UPDATE: On Monday morning Superintendent Mary Beth Jackson contacted the Daily News and said she planned to pay for the attorney fees out of her own pocket. Look for all the details in Tuesday's Daily News.
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FORT WALTON BEACH — The superintendent of Okaloosa County schools soon might have a new set of legal advisers.
Mary Beth Jackson plans to ask the Okaloosa County School Board to approve a $2,500 retainer to secure the services of a Tallahassee law firm for her on an as-needed basis.
“I need someone who can advise me,” Jackson said. “I wanted to establish a relationship with a firm I know is very, very good.”
If the board approves the proposal at its meeting Monday night, Jackson will consult with attorneys at Meyer, Brooks, Demma and Blohm P.A. for advice on questions or issues she might have.
The firm will be paid on an as-needed basis, she said.
“Sometimes I have to make very, very difficult decisions and I want to stay inside the law,” Jackson said.
She raised the issue with the School Board three or four months ago, but said “they refused to do it.”
Under state law, however, Jackson said she is permitted to use a separate law firm to help her navigate through issues with the School Board.
Employee issues still would be handled by board attorney Jeff McInnis.
“(McInnis) cannot advise me if maybe the board and I don’t agree on an issue … because they’re his client and it creates an awkward position,” Jackson said.
Numerous other superintendents in Florida have their own attorneys, she added.
Under Florida law, only the School Board can designate district funding to pay for positions, according to Cheryl Etters, a spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Education.
If the board declines to pay for an attorney, the only way Jackson could hire a firm is to pay out of her own pocket, Etters said.
WANT TO ATTEND?
The Okaloosa County School Board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday at 120 Lowery Place in Fort Walton Beach.
Contact Daily News Staff Writer Katie Tammen at 850-315-4440 or ktammen@nwfdailynews.com. Follow her on Twitter @KatieTnwfdn.
