Office of General Counsel

The Office of General Counsel represents the District in all legal proceedings to which it is a party, including state and federal court proceedings, arbitrations and administrative hearings. In addition, the Office of General Counsel provides legal advice to the Board of Education, the Superintendent, Senior Management, department/division heads and site administrators.

The areas in which we provide legal advice and/or representation include the following:

EDUCATION LAW

• Pupil records and confidentiality under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
• Mandated Child Abuse Reporting
• Suspension, expulsion and transfer of students
• First Amendment rights
• Special Education
• Discrimination, bullying and sexual harassment

GOVERNANCE

• The Ralph M. Brown Act
• The California Tort Claims Act
• The California Public Records Act
• Board Member Elections and Appointments
• Political activity

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT

• Collective bargaining
• Transfer and assignment
• FMLA, CFRA
• Employee and retiree benefit rights
• Employee discipline
• Workers' Compensation
• Americans with Disabilities Act
• Discrimination and harassment
• First Amendment rights

OPERATIONS

• The acquisition and disposition of District property
• The proper use of restricted funds
• Issuance of financial instruments
• The Civic Center Act
• CEQA
• Public agency contracting