After nearly an hour of conversation on the topic, the Osceola County School Board agreed at its last meeting to seek in-house counsel to replace its current board attorney.
School Board Attorney Frank Kruppenbacher on June 27 announced he would be stepping down from that position effective Sept. 1. That came after Superintendent Mark Shanoff sought approval to make the position an in-house job, and would consider offering it to Kruppenbacher, noting in-house counsel would give the district its own full-time attorney, familiar with its structure and policies.
“Given the amount of litigation the District engages in over the course of a year, it allows somebody who is here full-time to engage in all that litigation, and be the Board’s counsel in a moment’s notice, and understands the scope of the legal services we require on a yearly basis,” he said. “There is something very valuable in someone who understands our organizational structure and policies.”
Kruppenbacher, who was absent from last week’s meeting, had since agreed to stay on up to six months beyond that, until the district found its permanent counsel.
“That left us a very tight timeline to do the research to bring someone in who everyone on the Board is comfortable with,” Shanoff said. “I have concerns about the Sept. 1 deadline.”
The board voted 3-2 on Shanoff’s recommendation to seek in-house counsel, with Jon Arguello and Julius Melendez voting against. It then voted 4-1, with Arguello against, to extend Kruppenbacher up to six months from his original Sept. 1 resignation. Arguello suggested signing Kruppenbacher on a month-to-month basis until the position is filled.
“Six months is longer than we take to sign a $100 million contract,” said Arguello, who holds a Juris Doctorate. “It should take no more than 90 days for us to find an attorney. The board members who don’t have law degrees need to understand what an in-house general counsel would do versus what a contracted firm would do. Aside from accessibility, there is no real advantage (to in-house counsel). A firm allows you all the flexibility to find what you need.”
Board member Julius Melendez expressed concern that an in-house lawyer would come under the influence of the district.
Once a job description is agreed upon and put out on the street, the process would likely take three months, district staff said.
At the meeting, Shanoff also filled other spots in his School District cabinet, tabbing Lastenia Penaloza to be the Assistant Superintendent for Educational Choice and Innovation. Michelle Henninger, the new Assistant Superintendent for Middle School Curriculum and Instruction, replaces Dr. Michael Allen in that role; he became the Chief of Staff for Human Resources and Student Services.
Dr. Carol Green was named the Chief Officer for Human Resources, filling the role of Tammy Cope-Otterson, who retired in June.
