Legal Fees
Fox C-6 Watchdogs
This is what little we can find for Lee's Summit. Their budget is harder to get than Fox C-6. They don't allow their patrons to view as much.
The district has not periodically solicited proposals for some professional
services, and the district has used the same vendors for several years.
Examples of professional services selected without a competitive process
during the year ended June 30, 2013, include:
Item Cost
Disabled student transportation $ 211,072
Additional student transportation 179,209
Behavioral support and consulting 149,679
Primary legal counsel 114,005
Audit 27,999
Diversity initiative 12,000
The district has used the same auditor for 15 years, diversity initiative
provider for 6 years, and primary legal counsel for 4 years without
periodically soliciting proposals. For other examples noted above, the
district identified the purchase as a single feasible source procurement, but
did not document this information in writing in accordance with district
administrative procedure DJF-AP1. A district official also acknowledged
the behavioral support provider was the only provider at the time the district
originally procured the services, but the behavioral support and consulting
field has expanded.
The district did not always enter into formal written agreements defining
services provided and benefits received, or enter into written agreements in
a timely manner.
The district does not have a written agreement with its primary legal
counsel. The district paid this firm $114,005 in the year ended June 30,
2013.
The district did not enter into a written agreement for an audit
evaluating its communication strategies, community relations, branding,
etc. The cost of this service was $11,700.
The district annually pays $25,000 to the Lee's Summit Economic
Development Council for membership. However, according to the
council's website only a $10,000 investment by the district is required to
receive the maximum benefits of membership (i.e. the Angel investment
category).
The district does not have a written agreement with this entity;
therefore, it is unclear what additional benefits, if any, the district
receives as a result of these additional contributions.
District officials did not sign an educational services contract for the
2012-2013 school year until March 28, 2013. These services were
required by student individualized education plans.
The district subsidizes a significant portion of the operating expenses of the
Lee's Summit Educational Foundation and has not entered into a written
agreement with the foundation.
The foundation's employees, its Director and Administrative Assistant, are
housed in the district's main administration building free of charge and their
salaries, totaling approximately $119,400, and fringe benefits are paid by
the district. However, according to district officials, these employees spend
the majority of their time, approximately 90 percent, working on foundation
activities and only 10 percent of their time working on district related
activities. Foundation supplies, software and equipment, travel expenses,
and other miscellaneous expenses are also paid by the district. For the year
ended June 30, 2013, these expenses totaled approximately $22,800.
The foundation is a legally separate charitable not-for-profit corporation
established to raise private funds to help support programs within the
district. The foundation is governed by a 10-member board of directors. A
district board member, the superintendent, and other district administrators
serve on the foundation's advisory board.
You can find the payments to the law firms in the monthly school board packets in the Bill Payments section.
Below are the totals from all of the Bill Payments that have been provided in the school board packets dating back to April 2010. They are broken down by school year which runs from July 1 through June 30.
At the November 2013 board workshop, school board president Dan Smith wanted to make sure that things get passed through the district's legal counsel when responding to questions from the public unless they are just simple questions.
2009-2010 - $11,185.11 (Only April - June 2010 Data)
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $11,185.11
Thomeczek & Brink - $570.00
2010-2011 - $100,342.74
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $82,974.52
Thomeczek & Brink - $17,368.22
2011-2012 - $81,029.43
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $81,029.43
2012-2013 - $148,903.30
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $148,903.30
2013-2014 - $80,579.43 (Through March 2014)
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $80,579.43
This is what little we can find for Lee's Summit. Their budget is harder to get than Fox C-6. They don't allow their patrons to view as much.
The district has not periodically solicited proposals for some professional
services, and the district has used the same vendors for several years.
Examples of professional services selected without a competitive process
during the year ended June 30, 2013, include:
Item Cost
Disabled student transportation $ 211,072
Additional student transportation 179,209
Behavioral support and consulting 149,679
Primary legal counsel 114,005
Audit 27,999
Diversity initiative 12,000
The district has used the same auditor for 15 years, diversity initiative
provider for 6 years, and primary legal counsel for 4 years without
periodically soliciting proposals. For other examples noted above, the
district identified the purchase as a single feasible source procurement, but
did not document this information in writing in accordance with district
administrative procedure DJF-AP1. A district official also acknowledged
the behavioral support provider was the only provider at the time the district
originally procured the services, but the behavioral support and consulting
field has expanded.
The district did not always enter into formal written agreements defining
services provided and benefits received, or enter into written agreements in
a timely manner.
The district does not have a written agreement with its primary legal
counsel. The district paid this firm $114,005 in the year ended June 30,
2013.
evaluating its communication strategies, community relations, branding,
etc. The cost of this service was $11,700.
The district annually pays $25,000 to the Lee's Summit Economic
Development Council for membership. However, according to the
council's website only a $10,000 investment by the district is required to
receive the maximum benefits of membership (i.e. the Angel investment
category).
The district does not have a written agreement with this entity;
therefore, it is unclear what additional benefits, if any, the district
receives as a result of these additional contributions.
District officials did not sign an educational services contract for the
2012-2013 school year until March 28, 2013. These services were
required by student individualized education plans.
The district subsidizes a significant portion of the operating expenses of the
Lee's Summit Educational Foundation and has not entered into a written
agreement with the foundation.
The foundation's employees, its Director and Administrative Assistant, are
housed in the district's main administration building free of charge and their
salaries, totaling approximately $119,400, and fringe benefits are paid by
the district. However, according to district officials, these employees spend
the majority of their time, approximately 90 percent, working on foundation
activities and only 10 percent of their time working on district related
activities. Foundation supplies, software and equipment, travel expenses,
and other miscellaneous expenses are also paid by the district. For the year
ended June 30, 2013, these expenses totaled approximately $22,800.
The foundation is a legally separate charitable not-for-profit corporation
established to raise private funds to help support programs within the
district. The foundation is governed by a 10-member board of directors. A
district board member, the superintendent, and other district administrators
serve on the foundation's advisory board.
The district has not entered into a written agreement with the foundation to
address office space, services, and financial support provided, or a
requirement to reimburse the district for the expenses paid on behalf of the
foundation. A written agreement that clearly indicates the benefit to the
district for these subsidizations is necessary to ensure all parties are aware
of their duties and responsibilities and to prevent misunderstandings.
You can find the payments to the law firms in the monthly school board packets in the Bill Payments section.
Below are the totals from all of the Bill Payments that have been provided in the school board packets dating back to April 2010. They are broken down by school year which runs from July 1 through June 30.
At the November 2013 board workshop, school board president Dan Smith wanted to make sure that things get passed through the district's legal counsel when responding to questions from the public unless they are just simple questions.
Fox C-6 Legal Fees
2009-2010 - $11,185.11 (Only April - June 2010 Data)
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $11,185.11
Thomeczek & Brink - $570.00
2010-2011 - $100,342.74
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $82,974.52
Thomeczek & Brink - $17,368.22
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $81,029.43
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $148,903.30
2013-2014 - $80,579.43 (Through March 2014)
Mickes Goldman O'Toole - $80,579.43
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