Legal Services Public Information Policy Administration Board Services BOARD WORKSHOP April 2, 2015 Elneita Hutchins-Taylor HISD General Counsel

Legal Services The Office of Legal Services serves as in-house counsel to the superintendent and staff providing legal advice and representation of the district on various local, state and federal issues, including: Administrative matters; e.g., hearings, dispute resolutions, termination and nonrenewal hearings, investigation, staff training, etc.; Judicial matters in municipal, state, federal and small claims courts; U. S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights complaints and oversight; Texas Public Information Act requests; City of Houston / Texas Alcohol & Beverage Commission; i.e., liquor license protests, etc.

Mission Our mission is to provide quality legal services to the district in a thorough, timely and cost-effective manner. The mission includes ensuring that the district, in providing educational services to students, protects the rights of students, parents, and employees, and ensuring that the actions of the district, including the Board of Education, are in accordance with established local, state and federal laws and regulations.

Objectives Provide legal advice to superintendent, administrators and board members on various legal matters. Provide preventive legal counseling. Assist in developing and implementing policies affecting the district. Effectively represent the district in administrative and judicial proceedings. Monitor and evaluate services provided by outside counsel.

Organization Chart Legal Services (March 2015)

Litigation The Office of Legal Services represents the district in judicial and administrative proceedings and monitors the legal services contracted from outside law firms. Legal Services serves as in-house counsel to the superintendent and staff on various issues in school law relating to local, state and federal laws, rules and regulations, as well as district policy and administrative procedures.

Itemized Legal Expenses   Description 2011 Amount Spent 2012 2013 2014 All matters dealing with Outside Counsel are paid from this budget. The funds outlined cover matters of General School Law Litigation, General Personnel Matters, Investigations, EEOC, Proceedings, Grievance Hearings, TEA Appeals, Open Records & payments for Hearing Officers residing over assigned cases. For the past four years the total amounts paid are as follows: $3,260,150.00 $4,509,205.00 $3,348,607.00 $2,964,676.00 Real Estate $75,000.00 $31,391.00 $68,501.00 $14,235.00 Open Meetings – Special Counsel to the Board $100,000.00 $80,176.00 $112,692.00 $90,000.00 Contracts 0.00 $39,596.00 $15,000.00 Special Education and Section 504 Matters $141,000.00 $68,524.00 $108,685.00 $90,226.00 Settlements Special Education $115,000.00 $32,600.00 $39,900.00 $121,096.00 Settlements – Personnel and Other $155,000.00 $7,500.00 $125,000.00 Construction $5,000.00 Year-End Totals $3,691,150.00 $4,921,492.00  $3,700,885.00 $3,405,233.00

Total Legal Expenses

Annual School-Based Employment Recommendations

2013 – 2014 File Review: Attorney Case Load

Executed Settlements

Administration Grievances

Contract Review SY 2010-2011 2011-2012 2012-2013 2013-2014 2014-2015 Total 1,040 1,306 1,305 1,928 1,070

Public Information Requests Months   Y2012-2013 Y2013-2014 Y2014-2015 Total 837 887 629

Attorney General Ruling Requests Sought on Behalf of HISD Months   Y2012-2013 Y2013-2014 Y2014-2015 Total 38 65 24

Special Education Due Process Hearings   2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 HISD Legal Services 4 15 16 5 8 Outside Counsel 6 - 1 Total Requests for Hearing 10 19 17

U.S. Department of Equal Employment Opportunity Commission Position Statements 2014 2015 (As of 3/26/2015) 66 12

U.S. Department Of Education Office For Civil Rights Investigations Year 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 2013-14 2014-15 2 3 5 7 4 6 9

Thank you April 2, 2014 Elneita Hutchins-Taylor HISD General Counsel