Racine Unified School District is looking to hire legal counsel. This position will serve the Racine Unified School District on a wide variety of legal issues arising in the District, providing sound, practical advice in response to complex and rapidly changing conditions assuring compliance with local, state, and federal laws and rules.
Core Competencies
Essential Functions:
• Attends all meetings of the Board of Education as requested.
• Provides counsel on Board notices, Open Meetings requirements, Board Elections, and parliamentary procedures.
• Drafts, reviews and recommends District Policies and Administrative Regulations.
• Briefs District leadership on legal conclusions derived from comprehensive research.
• Assists with the planning for and implementation of current legislation as it impacts the District
• Authors, reviews, approves, and provides counsel with respect to District various legal documents.
• Advises the District in regards to litigation, coordinating with outside counsel as needed.
• Provides counsel and representation in Financial matters (debt issuance, short term borrowing, intergovernmental agreements, real estate, referendum language)
• Renders legal advice and counsel with respect to contracts and procurement matters (acquisition lifecycle, procurement law, fiscal law, bid protest, disputes, claims, procurement integrity, and procurement fraud).
• Reviews and/or drafts District legal documents such as contracts, memorandums, and leases; makes recommendations on legal adequacy and advisability.
• Analyzes contracting and acquisition issues and policies, identifies complex problems and concerns, and participates in developing and implementing solutions to ensure conformance with all applicable laws, regulations, and requirements.
• Provides guidance on compliance matters with federal, state, and municipal government contracting and procurement laws, rules, and regulations
• Researches and interprets legal sources, including Federal, State, and local court decisions, U.S. Department of Education and Wisconsin Department of Public Information decisions and renders formal and informal legal opinions to district officials and staff on procurement issues.
• Assists in the design and implementation of District contracting compliance programs and initiatives
v• Provides initial counsel in various complex student and staff matters, ie; suspension/expulsion, custody, special education, 504, arbitration hearings, section 118 proceedings, etc.
• Provides counsel and representation in complex Public Record Requests.
• Responds to appeals under Title IX and Section 3.6.3 Complaints within the Employee Handbook.
• Provides professional development to the administration on legal matters, such as student rights, employee rights and obligations, evaluations, and legal procedures; provides information to the administration on legal developments.
Qualifications:
• Licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin, or able to be licensed at the time employment begins.
• A minimum of five years of experience in private practice or with a public agency with a comprehensive working knowledge of the law applicable to the operation of governmental entities and of school law issues in particular.
• Proficient in Wisconsin School and contract law.
• Litigation experience preferred
Knowledge of:
• Ability to demonstrate excellent business sense and judgment, and possess well developed analytical problem-solving abilities, excellent written and oral communication skills, strong organizational skills, attention to detail and thoroughness, and strong interpersonal and relationship development skills
• Ability to deal with sensitive issues in a confidential and professional manner.
• Ability to diffuse and manage volatile and stressful situations.
• Ability to promote efforts on diversity, establish best practices, and remove barriers for people of diverse backgrounds.
• Ability to interpret local, state, and federal laws, policies, and procedures.
• Ability to organize information and material into a manageable form.
• Ability to formulate recommendations, proposals, and counter-proposals.
• Ability to prepare and present effective written and oral reports, recommendations, district policies, and procedures.
• Ability to work cooperatively across a complex organization and numerous stakeholders.
• Ability to establish positive relationships with people representing multiple and diverse interests.
• Ability to prioritize multiple responsibilities and process high volumes of work in a timely and accurate manner.
Please apply at wecan.education.wisc.edu/, or email resumé to Melissa.Abel@rusd.org.
