The Polk County Charter Association has paid $117,104 in lawyer fees for a dispute that has gone on for more than a year with the Polk County School District concerning services the district provides to the charter schools and the distribution of funding.
That's $76,074 more than the district has spent to defend itself.
While both parties have resolved the handling of services the charter association is now quibbling about federal funds it's not receiving and wants an administrative law judge to resolve the issue.
Robin Gibson, a Lake Wales lawyer representing the Charter Association, said he doesn't know the exact dollar amount the charter schools claim they should be receiving compared to what they are receiving.
Charter officials also are questioning how the district is handling funding from a half-cent sales tax for schools and maintenance funds.
"The law says charter students are to be funded the same as district students," Gibson said. "We've never had the information to verify (the district is complying with that law), causing speculation to run rampant. We wanted to stop the constant bickering and get on with educating our students."
The lawyers' fees include $97,023 to Gibson, $5,692 to one of his associates and $14,388in court costs and expert witness assistance on charter school finance.
Since July 2010, Boswell & Dunlap of Bartow has invoiced the district $41,030 for services related to Gibson's lawsuit. And at the Oct. 25 School Board meeting, the board approved a contract with Tampa law firm Thompson, Sizemore, Gonzalez to represent the district in the dispute. School Board Attorney Wes Bridges previously said the Tampa law firm was retained because it is a "special litigator."
Tags: district charter school gibson schools board services receiving students association
© Copyright 2012, Inc. All rights reserved.