District General Counsel

Profile

District General Counsel
The candidate will participate on the superintendent’s cabinet to coordinate action to achieve the district’s mission and strategic goals. Provide leadership and coordination of school system committees and/or task force initiatives as assigned; participate in long-range and strategic planning initiatives. Serve as general legal counsel to the superintendent and School Board. Consult with the director of labor relations in the negotiation and drafting/review of collective bargaining agreements. Interpret the Minnesota Public Employee Labor Relations Act (PELRA) and collective bargaining agreements; recommend proposed modifications to existing collective bargaining agreements. Attend all school board meetings, including policy committee meetings, school board work sessions, negotiations strategy sessions, special meetings, and regular school board meetings. Coordinate defenses and responses to legal and administrative complaints. Plan and execute continuous improvement processes for area of responsibility; invite input and feedback. Demonstrate commitment to professional growth. Represent the school district in a positive manner at various district and community functions, at state and local organizations, and as a liaison to various partners. Monitor trends in education law, regulations and legislative issues, and recommend operational, procedural and policy improvements. Act as the school district’s liaison with the insurer, insurance agency and insurer-appointed attorneys on all liability claims; represent the school district at all stages of state and federal court proceedings in matters in which there is no insurer-appointed attorney. Respond to charges of discrimination brought against the school system and filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Minnesota Department of Human Rights (MDHR) and Office of Civil Rights (OCR); conduct internal investigations of discrimination and improper conduct; in appropriate circumstances, provide guidance to others regarding investigation protocol. Represent the district in legal proceedings, litigation, court appearances, administrative proceedings, and other disputes and legal actions; manage litigation and establish case strategy. Provide legal assistance and advice to the director of student services in responding on behalf of the school system to Minnesota Department of Education special education complaints and inquiries. Prepare and render legal opinions for the superintendent and School Board. Provide legal and parliamentary procedure advice at School Board meetings. Represent the school district in negotiating contracts and other legal matters. Prepare all necessary legal correspondence on behalf of the School District. Provide proactive legal advice; identify potential conflicts of interest. Conduct employee workplace misconduct investigations in the workplace. Provide guidance related to employment law and labor contracts. Prepare and approve contracts entered into on behalf of the School Board and/or school district. Prepare legal briefs, develop strategy, arguments and testimony in preparation for presentation of cases. Conduct research, interview and prepare witnesses, and handle other details in preparation for trial. Prepare and deliver professional development for district staff on data privacy, 504 accommodations, investigations, policy, and other relevant topics. Prepare school board resolutions on various topics. Provide guidance to the school board clerk on various topics, including school finance elections and school board elections. Provide guidance related to data practices and data privacy. Consult on matters related to employment including but not limited to employee discipline, employee rights and regulations such as the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA), school district policies, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and worker’s compensation administration. Consult on matters related to students including but not limited to students’ rights, student discipline, family and juvenile court matters, special education issues, Title VII and Title IX federal civil rights acts protecting students from discrimination, Free Appropriate Public Education Act (FAPE), Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA), attendance requirements and maltreatment reporting. Prepare student expulsion agreements; lead expulsion hearings. Consult on School Board governance issues including the open meeting law, data practices laws, municipal contracting law, bidding law issues, governmental immunities, election law issues. Manage strategies and activities of outside counsel to ensure timely and high quality service delivery. Ensure compliance with the School Board policy pertaining to policy development and revision. Convene and facilitate regular School Board Policy Committee meetings. Maintain a schedule for the review, revision, and development of School Board policy. Conduct research, collect data from benchmark districts, and collaborate with impacted staff to determine revision to existing policy or development of new policy. Design and implement mechanisms for community and stakeholder input into and feedback regarding School Board policy. Prepare written recommendations for the School Board Policy Committee and full School Board regarding policy revision and development. Present policies to the school board for first reading and adoption. Maintain records on policy action. Collaborate with Cabinet members to prepare and deliver training on School Board policy and legal matters for the purpose of ensuring compliance. Inspire trust by demonstrating competence, reliability, sincerity, and caring; demonstrate adaptability and flexibility. Practice the language distinctions and promise keeping associated with leadership. Serve as a leader for racial equity by identifying opportunities for change and eliminating inequitable policies and practices. Establish effective relationships with colleagues, students, families, staff, and community members in order to influence action. Work collaboratively with system-level and school-level administrators to achieve strategic goals.

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