On June 27, 2022 the United States Supreme Court surprised many observers by holding that the free exercise and free speech rights of a football
Continue Reading Kennedy v. Bremerton School District: A Coach’s Prayers Are Answered

Emerging School Law Issues
Tom is chair emeritus of the School Law Practice Group and is active in all areas of school law, including labor negotiations for certified and non-certified staff, teacher tenure proceedings, grievance arbitration, freedom of information hearings, student disciplinary matters, special education disputes and all other legal proceedings involving boards of education. Tom is the author of A Practical Guide to Connecticut School Law (9th Edition, 2018), a comprehensive treatise on Connecticut school law, and two columns, "See You in Court!," which appears in the CABE Journal, and "Legal Mailbag," which appears in the CAS Bulletin.
On June 27, 2022 the United States Supreme Court surprised many observers by holding that the free exercise and free speech rights of a football…
Continue Reading Kennedy v. Bremerton School District: A Coach’s Prayers Are Answered
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
I keep personal notes in my right-hand desk drawer to document my concerns with teachers
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 6/23/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
The end of the current school year cannot come soon enough. As the principal of
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 6/16/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
As the principal of a middle school, I am investigating a complaint that a teacher
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 6/9/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
I have always understood that personnel matters are confidential. Therefore, I was surprised when the…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 6/2/22
As the end of the school year approaches, most of the members of the Nutmeg Board of Education are looking forward to putting the challenges…
Continue Reading See You In Court – June 2022
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
A family just moved to town, and they enrolled their fourth-grade son in the elementary…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 5/26/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
Must a dress code be part of a teacher’s contract? Here is my issue:
When
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 5/19/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
Next week, we have our junior prom, and as principal I will be stationed at
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 5/5/22
Originally appeared in the CAS Weekly Newsletter
Dear Legal Mailbag:
With all we learned during the pandemic, we are certainly capable of pivoting to remote
…
Continue Reading CAS Legal Mailbag Question of the Week – 5/12/22