City Schools Decatur’s longtime general counsel Bob Wilson is no longer regularly staffing school board meetings, a move made weeks ago by Superintendent David Dude.
Wilson has lately been absent from board meetings, work sessions and executive sessions. Dude confirmed Wednesday the the decision for this change was made in December.
There was no formal action taken by the board (which, itself, features two attorneys) though Dude said the board “had no objections.”
Wilson will remain CSD’s general counsel. Until recently, however, he and occasionally his law partner Debra Golymbieski, staffed every CSD board meeting for many years.
“I’m not a fan,” Dude said, “of obtaining legal opinions during a live, public board meeting. I don’t think it’s appropriate. Besides, most of our legal issues are known ahead of time and can be discussed outside the meeting.
“The second reason,” he added, “I didn’t think it was a good use of Bob’s time. He’s available by phone if we need to talk [during a meeting]. Third, I didn’t think it was a good use of our resources.”
According to Dude, Wilson charges CSD $185 an hour, a greatly reduced rate than his usual $435 to $500 an hour. Wilson has been practicing law since the mid-1970s.
For the past two weeks CSD has been paying Atlanta attorney Jonathan R. Poole $235 an hour to investigate Decatur High media clerk Susan Riley, whom Dude fired on Feb. 26. Two days later he changed her status to suspension with pay, on which she remains.
The superintendent also said Wednesday an attorney isn’t required during executive sessions except when there’s “pending litigation.”
“In my experience,” Dude said, “I’ve only seen [attorneys staff every meeting] in the larger districts, or those districts where attorneys are actually an employee of the school system.”
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