Oh yeah! They lured the school board into this mess by promising to defend them for free. Now, it looks like the school board may end up with a titanic legal bill. How much will a six-week-long trial in a federal court cost, with not only legal fees (a few thousand per day, per lawyer), but also lots of witness fees, travel costs, and daily transcripts? And don't forget, the lawyers are still working, submitting legal briefs, proposed findings of fact, etc. Could be half a million, before it's all over. (Give or take a few hundred thousand.)
I wouldn't be surprised if the school board is considering a suit against their lawyers for sucking them into this mess. That won't get very far, probably, but it's something to think about.
I think perhaps the school board members will face a class action suit by the taxpayers, and may lose on the basis of their perjury. I don't think public officials are immune from the results of actions taken in bad faith. So to speak.
I think you underestimate the cupidity of laywers. Estimates I've seen for this case have been a kewl $1.7 m.
Saw this issue in a previous thread a few weeks back; the estimate of the plaintiffs' legal bill at that time was reported in the media as being around $1 million.
Not to mention that certain members will be lucky to escape perjury charges!