Staff Attorney I - Legal Services

Position Type:

Leading District Professional/Attorney

Date Posted:

6/27/2024

Location:

LEGAL SERVICES

Closing Date:

07/12/2024

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Staff Attorney - Legal Services

Reports to: Assistant General Counsel

Pay Grade: 405

Salary Range: $97,569 - $117,552

Duty Days: 239

Position Purpose

Provides strategic support insight and direction on policies affecting the District; conducts research and policy review; directs and manages policy activities including related administrative regulations. With assistance from external counsel, responsible for conducting all Fort Worth ISD Board of Education (BOE), Bond, and Tax Ratification Election (TRE) elections.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

Professionalism

• Maintains a commitment to the District mission; models District expectations through personal leadership and example; and actively supports the efforts of others to achieve District goals.

• Promotes an environment of respect, cultural competency, and responsiveness to students, parents, staff, and stakeholders.

• Consistently demonstrates a high level of integrity, discretion and judgment in dealing with sensitive and confidential matters.

Governance Accountability

• Directs the review and implementation of Board and District policies and regulations.

• Assists with the planning, presentations, and scheduling for Board Policy Committee meetings.

• Conducts data analyses of policy and comparative data from other districts.

• Reviews and approves all District and Division documents for inclusion in the Districts' archival repository.

Communication

• Receives and responds to policy questions from parents, community members, and District personnel.

• Trains stakeholders and produces training and presentation materials on policy and administrative regulations.

• Revises Bulletin Number One and any other District regulation publication related to policies and procedures.

• Communicates regularly with the Texas Association of School Boards (TASB) to obtain updated policy recommendations.

• Prepares and submits newspaper postings and election notices per Texas Secretary of State (SOS) and Texas Election Code (TEC) within the timeframes required by law.

• Communicates with Secretary of State, Ethics Commission, Tarrant County Elections, and election attorneys regarding election laws, compliance issues, questions and isolated events that occur during each election.

• Works with Tarrant County Elections office and FWISD Rentals personnel regarding Early Voting and Election Day campus locations, and compliance of each campus per TEC.

• Informs Communications Department regarding media questions pertaining to elections.

Policy & Reports

• Gathers information from various internal departments in the preparation of drafting policies, regulations, and other legal documents to insure inclusion of necessary provisions.

• Maintains the District's Policy Manual to include electronic and hard copy versions.

• Maintains knowledge of laws, court decisions, and other legal information pertaining to public education issues; keeps informed of relevant legislation; updates District staff regarding any implications.

• Drafts rules, regulations, resolutions, and all other legal or quasi-legal documents upon request.

• Compiles, maintains, files, and presents all District policy reports, records, and other applicable documents as required.

Election Officer Duty

• Ensures elections are in accordance with state and federal laws as defined by the Texas Election Code (TEC), the Office of the Texas Secretary of State (SOS), the Texas Ethics Commission, and District Policies and Procedures, including Trustee elections, Bond elections and Tax Ratification Elections.

• Adheres to all election deadlines based on the Texas Election Code and SOS Calendar and any other governing documents.

• Ensures each candidate running for a Board of Education position qualifies to run in their respective single member district in accordance with published laws and within mandated timelines.

• Maintains the FWISD Elections website by uploading all Candidate applications, Campaign Treasure Appointments, and Code of Fair Campaign Practices; removes Campaign Finance Forms per TEC retention policies.

• Works with Translation Services to ensure all required election documents are in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

• Ensures BOE agenda items for holding an election, election contract and services, election results, and canvassing, are provided to the necessary parties before board agenda submission deadlines and in compliance with the SOS election calendar.

• Prepares Oaths, Officer Statements and board scripts pertaining to each election.

Personal Work Relationships

• All Fort Worth ISD employees must maintain a commitment to the District's mission, vision, and strategic goals.

• Exhibits high professionalism, standards of conduct and work ethic.

• Demonstrates high quality customer service; builds rapport/relationship with the consumer.

• Demonstrates cultural competence in interactions with others; is respectful of co-workers; communicates and acts as a team player; promotes teamwork; responds and acts appropriately in confrontational situations.

• Ability to develop and maintain trust and positive relationships with Board Members

Other Duties as Assigned

• Performs all job-related duties as assigned and in accordance with Board rules, policies and regulations. All employees are expected to comply with lawful directives in rare situations driven by need where a team effort is required.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge of local, state, and federal laws, regulations relating to public education.

• Knowledge of legislative process.

• Skill in written and oral communication including ability to interact with and influence all levels of central office and office staff, as well as community stakeholders.

• Skill and demonstrated proficiency in the use of legal research tools (Lexus, Westlaw are related tools).

• Skill in working with initiatives that require collaboration with District and outside agencies and organizations.

• Skill in active listening; giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points communicated, and asking questions as appropriate.

• Ability to read and interpret documents such as law, policy, and procedures.

• Ability to communicate effectively in both written and oral forms with all levels of management, both internal and external to the District.

• Ability to use software to create spreadsheets, databases, and do word processing.

• Ability to organize, coordinate, and prioritize work.

• Ability to engage in self-evaluation with regard to performance and professional growth.

• Ability to establish and maintain cooperative working relationships with others contacted in the course of work.

Travel Requirements

• Travels to school district buildings and professional meetings as required.

Physical & Mental Demands, Work Hazards

• Tools/Equipment Used: Standard office equipment, including computer and peripherals.

• Posture: Prolonged sitting; occasional stooping, squatting, kneeling, bending, pushing/pulling, and twisting.

• Motion: Frequent repetitive hand motions, including keyboarding and use of mouse; occasional reaching.

• Lifting: Occasional light lifting and carrying (less than 15 pounds).

• Environment: Works in an office setting; may require occasional irregular and/or prolonged hours; frequent District and statewide travel.

• Attendance: Regular and punctual attendance at the worksite is required for this position.

• Mental Demands: Maintains emotional control under stress; works with frequent interruptions.

Minimum Required Qualifications

• Education: Graduation from an accredited law school with a Juris Doctorate Degree

• Certification/License: Licensed attorney by State Bar of Texas or ability to obtain license by end of 2024-2025 school year.

• Preferred Experience:

• 1 or more year of experience in public policy;

• Experience working with election laws;

• Experience working in a public school system.

This document is intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job and is not an exhaustive list of all responsibilities and duties that may be assigned or skills that may be required.