Overview
The Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) assists the Superintendent with management of the legal services program and provides a forum to ensure that all Board of Education policies, as well as federal and state laws and regulations are followed. We endeavor to provide expeditious and professional service to DeKalb County School District departments, employees, parents and students, as well as community stakeholders regarding legal issues that affect the District.
Meet the needs of all stakeholders by applying legal and policy requirements without bias, concerning matters referred to the Office of Legal Affairs
Maintain positive and reliable communications and relationships with all stakeholders
Monitor external legal counsel
Provide counsel to Executive staff and departments
Monitor and ensure compliance with local, state and federal regulations and agencies, and with the DeKalb County Board of Education Policies including those prohibiting harassment and discrimination
Monitor and ensure compliance with policies including those prohibiting discrimination based on disability, as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as Amended (ADAAA)
Investigate and resolve concerns and complaints regarding
Responsibilities include, but are not limited to the following:
Draft, review and edit contracts, agreements and resolutions
Draft pleadings and litigate certain matters
Reinforce the code of ethics (professional standards for educators)
Investigate and resolve complaints and allegations (employee, stakeholder complaints; harassment; employee misconduct; non-compliance of board policies, etc.
Conduct hearings pursuant to board of education (GAE) descriptor codes
Respond to and resolve complaints and allegations received from outside agencies: Department of Labor (DOL); Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC); Office of Civil Rights (OCR); U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ)
Title IX compliance
Accommodate employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as Amended (ADAAA)
Process open records, requests for production of documents and subpoenas
Facilitate Fair Dismissal Act proceedings
Develop training protocols and modules
Collect, analyze data, and produce reports in response to federal and state requests
Support external counsel regarding document production and litigation
Open Records Requests
Under the Georgia Open Records Act (OCGA §50-18-70 to §50-18-77) all public records are available for inspection and copying unless they are specifically exempted from disclosure under the law. If a government agency or custodian of public records withholds a public document from production under an Open Records Request, they will cite the provision of Georgia law that exempts the record from being produced. All open records requests to inspect or copy records must be made in writing to the Open Records Officer. The school district will provide information relating to the request, as permissible and applicable by law, within three (3) business days after it has been received by the Open Records Officer. If production of the information is not possible within that time-frame, the Open Records Officer will issue correspondence with an explanation. Please note that DeKalb County School District charges reasonable fees for the production of records in accordance with the Georgia Open Records Act.
Staff Directory
Legal Unit
Risk Management & Workers Compensation Unit
