Overview

• The Jacksonville City Council voted 8–9 against endorsing a local J-bill that would let the Duval County School Board hire its own attorney, leaving the city Office of General Counsel in charge.
• The Duval Delegation is expected to take up the measure next week in Tallahassee, with local public hearings required before any state action.
• Supporters argued separate counsel would improve hiring and provide specialized education-law expertise to better serve the district.
• Opponents warned the change could erode the consolidated city-county system and create management issues, with the Mayor’s Office noting lawsuits would still flow through the city’s legal team.
• The push followed an August 5–2 School Board vote driven by recruitment challenges, including loss of state retirement benefits, after board attorney Ray Poole resigned in May.