What schools spent on legal fees, Cincinnati castles, today's top stories | Daily Briefing

Madeline Mitchell, Cincinnati Enquirer
·2 min read
Sara Jonas, a board member of Forest Hills Board of Education, laughs quietly on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, during the Forest Hills Board of Education meeting at Mercer Elementary School in Cincinnati.
Sara Jonas, a board member of Forest Hills Board of Education, laughs quietly on Wednesday, June 28, 2023, during the Forest Hills Board of Education meeting at Mercer Elementary School in Cincinnati.

Hi, I’m Madeline Mitchell, education reporter for The Enquirer.

Community members often voice concerns about how local public schools spend taxpayer dollars. Some of that money goes into a bucket for "legal fees." But how much? And do schools use legal counsel for anything outside of lawsuits?

I requested legal invoices from the region's 12 largest public school systems to find out. School districts need lawyers for lots of reasons. They help put together meeting agendas, advise on new policies and respond to records requests (including the ones I filed for this story). Administrators I talked to for this article all said they think the expense is worth it to keep schools running efficiently. But districts varied a lot when it came to the actual dollar amounts.

Of the districts surveyed, the most one spent per pupil on legal fees was about $75. The lowest amount per pupil was less than $5. Can you guess which district spent the most?

Click or tap here to learn more.

What else you need to know Tuesday, Aug. 1

☀️ Weather: High of 86. Hazy sun.

⚖️ Don't Miss: Meet the retired FBI agent who arrested Larry Householder.

🧐 Just Askin': The Kingdom of Greater Cincinnati has castles. What are they?

💰 Politics: Who makes the most money in Butler County government?

📺 Today in History: On August 1, 1981, the rock music video channel MTV made its debut.

Before you go: Another music venue in Cincy???

Conceptual layout of FC Cincinnati's mixed-use district in the West End by RIOS
Conceptual layout of FC Cincinnati's mixed-use district in the West End by RIOS

Amid a monster concert summer for the Queen City, news of another possible music venue opening in Cincinnati broke last week.

FC Cincinnati is exploring plans to build an entertainment facility north of TQL Stadium as part of a $300 million mixed-use district. Chad Munitz, the club's chief development officer, told The Enquirer it could fill a gap in the Greater Cincinnati music market and bring upwards of 200 more events to the district each year.

Interested in learning more? Click or tap here.

📰 Want a side of news with that breakfast? Subscribe to the Daily Briefing today 📰

Today's Top Stories

Apr 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sam Moll (60) throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the tenth inning at RingCentral Coliseum.
Apr 16, 2023; Oakland, California, USA; Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Sam Moll (60) throws a pitch against the New York Mets during the tenth inning at RingCentral Coliseum.

• Cincinnati Reds trade for Oakland A's left-handed reliever Sam Moll

Jul 5, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Boxes of signatures for the reproductive freedom ballot initiative at the loading dock of the office of the Secretary of State’s office in Downtown Columbus.
Jul 5, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; Boxes of signatures for the reproductive freedom ballot initiative at the loading dock of the office of the Secretary of State’s office in Downtown Columbus.

• Ohio abortion rights issue: Fall race looks to be expensive, fueled by out-of-state money

The former Hoffman School on Durrell Avenue in the Evanston neighborhood of Cincinnati on Tuesday, March 21, 2023. The Christ Temple Baptist Church currently resides in the building, but church leader, pastor Peterson Mingo, and the congregation have said the maintenance and repairs required to keep the building safe and operational are beyond their means.

• Old Hoffman School could still be preserved

Cincinnati's Thanksgiving Day 10K race is getting a makeover.
Cincinnati's Thanksgiving Day 10K race is getting a makeover.

• Cincinnati's Thanksgiving Day race has a new route. Here's where it goes

NOVEMBER 29, 1982: Ken Riley has more interceptions than any other active player in the NFL. Ken Riley played quarterback in college but was converted to cornerback because the Bengals drafted quarterback Greg Cook the same season. The Enquirer/Dick Swaim
NOVEMBER 29, 1982: Ken Riley has more interceptions than any other active player in the NFL. Ken Riley played quarterback in college but was converted to cornerback because the Bengals drafted quarterback Greg Cook the same season. The Enquirer/Dick Swaim

• 'One of the greatest players ever to do it': Ken Riley set for posthumous Hall of Fame enshrinement

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What schools spent on legal fees, Cincinnati castles | Daily Briefing