An attorney could be placed on retainer for the Mandan School Board.

The board discussed the possibility at its meeting Monday night. The board will take the issue up again at its board retreat in August.

"The problem with the election was where the board felt there might be a need," Superintendent Wilfred Volesky said.

There also are times the board asks Volesky legal questions, which delays issues to another meeting until he gets an answer.

As it is, the district pays for membership in the North Dakota School Board Association. Through this membership, it has access to attorney Gary Thune. He does not attend meetings, but he is occasionally consulted on behalf of the board. The district uses other attorneys for real estate transactions and financial issues.

The possibility of hiring an attorney on retainer met with mixed reaction. Some board members were concerned the district is already paying for legal service through its NDSBA membership, while other board members want an attorney to regularly attend meetings. A few board members want to at least look into the cost of such a decision.

"Ifeel it is important, especially with everything through the last few months," board member Jill Goetz said.

The district could look at hiring an attorney to attend every meeting or just come to meetings when there are issues that might have legal implications. "I'm looking at possibly a monthly retainer," board member Donna Fishbeck said.

The district has had an attorney on retainer in the past, board member Lee Fleischer said.

The number of times an attorney might be needed could be few, board member Dan Leingang said. He would rather the board take extra time on an issue and use Thune, he said.

Part of the discussion needs to include a review of what the district already spends on legal expenses, board member Tom Arenz said. "It would be helpful to know what we spend already," he said.

The board also agreed to use existing long-term maintenance money at the Mandan Community Center for the pool. The district also will take on special assessments for the community center.

The board also directed architect Al Fitterer to create a draft design of how the community center space could be renovated. The district has used a preliminary floor plan that Fitterer said was meant to give the district an idea if the space would fit its needs.

A new logo for the district also was approved. It is a capital M with the word "Braves." It will be used for letterheads, handbooks and other materials that use a district logo.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@;bismarcktribune.com.)