Office of Superintendent | General Counsel

PURPOSE

The General Counsel provides strategic guidance and support to personnel on a comprehensive range of issues to effectuate the mission of FWCS - the education all students to high standards.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Provide sound legal advice to the Board of School Trustees, Superintendent Cabinet, and broader administration as directed by the Superintendent regarding labor and employment contract review and negotiation, public purchasing and procurement, construction and real property matters, and public education law including special education and student rights issues.
• Recommend changes in policies and procedures that ensure compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws while avoiding liability exposure and reducing risk.
• Maintain collaborative relationships with all labor groups including the Fort Wayne Education Association (FWEA)/Indiana State Teacher’s Association (ISTA), Teamsters, Fort Wayne Classified Association (FWCA), and Fort Wayne Nurses Association (FWNA).
• Coordinate insured litigation with insurance adjusters and the FWCS Fiscal Affairs Department.
• Directly represent FWCS in all administrative charges, complaints, and litigation including but not limited to the Office of Civil Rights (OCR) within the United States Department of Education, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Metropolitan Human Relations Commission, Indiana Civil Rights Commission (ICRC), Indiana Occupational Health and Safety Administration (IOSHA), and the Wage and Hour Division of the Department of Labor.
• Select external counsel in consultation with the insurance carrier and Superintendent and coordinate all aspects of judicial litigation to control and reduce costs.
• Protect the confidentiality of students’ education records under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), advise the administration about record retention under state and federal law, and insure adherence to Indiana’s Access to Public Records Act (APRA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).
• Develop and maintain record systems for the purpose of ensuring documentation of legal matters.
• Draft and review contracts and other legal documents.
• Gather evidence, compile research, interpret policies and procedures, and interview staff to ensure external counsel has the information and materials available to advise or defend FWCS.
• Attend all meetings of the FWCS Board of School Trustees to ensure parliamentary order and provide advice to the Board on all legal matters.
• Cooky directly with the FWCS Board of School Trustees to ensure parliamentary order and provide advice to the Board on all legal matters.
• Coordinate and provide professional learning to inform administrators about changes in the law.
• Monitor legislative changes and study any changes in the law that may impact FWCS.
• Maintain professional growth and development through seminars, workshops, and professional affiliations to keep abreast of latest developments in public school law and in other related areas.
• Support the FWCS Schools of Success mission to empower all students to reach their potential through equitable and relevant community-connected experiences to ensure students achieve at least one of the 4E’s - (Enrollment, Employment, Enlistment, or Entrepreneurship.)
• Positively promote and embody the FWCS Schools of Success six core competencies in our daily work: Creativity and Innovation, Critical and Analytical Thinking, Collaboration, Communication, Cultural Agility, and Self-Direction.

Knowledge, Skills, And Abilities

• Knowledge of applicable education law and developing issues.
• Skill in negotiating.
• Skill in fiscal management.
• Skill in written and oral communications.
• Skill in identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Skill in effectively managing one's own time and the time of others.
• Ability to develop and deliver presentations.
• Ability to provide competent legal advice and counsel to the Superintendent, Board, and Administration on a wide range of legal and policy issues.
• Ability to analyze and interpret issues and to prepare legal opinions.
• Ability to communicate and interact with community partners and government officials.
• Ability to supervise and train employees to include organizing, prioritizing, and scheduling work assignments.
• Ability to supervise and coordinate the work of legal professionals.
• Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
• Ability to develop and implement legal strategies and solutions.

Physical Requirements

• Communication Skills: Ability to speak clearly and hear effectively in various environments.
• Manual Dexterity: Adeptness in the use of hands and fingers.
• Postural Endurance: Sit or stand for prolonged periods as the job requires.
• Flexibility: Ability to bend at the waist, kneel, or crouch to perform specific duties.
• Visual Acuity: Close vision ability with the capacity to adjust focus.
• Mobility: Freedom to sit or walk at will throughout the work environment.
• Strength and Stamina: Capability to lift, carry, push, or pull up to twenty (25) pounds or more.