V.-71 22-0546 Approval by the Board of Education of Amendment No. 3, Memorandum of Understanding and Engagement Policy ("MOUEP") by and between District and Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost, LLP, Oakland, CA, for the latter to provide more of the same (legal) service at an hourly rate during the 21/22 fiscal year in the areas of special education, employment law, labor negotiations, facilities and construction law, litigation and general legal advice on an as needed basis, in an additional amount of $350,000.00, for a total not to exceed amount of $850,000.00 for the 2021-22 Fiscal Year. All other terms and conditions of the MOUEP remain in full force and effect.
Why does OUSD have retainer agreements with 16 outside law firms providing up to $4 million in services for this school year alone? This is really becoming ridiculous, when we also have 4 to 6 attorneys in house who should be doing some of this work. I know (as someone who has practiced law) that outside counsel are necessary for some things, you cannot be an expert in every area of the law, but this is truly astonishing. You as a board should be asking questions as to why this is necessary. You should also stop doing stupid things like not offering space under Prop 39 or not closing schools in a discriminatory fashion that get you sued in the first place.
Why does OUSD have retainer agreements with 16 outside law firms providing up to $4 million in services for this school year alone? This is really becoming ridiculous, when we also have 4 to 6 attorneys in house who should be doing some of this work. I know (as someone who has practiced law) that outside counsel are necessary for some things, you cannot be an expert in every area of the law, but this is truly astonishing. You as a board should be asking questions as to why this is necessary. You should also stop doing stupid things like not offering space under Prop 39 or not closing schools in a discriminatory fashion that get you sued in the first place.