Florida Statute 1002.43(10) and School Board Policy 1.02(D) authorize the School Board to obtain an attorney from outside of its own membership to act as the legal advisor to the School Board and to the Superintendent. Board Policy requires a written contract for such services. The attached written Contract for Legal Services meets the requirement of the Policy and serves to retain the services of Douglas Law Firm to perform as the legal advisor to the School Board and the Superintendent and his staff. The terms of the contract are clear and unambiguous and set forth in detail the expectations of all parties to the contract.

The necessity of full time legal counsel for the School Board and the Superintendent is apparent based upon the increasing legal complexity of managing a school district, providing for students, and managing a large workforce.as well as the litigious nature of society generally.

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Approval of this item will result in replacement of the current school board attorney with the Douglas Law Firm as the full time legal services provider for the School Board and the Superintendent and his staff.

Approval provides for legal services to the School Board, the Superintendent and to the district as a whole.

Approve the Contract for Legal Services between the School Board of Clay County, Florida and the Douglas Law Firm.