To: Members of the Board of Education
From: Joshua P. Starr, Superintendent of Schools
Subject: Legal Fees Report for December 2013
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Non-special Education Legal Expenses
The Carney Kelehan bill for December 2013 totaled $44,180. The largest amount was for policy matters ($24,692), the largest part of which related to subpoenas and requests for student records ($9,216). The next largest amount was for personnel matters ($12,548), the largest part of which related to a teacher dismissal case ($7,300). The amount for procurement matters totaled $3,322, all of which was related to a procurement contracting case. The amount for facilities matters (charged to the capital budget) totaled $1,752, the largest part of which related to telecommunication towers ($767). The amount for student matters totaled $584 and miscellaneous matters totaled $1,282.
The Venable bill for December 2013 totaled $9,950. The largest amount was for policy matters ($5,447), the largest part of which related to Rock Creek Hills School site matters ($5,363). The amount for collective bargaining matters totaled $4,503, all of which related to labor relations matters.
The Clancy bill for December 2013 totaled $2,400, which was related to policy matters. The largest amount related to student transfer appeals ($1,463).
Special Education Legal Expenses
Special education legal fees for outside counsel for December 2013 totaled $5,683. The year-to-date total of $102,181 is $99,812 (49.4%) less than the same period in the previous year. In addition, total year-to-date special education legal costs of $102,181 are $138,389 (57.5%) less than the budgeted amount of $240,570 for this time period.
The Jeffrey A. Krew bill for December 2013 totaled $5,683 and included three administrative hearing cases.
JPS:LAB:TPK:jp
Would you please expand on this data. What does it mean? Is MCPS making a more concerted effort to resolve disputes earlier? Are they finally listening to parents and intentionally not using Mr. Krew? If Mr. Krew is getting less cases, will he become more vicious and prolong cases, as he is paid by the day in appeal cases? Does this information confirm that disputes with parents with special needs children can be more effectively handled in other ways? Will MCPS ever admit they made major errors in the past?. I think definitely no, as they don't want to accept the potential consequences. Stonewalling remains the name of the game.
ReplyDeleteThe education legal expenses term is a euphemism for stonewalling.
ReplyDelete"Special education legal fees for outside counsel for December 2013 totaled $5,683. The year-to-date total of $102,181 is $99,812 (49.4%) less than the same period in the previous year."
ReplyDeleteWow. That's a big takeaway. 50% less spent on outside counsel for special education legal fees? That's a huge reduction that seems to show that cases are being resolved much more effectively at the school level.
Wow - so what a great way to open your own law firm. When did attorney Patrick Clancy get his own gig with the BOE? He used to work for Venable, but now he is listed with his own line on the bills!
ReplyDeleteDon't miss the bump in the Carney bills either! 30% up isn't too shabby.
Unfortunately, don't be fooled by the year to date totals. At the end of the year, outside counsel may submit a bill with an "adjustment." The cases are billed at a certain rate, but depending on volume, the BOE may be on the hook for thousands of dollars in addition, as per the contract.
ReplyDelete