Blogs

The OSBA Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) recently assisted the Strongsville City School District Board of Education by submitting a amicus curiae brief supporting the district's position in a public records case.

On March 4, the Strongsville Education Association (SEA) began a labor strike of the district's facilities. The school board hired temporary replacement teachers and continued operating the schools. The strike continued until April 28, when the parties approved a successor collective bargaining agreement.

On March 5, two attorneys served various public records requests…

During 2009, the Martins Ferry City School District experienced financial difficulties. As a result, contract negotiations between the board of education and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees, Local 4 AFSCME and its Local 546 (OAPSE) resulted in a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that did not provide a wage increase in 2009, but included wage reopener provisions for 2010 and 2011.

In January 2010, the board implemented a 5% uniform salary reduction. OAPSE filed grievances after the reduction was implemented alleging that the uniform salary reduction violated the…

The OSBA Legal Assistance Fund (LAF) recently provided support to the Chardon Local School District Board of Education by providing financial assistance in a teacher termination case.

In 2010, a teacher employed by the Chardon Local School District caused a head-on collision with another automobile, resulting in severe injuries to the driver of the other vehicle. The teacher, who admitted that she had been drinking before the collision, lied to the investigating police officer by telling him that her husband was driving the car involved in the collision. Only after the officer…

There are special rules in place for teachers and other instructional employees who take leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) at or near the end of the school year. The federal regulations contemplate three different scenarios, depending on when the employee takes the leave.

• More than 5 weeks until summer. If an employee begins FMLA leave more than five weeks before the end of the term, the district may require the employee to continue taking leave until the end of the term if the leave…