See You In Court! – March 2020
The Nutmeg Public Schools have had problem after problem with its payroll software for a few years now. The latest glitch caused a delay of two days in sending out paychecks, which resulted in a visit...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – March 2020
Dear Legal Mailbag: Recently, a 7th-grade special education teacher in my building began maternity leave. The other special education teachers, paraprofessionals, and tutors here have been picking up...
View ArticleCDC Provides Interim Guidance on the Coronavirus for School Districts
Coronavirus Disease 2019 (“COVID-19”) is a respiratory illness caused by a novel (new) virus, and we are learning more about it every day. There is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19. At...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – September 2019
Dear Legal Mailbag: Though the new school year is barely two weeks old, I am sorry to report that I have already been through an expulsion hearing. On the very first day of school, one of my students...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – September 2019 #2
Dear Legal Mailbag: School is up and running and so are those PPT meetings. During a recent meeting, a parent placed his cell phone face up on our conference table. As soon as we started, I noticed...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – September 2019 #3
Dear Legal Mailbag: Local elections are coming up and a teacher in my school came to me with an interesting question. One of the students in her class is the daughter of someone running for mayor...
View ArticleMarijuana, Medication, and Minors, Oh My! New Medication Laws For Schools
You would be forgiven if you can’t keep up with the many changes in the Illinois laws governing education at back-to-school time this year. As if Illinois special educators and administrators don’t...
View ArticleSee You In Court! – October 2019
Patty Parent, a single mother, came to the office at Acorn Elementary School at the beginning of the school year, asking that the office change the address for her two children. However, when she gave...
View Article2019 Legislative Update: Summary of Changes in School Law #2
Franczek P.C. is pleased to announce the publication of its annual Legislative Update for schools. With the flood of legislative changes in Illinois this year, it is more imperative than ever for...
View ArticleThe Ohio Senate Is Moving On ADC Reform
The Ohio Senate Education Committee has renewed its interest in reforming state takeovers (H.B. 70). The most recent state budget, H.B. 166 (adopted in July 2019) included a moratorium prohibiting the...
View ArticleTrump Administration Releases School Safety District Guide
On September 25, 2019, the U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services released The Role of...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week - October 2019 #3
Dear Legal Mailbag: As is the case with a number of school districts in my part of the state, our enrollment is declining at an alarming rate. Our board of education has been discussing how best to...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week - October 2019 #4
Dear Legal Mailbag: I am a school administrator, and some students in my district have found that the bus is a good place for them to sneak in a few “hits” on a vape pen while being transported to and...
View ArticleThe Star System: How Will Your School District Rate?
On November 22, 2019, Auditor Keith Faber announced that his office plans to rate local governments and state agencies based upon implementation and application of best practices for compliance with...
View ArticleSee You In Court! - December 2019
Last year, the holiday season was awash in controversy for the Nutmeg Public Schools after the principal of Acorn Elementary School came to school dressed as Santa Claus and passed out presents to...
View ArticleSingle Contractor Not Precluded from Providing Both Design and Construction...
Case Provides Valuable Guidance for Public Agencies Wanting One Contractor for Two Phases - A contractor that had two separate contracts with a school district — one for preconstruction services and...
View ArticleCAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – December 2019
Dear Legal Mailbag: A parent just left my office, and my head is spinning. He claims to be super religious, and he expressed concern about the middle school curriculum. He explained that parents, not...
View ArticleTexas Takes The Lead Protecting Private And Independent School Students
In its most recent legislative session, Texas lawmakers took a number of steps designed to protect students from potential harm due to sexual misconduct. The new rules extend to certain obligations and...
View ArticleNew York Court Upholds Law Eliminating Religious Exemption From Mandatory...
On December 3, 2019, a New York court upheld a recently-amended New York law that eliminated the availability of a religious exemption from compulsory vaccination of schoolchildren. Background - The...
View ArticleNew Guidance Clarifies Schools Health Records Governed by FERPA Are Not...
New guidance issued jointly by the U.S. Department of Education and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advises schools that most health information relating to students at...
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