William “Bill” Schuetz is a Shareholder based out of DWK’s Sacramento Office. For over 20 years Bill has provided trusted legal assistance and counsel to public school districts, county offices of education, and community college districts across a broad spectrum of areas.
Bill is widely recognized for his expertise in all areas of charter school law and regularly provides assistance to charter authorizer school district and county office of education clients throughout California regarding various charter school related legal matters and issues. Throughout his legal career, Bill has analyzed and assisted clients with the review and processing of hundreds of charter petitions, making him well versed to effectively guide staff and trustees through all stages of the charter petition process.
In addition, Bill provides assistance and counsel to authorizer clients regarding the charter renewal process, charter denials, revocations, closures, charter appeals through the State level, authorizer-operated “dependent” charter school development and operation, charter school oversight functions and responsibilities, and guidance regarding charter school related legislative changes.
Bill also supports school district clients through the entire Proposition 39 charter school facilities, process, including proposal preparation, preparing facilities use agreements, and negotiation of alternative facilities arrangements. Bill regularly provides trainings on various charter school related topics for in-house professional development, the DWK Charter Authorizer Consortium, and at state-wide and local conferences including CSBA and CASBO.
In addition to his primary practice in the area of charter school law, Bill provides legal guidance and assistance to public education clients in other practice areas, including labor and employment, business/facilities/construction, and Board governance related matters and issues, including the Brown Act and conflict of interest laws.
- In the area of labor and employment, Bill advises and represents public education clients regarding collective bargaining and matters before the Public Employment Relations Board, employee discipline and dismissal, and discrimination and harassment complaint investigation matters.
- In the area of facilities and construction, Bill assists clients with preparation and negotiation of various transactional documents, including facilities use agreements, with the resolution of subcontractor claims, contractor termination, public works project administration and close-out, and related litigation.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Bill had the experience of working at various California administrative agencies, including the California Legislative Counsel Bureau, where he gained valuable skills and insight into the legislative process which helps him represent and effectively advocate for clients in the education law arena.
Bill is a Southern California native residing in Placer County where all of his children attend public schools. Since 2016 Bill has served on the Board of Trustees of the elementary school district in which he lives providing him with a unique perspective and insight that enables him to better serve his education clients.
