Page 4 THE VILLADOM TIMES I • March 25, 2009 FLOW Area Regional school board hires new legal counsel by Frank J. McMahon The Ramapo Indian Hills Board of Education has appointed a new law firm as the board’s legal counsel until the reorganization meeting scheduled for April 27. The board has indicated that it intends to appoint the new law firm as its legal counsel for the remainder of this school year. The board’s legal counsel is usually appointed each year at the board reorganization meeting. The Fair Lawn law firm of Fogarty & Hara was appointed by the board, however, at its last public meeting by a resolution that states that this law firm has the expertise and experience to provide professional services to the Ramapo Indian Hills Regional High School District Board of Education and the board is desirous of appointing that law firm to provide those professional services to the board. The board’s new law firm will provide legal services to the district at the hourly rate of $165 for partners and $145 for associates. The board’s previous agreement with the law firm of Schwartz Simon Edelstein Celso & Kessler LLC, which was appointed as the board’s legal counsel for the 2008-09 school year last July, and has been the board’s legal counsel since the 1975-76 school year, was modified to cease all billable legal matters under the agreement except those legal services requested by the board. SSEC&K has confirmed that it will continue to work on certain legal matters as directed by the board at the rates upon which the services are currently provided until those matters are resolved, or until the board no longer desires to employ the services of SSEC&K. One of those legal matters is the current litigation involving the Bergen County Academies. Since 1997, the regional school district has been challenging the state requirement that the district must pay tuition and transportation costs for any district students who apply to, and are accepted by, the Bergen County Academies to attend their high school programs instead of those provided at the regional high Helpful Hints Helpful Hints from school district. The regional school board provided no explanation as to why it was decided to modify its agreement with SSEC&K and terminate the retainer provisions set forth in that agreement. Fogarty & Hara has engaged in the representation of management in school law, employment law, special education law, and labor relations matters, including defense litigation, since 1984. The law firm represents numerous school boards in New Jersey, including those in Allendale, Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Midland Park, Oakland, and Haledon. The firm also represents the following regional school districts: Manchester, Marlboro, Pascack Valley, River Dell, West Essex, and Westwood. It also serves as special education counsel to districts including the Ramsey and Wyckoff. The law firm’s services include drafting and reviewing contracts, interlocal service agreements, and bid specifications, preparing policies, regulations, and resolutions, drafting legal documents and opinion letters, interpreting the impact of various state and/or federal laws and regulations on local policies, conducting in-service for admin(continued on page 21) Pete Says... ome “Brew your coffee with bottled spring water; you will have better tasting coffee with no mineral deposits.” 27 Franklin Tpk, Waldwick Open Sundays 9-3 201-652-5666 ������� ������������������������� � �������������������� � ������������������������������������������������������������ �������������������������������������������������������� ����������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������������������� �������������������������������������������������� ��������������������� Creative Kids Celebrations specializes in children’s cooking parties. We allow your child and their guests to create and enjoy their own culinary delights. ����������������������������������������� www.CreativeKidsCelebrations.com (201) 389-6464 3-25-09 kathy/janine CreativeKids2x2(3-25-09) 2 x 2” Spring specials available now for a limited time only. Call Robin at 973-636-7000