Conroe ISD Hires Austin Firm to Outsource Legal Services

Conroe ISD has taken a significant step by outsourcing its legal services, following the Board of Trustees' approval of a new agreement with the Austin-based law firm O’Hanion, Demerath and Castillo.

A unanimous vote on Tuesday has led to the decision to shift the district's legal services from in-house management to an external provider.

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"In recent months, we have collaborated with O’Hanion, Demerath, and Castillo under a temporary contract," stated Karen Garza, Chief Financial Officer for Conroe ISD. "This has prompted us to consider alternative avenues for legal representation. After assessing our requirements, the board has revised its policy to provide us with the option to retain in-house counsel or engage external counsel."

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Conroe ISD has entered into a new agreement that will see them allocate $30,000 each month for round-the-clock legal access.
Kara Belew from the firm confirmed to the trustees that the deal features a no-obligation clause. "If we fail to deliver results or meet the required standards, the district has the authority to end the contract at any moment without incurring further expenses," Belew informed the Board during the meeting.

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The decision is expected to yield savings of approximately $24,000 per month for the district on non-litigation-related services.
Over the last three years, Garza reported that Conroe ISD has incurred approximately $1.1 million in legal costs. The breakdown encompasses expenses for general counsel, amounting to $234,000; support staff, totaling $141,500; due-process hearings, at $175,000; and real property services, costing $90,000.

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Belew highlighted that the firm is diligently overseeing the district’s legal risks. "We are diligently monitoring all ongoing litigation within the district to explore strategies for containment and to mitigate the overall legal risk faced by the district," Garza shared.

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Board President Misty Odenweller conveyed her approval of the firm’s performance, stating, "It’s been a much better collaborative environment, and the agreement has worked well for us."