New Hanover school board fails to pick new attorney, will consider more options
The New Hanover County Board of Education struck down two options for legal counsel, choosing to stick with Charlotte-based Vogel Law Firm until the end of June.
The board created a committee in February to look at other options for legal counsel after board members expressed concern that Vogel Law Firm's former partners Leigha and Jonathan Sink separated from their work with Vogel.
The Sinks are suing Vogel for breach of contract because they allege that Vogel owes them over $7,000 for legal bills that were supposed to be split between the Sinks and Vogel.
After the Sinks left, school board members had questions about Vogel Law Firm's ability to handle matters related to special education.
Some board members have questioned Vogel Law Firm from the beginning. Board members Stephanie Walker, Stephanie Kraybill and Hugh McManus voted against hiring Vogel Law Firm originally in May 2023.
More: The New Hanover school board is at odds over its law firm again. Here's why.
Law firms considered
The school board looked at two firms as potential replacements for Vogel. One was Poyner Spruill, a Raleigh-based firm that has worked with cases involving exceptional children up to the federal level.
Walker said that although Poyner Spruill doesn't have history with the school board, she felt that was what the board needed. She noted that of the law firms that the board ranked, Poyner Spruill scored high on the list when it came to qualifications.
Chairman Pete Wildeboer spoke in support of the second law firm up for consideration, Crossley McIntosh Collier Hanley & Edes, PLLC, a Wilmington-based firm.
But Crossley acknowledged they don't have experience in education law and have never been to a school board meeting, but personally have kids in New Hanover County Schools.
"If we value local businesses and one steps up to help out, what do we say? We want corporate America or do we want to buy local," Wildeboer said.
Motions to accept either Crossley or Poyner Spruill were defeated.
"I believe that this is a disingenuous attempt to make it look like we're going through all the right things because we believe in getting the right counsel and all it's doing is coming back to another counsel that has not served our needs," Kraybill said.
Vice chairwoman Melissa Mason said her motivation was to find a good attorney who did not have any conflict of interest. She said none of the law firms that applied fit that criteria. She said she felt Crossley was not qualified enough for the position.
"I am allowed to feel those things without any further motivation," Mason said.
More: Conflict of interest: New Hanover school board hires new attorney in Michael Kelly lawsuit
What's ahead?
Jonathan Vogel of the Vogel Law Firm will continue to work with the school district until June 30 when the firm's contract ends.
The board will continue to look at more options for legal counsel for the next school year.
Board member Josie Barnhart said an important focus should be looking at ways the district can save money when it comes to choosing legal counsel going forward.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: New Hanover school board still looking at law firms to replace attorney
