Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Sweetwater UHSD has given almost $2 million to lawyers to fight athletic fields for girls

See more articles about this case and the lawyers involved.

No wonder teachers are getting pink slips. The tax dollars are going to lawyers instead of teachers.



Gender-equality lawsuit costly for Sweetwater

By Ashly McGlone
February 23, 2011

Sweetwater Union High School District has boosted its legal services budget by $800,000.

Superintendent Jesus Gandara asked trustees last week to approve an $800,000 increase to the legal services budget from the district’s reserve as the South County school system is looking to close a $24 million shortfall in next year’s budget.

The rationale for the increase was tied to gender-equality litigation the district is working to resolve.

The district’s insurance policy on the case covered up to $850,000 in attorneys fees, a limit which already has been exceeded by $300,000. A measure asking for the increase stated the money would have gone into the legal services fund to “replenish the legal services account and accommodate future invoices.”

That wasn’t specific enough for trustees, who called for an amendment to the item specifying that the money be expended solely on the Title IX case. No part of the money may be used toward other legal fees or firms.

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