Tarbox named to state school board attorney council

The attorney who serves the Daleville City, Dale County and Coffee County Boards of Education has been named to the Alabama Council of School Board Attorney’s Board of Directors.

James Tarbox, of Marsh and Cotter Law Offices, is among those elected to serve on the the state council for the 2021-2022 membership year at the ACSBA Summer Conference held June 19-20 in Gulf Shores.

Marsh and Cotter Law Offices represents the three local school boards. Tarbox handles the day-to-day legal work for each of the boards. Dale Marsh has previously served on the board of directors for ACSBA and served as the association's president from 2005-2006.

“I was blessed to be placed in a situation early in my legal career where Mr. (Dale) Marsh handed me the work for the Dale County Board of Education in early 2014 and my responsibility level for our firm’s education work has grown and evolved ever since,” Tarbox said. “I consider it an honor to be able to represent these education clients and help them navigate the ins and outs of the legal issues affecting school boards.”

Practicing law since 2013, Tarbox is Coffee County Bar Association President and Enterprise Rotary Club President.

“Serving as a school board attorney really is a very general practice and you have to be ready to take a call about anything from reviewing a contract to advising on state and federal employment laws, to special education law, and everything in between. It really keeps you on your toes.”

Also at the ACSBA Summer Conference, Christopher M. Pape of Lanier, Ford, Shavers and Payne PC in Huntsville, was elected president of the council and Dr. Ashaunti Pritchett Parker, Ed.D., of Birmingham City Schools was elected vice president.

Other board of director members elected are Leslie A. Allen of Resolutions in Special Education in Birmingham; R. Nash Campbell of Adams and Reese LLP in Mobile; Immediate Past President Dana B. Hill of Hill, Hill, Carter, Franco, Cole and Black PC in Birmingham; and Sarah D. Young, General Counsel for Baldwin County Schools.

AASB Executive Director Sally Smith, J.D. serves as secretary-treasurer for ACSBA and AASB General Counsel and Director of Legal Advocacy Jayne Harrell Williams serves as liaison to ACSBA.

The Alabama Council of School Board Attorneys is an affiliate of the Alabama Association of School Boards. Members meet to discuss current education and legal issues and to share their knowledge of laws, court rulings and national developments that impact local school boards. The Alabama Association of School Boards represents all of the state’s public local school boards.