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The male hand holding a phoneThe Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) recently issued a declaratory ruling confirming “that school callers may lawfully make robocalls and send automated texts to student family…
Continue Reading FCC Issues Declaratory Ruling that School Districts May Make “Robocalls” Without Violating Telephone Consumer Protection Act

Sick woman blowing nose, sitting by the table, working at home office, drinking tea and eating citrus fruit while working. Directly above shot

No good deed goes unpunished, or so the old saying goes. And employers who are unaware of the concept of “past practice” soon learn the meaning of this expression. Recently a Connecticut Superior Court decision, which upheld the decision of the State Board of Labor Relations, affirmed how a past practice on the part of an employer can create a non-bargained benefit for its employees.

A Teachers’ Union filed a complaint with the State Board of Labor Relations after a teacher’s request for use of sick days from a “sick bank” was denied. The Union claimed a unilateral change to a mandatory subject of bargaining in violation of the Teacher Negotiation Act. Specifically, the Labor Board found that the practice of donated sick leave to a sick bank and the ability of a teacher to use this time upon exhaustion of their own sick leave was a benefit that had been established by past practice, despite the fact that the collective bargaining agreement contained no reference to a sick bank. In response, the Board of Education appealed the decision of the Labor Board.Continue Reading No Good Deed Goes Unpunished: Past Practice as a Trap for the Unwary

Join School Law attorney Gary R. Brochu for this complimentary webinar, where he will discuss the various aspects of the roles and responsibilities of the…
Continue Reading There’s Still Time to Register! Board Member Boot Camp: Roles and Responsibilities Webinar

asbjlogo (00000002)The school board plays a pivotal role in improving student achievement

“Learning is not attained by chance. It must be sought with ardor and attended to with diligence.” — Abigail Adams

Barely a week goes by without the reporting of our ongoing and seemingly endless national debate about public education and the quality of our nations’ schools. This debate typically invokes such topics as testing, curriculum, funding, standards, parental involvement, teacher quality, and a myriad of school-related topics.

Only rarely does this national conversation turn to school boards and their role—positive or negative—in improving student achievement. School boards are a unique American institution, statutorily empowered with the responsibility of governing our public schools. Yet they are often an afterthought when it comes to discussions about the quality of the education provided to our children.Continue Reading The Governance – Achievement Link