School board awards legal contracts to district’s chief attorney’s wife, ex-Paterson law director
By Jayed Rahman
Published: October 22, 2019
School board members awarded a pair of legal contracts worth $150,000 last week to the wife of the district’s chief legal counsel and former municipal law director.
First contract was awarded to former municipal law director Khalifah Shabazz for $75,000. She served in mayor Andre Sayegh’s administration for 13 months before resigning in August.
Second contract was awarded to Karen Murray, wife of the district’s chief attorney Robert Murray. Her contract is also for $75,000. She has been working for the district under her husband’s firm for years, according to district officials.
School district officials said there is no ethical issue with the award and it does not contravene the district’s anti-nepotism policy.
Both contracts were awarded last Wednesday. Both contracts run from Oct. 1, 2019 through Jun. 30, 2020.
In the spring, the district awarded $785,000 in legal contracts.
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