School board appoints interim attorney, restructures legal services

The School District of Lee County appointed a new interim board attorney and general counsel Friday.

Robert Dodig, assistant school board attorney for human resources, was appointed as of Jan. 23 to take the position.

Board Chair Armor Persons will negotiate the contract.

The special meeting was called to address the departure of Kathy Dupuy-Bruno, who was serving in the role.

“Kathy Dupuy-Bruno has been an excellent attorney here for us. I consider her a friend. We all consider her a friend. She has made the decision to move on with her life and career and take a position with another school district,” Board member William Ribble said. “I applaud her for making that decision, and I certainly wish her the best and hopefully I can help her along the way as she moves onto bigger and better things as she leads Broward County because she is pretty aggressive.”

The school board accepted Dupuy-Bruno’s resignation effective at the close of business on Friday. She will continue to receive her salary and benefits through March 13.

Board members Melisa Giovannelli and Debbie Jordan voted against the motion. The board members were not in favor of the abruptness and rush.

The school board also voted to change the job descriptions and organizational chart for legal.

Jordan and Persons voted against the change to the organizational chart.

The new structure will include a school board attorney, operating under the school board, and chief staff attorney, operating under the superintendent.

“There are situations where there were legal agreements made by our attorney trying to support the board and the superintendent,” Board member Vanessa Chaviano said. “You can’t serve two masters. We need to have someone that has our back 100%.”

Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin said the proposed structure is to align job duties with a title.

“I want to be abundantly clear. I did not run for this position about power. This position is about getting systems in place that makes sense. When I see assistant attorneys spending 99% of their time working with staff, it does not make sense for me for their title to be assistant board attorney,” she said. “This is about aligning systems and job titles with what these folks do day-to-day operations. I have the upmost respect and confidence in this staff that they will continue to operate in the way that they operate.

Carlin said the job descriptions for school board attorney and chief staff attorney are expectations of working “hand and glove” – collaboration.

“It is made abundantly clear to share information with you and me regardless of their position – to continue to work together,” she said.

The school district will follow a 64-day plan where they will advertise the job for school board attorney on national and state platforms. Candidate screening will happen throughout the month of February, a special meeting to hold panel interviews for the finalist will follow and then negotiations around March 10.