Board of Aldermen 04-13-2021 Page 27
And thirdly, my question is probably to Corporate Counsel because | listened to comments about the Board of
Education and | think for me, | just need clarity on something. For me, | thought the Board of Education is the
Board of Education and we are the Board of Aldermen. And | know we kind of oversee the City. Do we oversee
the Board of Education because | do know that the Board of Education has a counsel as well? So | don’t want to
get us into the thing of the Board of Education expanses coming into the Board of Aldermen. So with that said,
that’s my question to Corporate Counsel. Where does that stand? Because that can become very ugly like the
Board of Education.
President Wilshire
Attorney Bolton?
Steve Bolton, Corporation Counsel
Well let me correct one thing. Just like all City Departments, my office represents the School Department and the
Board of Education as well. So yes, for some matters they have engaged outside counsel on occasion but we do
represent them and it does take a considerable amount of our time and effort. There are issues for which this
Board, the Board of Aldermen has to defer to the decision making of the Board of Education; School Curriculum,
School Policies, the School Calendar, the hiring of a Superintendent, the approving the Superintendent’s choices
for other administrative and teaching positions. While members of the Board of Aldermen can weigh in on those
decisions, just like any other of our citizens, this Board cannot overrule decisions of the Board of Education in
those areas.
But you do set the budget. And it is possible to exert influence in that manner. So that’s the situation in nutshell,
very briefly. There are nuances and if a specific question were to arise on a specific issue, we could look into
that specifically and provide an answer as circumstances arise.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Thank you, you have answered my question because that was the other thing. Could we override? | know about
the budget but on whatever decisions the Board of Education makes, we as the Board of Aldermen cannot
override that. Did | understand that correctly?
Attorney Bolton
That’s generally true on school-related matters.
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
School-related matters, thank you. OK.
President Wilshire
Are you all set Alderman Gathright?
Alderman Harriott-Gathright
Yes, thank you so much.
President Wilshire
You’re welcome. Alderman Clemons?
