Polk County Public Schools has set a target date of mid-September to name a replacement for Wes Bridges, who is retiring after 26 years as School Board attorney.
Bridges, who has served under eight superintendents, announced his retirement plans at a School Board work session on June 11.
The district released a timeline in the agenda for Tuesday’s School Board meeting. The district plans to post the job listing in late July, provide a list of qualified applicants by mid-August and begin conducting interviews in late August or early September. The salary range for the position is $123,260 to $172,502.
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The School Board approved a revised job description provided by district staff, including a change in job title from School Board Attorney to General Counsel.
The description expands upon some duties summarized with a single sentence in the current contract. The job purpose now covers providing “proactive legal services to the School Board and Superintendent on all matters impacting the operation of the school system.”
The job purpose also entails assisting board members in the legal performance of their duties and “ensuring fair and just discharge of obligations to students , staff, employees, and the public.”
Under “essential functions of the job,” the previous description merely mentioned attending all School Board meetings and public hearings. The revised description specifies regular and special meetings and workshops, saying the general counsel “serves as parliamentarian at School Board meetings and acts as legal advisor to the School Board at all meetings.”
The general counsel will recommend “appropriate changes to policies, contracts and procedures to ensure compliance with applicable federal and state laws and Department of Education rules and policies,” the revised summary states.
The description adds the phrase “in a timely manner” to the duty to provide legal advice to the superintendent and district staff. The counsel will also protect and promote the interests of the School Board “to the extent there is no conflict of interest between parties” — the last phase added.
The description adds certain duties: conducting and overseeing legal research, preparing and rendering legal opinions and answering legal questions as requested by the School Board, superintendent and staff in a timely manner. The counsel will be expected to provide periodic updates on litigation involving the School Board.
Under candidate requirements, the phrase “in good standing” is added to being a member of The Florida Bar. The summary specifies a minimum of five years as a practicing attorney with experience in education, governmental and/or administrative law.
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Winter Haven High repair
The School Board approved the release of nearly $130,000 for repair and replacement costs related to a fire in October at Winter Haven High School.
The fire in the agricultural barn and welding shop originated from a golf cart plugged into an electrical panel, an agenda item said. The estimated replacement cost value of the claim is about $285,000, the item said.
“Our insurers (13 markets) have released interim payments based on their prorata share of the insurance on our program on the claim of $129,222.56 and have requested that sworn statements of loss be acknowledged by the School Board of Polk County for this payment,” the item said. “Once the work is complete, the final payment will be issued for the full replacement cost as well as final releases.”
Gary White can be reached at gary.white@theledger.com or 863-802-7518. Follow on X @garywhite13 .
This article originally appeared on The Ledger: Polk School Board approves timeline for hiring replacement for retiring attorney Wes Bridges
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