LTHS Parts Ways With Law Firm

LA GRANGE, IL – The Lyons Township High School board on Monday approved two law firms to represent it, casting aside its current law firm.

Before the vote, board President Dawn Aubert read a statement and allowed no discussion.

With its decision, the board parted ways with the Chicago-based Franczek law firm.

In her statement, Aubert said nothing about Franczek and identified the two new firms, Itasca-based Hodges Loizzi and Oakbrook Terrace-based Kriha Boucek.

"As the district's needs become more complex, it has become more common for school districts, especially districts of our size, to engage multiple firms to call upon as needed," Aubert said.

She said the school board met with seven law firms during closed sessions in June and July. The two new firms, she said, would represent the school in all legal matters.

"Both firms are respected with extensive K-through-12 experience," Aubert said. "The work will be divided among the two. They will not be duplicative in their efforts."

Franczek may be the casualty of the board's controversial effort to sell its land in Willow Springs earlier this year. With a Franczek lawyer present, the board broke state law by closing the doors to discuss the sale.

The attorney general later ordered the release of the closed session recordings, resulting in the disclosure of information that the board had wanted to keep secret.

After Aubert read her statement Monday, she called for a motion and a second, then an immediate vote without asking for a discussion.

This procedure appears to violate the board's own policies, which call for Robert's Rules of Order as its guide.

Robert's Rules of Order require a motion, a second and then an opportunity for a discussion. This is the practice of most public bodies.

But the high school board sometimes avoids a discussion for bigger issues. In April, then-board President Kari Dillon allowed no discussion about the five-year teachers union contract before the vote. This contract guides a sizable portion of the school's budget.