Board approves renewal of long‑time legal services agreement; attorney discloses AI use for legal research only

The Roanoke Rapids City Schools Board of Trustees on April 21 authorized a renewal of its legal services contract with the district’s long‑standing outside counsel. Patricia Robinson, who presented the renewal, said the firm has provided services to the board since 2015 and the partnership has decided to raise rates after a long period without increases.

Robinson told trustees the decision to raise rates was made by the firm’s partnership and not by her alone and said the proposed agreement and timing reflected that decision. "During that time, we have not raised rates at all... the partnership has made [the decision to raise rates]... these rates are still very modest in comparison to the field, but are necessary for us to continue to do the work that we do," Robinson said.

Board member Mr. Saling asked whether the firm uses artificial‑intelligence tools in its work. Robinson said the firm recently "transitioned to a new legal research platform that uses AI to help make legal research more efficient," and that she was not using AI to generate written products for the district: "I'm not using AI for written product for you all. I'm drafting that." She added the firm is studying the technology and considering efficiency uses such as research.

A motion to approve the renewal was made and seconded (recorded in the meeting as a motion by Mr. Salic and second by Miss Keer). The board voted to approve the contract renewal; the meeting record names the firm variously as Clarendon Smith and Farington/Farington Smith in different places in the transcript packet. The board will obtain the final signed agreement following approval.

The record shows trustees asked explicitly about the use of emerging tools; the attorney disclosed adoption of an AI research platform but confirmed that she personally remains responsible for drafting the firm's written legal work delivered to the board.

Next steps: the district will execute the agreement and staff will obtain signatures; trustees did not direct further action regarding AI use beyond asking for clarification during the renewal discussion.