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School attorney list is trimmed to three

Each of the finalists has experience as a school district's legal representative, with two of them in that role at this time.

By ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published February 2, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - It took minutes for Hernando School Board members to settle on the finalists they want to select from to hire their first full-time attorney: three lawyers with experience working for other Florida school districts.

Thomas E. Elfers is currently the attorney for the Martin County School District. James E. Wade III was the attorney for the Sumter County School District between 1998-2000. And James A. Robinson III is currently the attorney for the Alachua County School Board.

The Hernando board also selected two other candidates as alternates for interviews if one of their top three choices doesn't work out: Timothy Beasley, an attorney with experience in Palm Beach County, and former county judge Peyton Hyslop.

Hyslop, who was defeated last fall in his bid for re-election, was the only Hernando resident board members considered for an interview.

Board member Sandra Nicholson said she wanted to see references from the finalists, especially those who had frequently moved from one job to another. She also said the board should contact employers and others who have worked with the finalists, in addition to any references provided.

"I want to know: Is there any reason you were at a job for one or two years and then moved on?" Nicholson said.

One of the finalists, Robinson, wrote on his resume that he left the Martin County School Board after seven months to be closer to his older son and daughter while they attended the University of Florida. The other two finalists have had both long and short tenures of employment with companies and governments.

Wade was the attorney for the Sumter County School District for just two years as well, but worked as the attorney for the city of Bushnell for seven years.

The School Board is slated to interview the three finalists, out of the dozen who applied, the afternoon of Feb. 22. Current board attorney Karen Gaffney, who has a private practice in addition to her contract work for the school district, has told the board she will continue to help out the district until her replacement is hired.

The School Board's advertisement for the position listed a salary range of $65,000 to $110,000.

Abhi Raghunathan can be reached at araghunathan@sptimes.com or 352-848-1431.

[Last modified February 2, 2005, 00:32:17]