Earlier this month, Massachusetts’ highest court ruled favorably for Massachusetts Institute of Technology (“MIT”) and three school officials in a wrongful death lawsuit closely watched by educational institutions for close to a decade. The court found that while a special … Read more
Archives: Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities
Subscribe to Board Organization, Authority and Responsibilities RSS FeedSEE YOU IN COURT! – May 2018
Bob Bombast, veteran member of the Nutmeg Board of Education, was surprised to see a work team and a backhoe on the grounds of Median Middle School. So surprised in fact that he parked his car and walked over to … Read more
SEE YOU IN COURT! – April 2018
After serving as Chairperson of the Nutmeg Board of Education for six long years, Mr. Chairman announced unexpectedly at the last meeting in February that his company had transferred him to Illinois. At what would be his last meeting, Mr. … Read more
Sixth Circuit: Title VII Prohibits Discrimination Based on Transgender and/or Transitioning Status
Less than one week after the Second Circuit Court of Appeals held that Title VII’s prohibition on sex discrimination bars discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued its own landmark Title VII … Read more
SEE YOU IN COURT! – March 2018
Mark Millennial was recently elected to the Nutmeg Board of Education. More than ten years younger than any of the other Board members, Mark brings a new approach to Board service. His presence on social media is far more extensive … Read more
Education Legislation Summary: 2017 Special Session – Biennial Budget, Connecticut General Assembly
On October 26, 2017, the General Assembly passed Emergency Certified Bill 1502 (“Bill 1502” or “the Bill”). The Bill was signed by Governor Malloy on October 31, 2017 (except for a line item veto related to hospital charges). This summary … Read more
Title IX Procedures and The Need for Fairness to All Parties
Recent headlines make clear that sexual harassment is a serious problem in our society. It has also been a focus of attention on school campuses. Since the adoption of Title IX, colleges and universities, as well as other educational institutions, … Read more
In Aftermath of Hurricane Maria, Connecticut School Districts Reminded of Obligations to Displaced Puerto Rican Students
On September 28, 2017, Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy and Commissioner of Education Dr. Dianna R. Wentzell issued a joint memorandum to Connecticut superintendents of public schools outlining local educational agency (“LEA”) obligations to homeless youth displaced by natural disasters. … Read more
Equal Access in the Digital Age: OCR Ramps Up Investigations into Website Accessibility
Consider the fact that we now live in a digital age, with limitless information at our fingertips, accessible (to many of us) with a few keystrokes or a simple voice command into our now ubiquitous cell phones. Now consider that, … Read more
Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – Board Member Conduct: Empowering Good Behavior/Dealing with Bad Behavior
Join Shipman & Goodwin attorney Gary Brochu on September 22, 2017 for this complimentary webinar where he will discuss Board Member Conduct: Empowering Good Behavior/Dealing with Bad Behavior.
In addition to legal and procedural guidelines and requirements as to how … Read more
U.S. Department of Education Announces Intention to Review and Replace Title IX Regulations Concerning Sexual Harassment and Violence
On Thursday, in a speech by U.S. Department of Education Secretary Betsy Devos, the Department announced that it would undertake a review of its current Title IX enforcement guidance concerning campus-based sexual harassment and violence. Particularly, Ms. DeVos notified stakeholders … Read more
Connecticut Supreme Court Issues Decision in Munn v. Hotchkiss
On Friday, the Connecticut Supreme Court issued its long-awaited ruling in Munn v. Hotchkiss School, the case involving a private school student who contracted tick-borne encephalitis on a school-sponsored trip to China. In its ruling, the Supreme Court found unanimously … Read more
New Legislation Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements
This is an updated version of the original post, Legislature Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements, published on June 28, 2017.
Earlier this month, the Governor signed Public Act 17-220 (House Bill 7276), which contains a number of … Read more
Legislature Revises Physical Restraint and Seclusion Training Requirements
Earlier this month, the General Assembly passed House Bill 7276, now Public Act 17-220, which contains a number of provisions aimed at providing “mandate relief” to boards of education. Section 5 of Public Act 17-220, effective July 1, 2017, … Read more
Shipman & Goodwin Hosts Annual Law Day Event
On May 3, 2017, Connecticut area high school students learned firsthand about the legal profession at Shipman & Goodwin’s Law Day 2017, an annual event designed to give students from diverse backgrounds an inside view of life at a law … Read more
Fourth Circuit Reverses Preliminary Injunction in Transgender Student Rights Case; Adds its Two Cents
In March of 2017, the Supreme Court of the United States remanded the high profile transgender student rights case, Gloucester County School Board v. G.G. ex rel. Grimm, no 16-273, to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals for further … Read more
High School Sleuths Expose Questionable Credentials of New Principal
Earlier this month in the city of Pittsburg, Kansas, a group of curious student journalists raised serious questions about the credentials of their newly hired principal, Amy Robertson. According to the Kansas City Star, Robertson had received 100 percent … Read more
Webinar Recap: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
On January 26th attorney Gary Brochu provided another webinar in the Board Member Boot Camp webinar series. The focus of the latest webinar was the conducting of hearings by boards of education. The webinar discussed the various hearings that … Read more
Gary Brochu Presents at NSBA Meeting on a Board of Education’s Path to Excellence
On March 25, 2017, Shipman & Goodwin attorney Gary Brochu delivered a presentation entitled “From Awful to Award Winning: One Board’s Path to Excellence” at the National School Boards Association meeting in Denver, Colorado. Gary has presented numerous times at … Read more
Last Chance to Register! Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
There’s still time to register for this complimentary webinar offered to board of education members and chairs.
One of the responsibilities of serving on a board of education is serving as a hearing panelist. Boards of education are statutorily and … Read more
Supreme Court Clarifies FAPE Standard in Endrew F. Case
IEPs Must Be Reasonably Calculated to Enable Appropriate Progress in Light of Child’s Circumstances
For the first time in nearly 35 years, the Supreme Court of the United States has addressed the legal standard by which courts determine whether a … Read more
Webinar: Board Member Boot Camp – Conducting BOE Hearings
One of the responsibilities of serving on a board of education is serving as a hearing panelist. Boards of education are statutorily and often contractually required to conduct hearings, placing board members in a new and often unfamiliar role.
Join … Read more
Webinar Recap: Your Guide to Robert’s Rules of Order
On January 26th Attorney Gary Brochu provided another webinar in the Board Member Boot Camp webinar series. The focus of the latest webinar was the conducting of board of education meetings utilizing Robert’s Rules. The webinar provided a framework … Read more
Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy Instructs Connecticut Public Schools to Follow Withdrawn Federal Guidance regarding Transgender Students
Yesterday, in response to the withdrawal of federal guidance relating to the rights of transgender students, Connecticut Governor Dannel Malloy instructed Connecticut public schools to continue to follow the withdrawn guidance, pending the release of state guidance from the Connecticut … Read more
