.

I don't think an attorney is really going to help transparency at the BOE, but only be another 'obstacle' in the 'process'
of 'revealing the truth' via 'legal public inquiry'.

It wouldn't be the first time that 'my public actions' have created this level of 'sphincter spasm' within the administration.
If they need to hire a separate attorney, that is only because of the BOE's 'true liability' at the expense of the 'public'.

Mike Pinto is an attorney making a lot of money. Why can't he be the attorney on staff?