The Newport-Mesa school board authorized a total of $150,000 in new legal fees at Tuesday‘s meeting.
Trustees approved an additional $100,000 for the law firm of Atkinson, Andelson, Lota, Rudd & Romo, bringing the total budget for fees to that firm this year up to $300,000. The board also approved an additional $50,000 for Parker and Covert LLP, bringing its total up to $350,000.
Both increases were initially approved by the school board on June 22. Tuesday’s action finalized the changes.
The firm’s original fee numbers were based on the district’s projections of its needs for legal and litigation services for 2010-11.
The increase was “due to ongoing challenges to the district requiring the expertise [that both law firms] have available for legal and litigation services related to special education and public education support services,” according to the staff report.
The board also approved a change order for additional work at Corona del Mar High School for the tennis court relocation and the parking lot extension.
The extra work will cost the district $4,052.69, bringing the total for the project to $997,759.78.
The entire project involves demolishing three existing tennis courts near the front of the school, relocating three new tennis courts to the back side of the campus, adding an additional 52 parking stalls for staff parking with related parking lot safety lighting, installation of landscaping, installation of American Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant concrete sidewalks in and around the parking area and erosion control in the area of the original tennis courts.
The change order will involve rewiring and adding new wiring for the light poles in the lot.
