Hazel Park school board takes up second contract with outside law firm

A second agreement with The Williams Firm, the Grand Blanc law firm the Hazel Park Board of Education hired in August, went before the board Monday, Oct. 12. The public documents don't say what the firm would be hired to do.

The agreement was item D.2, "Williams Law Firm," on the agenda for the board's Committee of the Whole meeting, which started at 5:30 p.m. at the Ford Administration Building. Two documents were attached:

• a board memo titled "The Williams Firm, P.C. Representation Agreement"
• the agreement itself, in a file named "2026 October Investigation 2 Hazel Park Schools Representation Agreement"

The word "investigation" appears only in that file name. It does not appear in the body of the agreement.

What the documents say

The agreement is a letter from attorney Kendall B. Williams to interim Superintendent Griff Mills, dated Oct. 5. It says it covers "all matters in which our law firm renders legal services."

The cover memo from Mills, dated Oct. 12, describes the scope as legal services "in matters for which the Firm is retained." It recommends the board approve the agreement "as presented" and lists the General Fund as the source of the money.

The memo lists hourly rates by attorney:

• Kendall B. Williams: $450
• Timothy R. Winship and Sean M. Siebigteroth: $400
• Chelsea S. Down and Marc D. Morse: $350

The firm also appeared on the board's Oct. 5 special workshop agenda as "Williams Law Firm," with no documents attached.

Was it approved?

The Journal has not confirmed whether the board took any action on the agreement Monday.

The district's calendar lists Committee of the Whole meetings separately from regular meetings. The board's next regular meeting is Monday, Oct. 19, at 6 p.m.

Monday's agenda also listed a closed session to consider attorney-client privileged material. No agenda item named Superintendent Amy Wilcox. A video of the meeting is posted on the district's YouTube channel.

Other items included a first reading of fund balance policy language, a Webb Roofing update, training on long-range financial projections, the September check register, and a proposed 2027 high school drama trip to New York City.

The first agreement

The board voted 7-0 on Aug. 24 to hire The Williams Firm at $350 to $450 an hour. The minutes say members wanted an independent firm with no prior history with the district, but they don't say what the firm was hired to do. Part 1 of this series has more on that vote and on Wilcox's federal lawsuit against the district and board.

Since Part 1

On Sept. 28, the board voted 4-3 to accept a retirement agreement from Wilcox, The Detroit News reported. Board members Monica Rattee, April Beaton, Darrin Fox and Nathan Becker voted yes. Board President Beverly Hinton, Vice President Deborah Laframboise and Treasurer Heidi Fortress voted no.

According to the News, the terms were not made clear. The agreement includes a release of all claims if both sides sign it, which would end the lawsuit. It had not been signed by both parties as of that night.

The Journal has not been able to confirm whether the agreement has since been signed, or whether the lawsuit has been dismissed.

Questions outstanding

The district has not publicly said:

• what "Investigation 2" refers to
• what the firm was hired to do in August, or what it has billed so far
• whether the board acted on the new agreement Oct. 12
• whether the retirement agreement has been signed by both sides

The Journal will update this story with any response from the district.

This story uses Hazel Park Board of Education agendas, memos and minutes posted on the district's BoardBook portal, the district's meeting calendar, and reporting from The Detroit News (Sept. 28, 2026).