In or out…

The last job interview is complete, but school board members are still up in the air whether they'll hire a school board attorney to work in the district office or pay a person — or firm — to continue outside legal work.

During a special school board meeting, board members agreed to table making that determination until they meet again on Feb. 14.

Currently, about 10 candidates are in the running for the school board attorney role, including legal firm McClain, Alfonso, Meeker and Dunn, which has been supplying the district outside legal counsel since last summer.

The firm is the same group that provides legal services for the Paso County School District.

But board members have interviewed candidates for both inside and outside counsel and have yet to say one way or the other which they'd prefer.

If they decide to contract for outside legal work, board members, such as James Yant, have shown interest in having a person hold office hours inside the district office once a week at a minimum.

Last month, board members interviewed roughly 10 candidates, but put off making a decision on offering a job to one of them after one candidate had to reschedule her interview after getting into a car accident.

School board members have been searching since last summer for a new attorney following the departure of Paul Carland, who resigned to represent the Broward County school district.

Having finished that interview Tuesday afternoon, Board Member Dianne Bonfield questioned when the board wanted to discuss preferences of hiring inside or outside counsel.

Board members John Sweeney and Yant indicated they have about two candidates who are of interest and didn't have a preference.

Superintendent Bryan Blavatt reminded them that they would be voting later Tuesday evening to extend the contract between the district and McClain, Alfonso, Meeker and Dunn for another month or two.

The cost to do so will cost $24,000. Since contracting with the firm last June, the district has paid $66,536 to the firm and has already extended the contract with the firm once.

"The only constraint you have is your timeline," Blavatt said. "But I'm sure (the legal firm) will work with you on that."