On April 11, the Board of Directors for the Ohio Bureau of Workers' Compensation (BWC) voted to return up to $1.6 billion to Ohio employers this spring in an effort to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on Ohio’s economy and business community.
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Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) has many provisions to assist the country in this time of pandemic, the focus here will be only on emergency sick leave and…
As this week of dramatic change comes to a close, we hope it finds you and your loved ones safe. One thing that has become very clear during this time is how important public schools are to the entire fabric of their communities. We, at OSBA, are ready to help districts as they continue to perform vital functions for students and their families.
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The Ohio Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) has, like most other governmental offices, required its staff to telework while continuing business operations. However, since many of BWC’s field operations involve face-to-face meetings or hearings, their processes and procedures have been modified. Most matters have been extended until April 30, 2020. BWC has developed a FAQ regarding …
Across the country, individuals have been required or encouraged to limit face-to-face meetings and practice “social distancing” to slow the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). In light of these guidelines, OSBA has received numerous questions regarding the applicability of Ohio’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) during the pandemic. Because these state directives are changing on a day-to-day basis, boards should consult with legal counsel before making decisions about their meetings.
Can we cancel our school board meeting?
Boards of education are…
It’s nomination season at OSBA! If you, your district or your law firm would like to propose a session for the 2020 Capital Conference, the nomination form is now available on OSBA’s website. The deadline for nominations is next Wednesday, March 4.
Nominators can be board members or employees of…
For those school districts who will be involved in negotiations in 2020, now is the time to start your preparations and draft proposals. Of course, knowing exactly what to propose is usually an amalgam of available resources coupled with trends and expectations. One of the best locations to gather information on a variety of negotiating trends in Ohio is from the State Employment Relations Board’s (SERB)…
We, at OSBA, would like for all members to be able to attend all of our workshops but we know that is unattainable. We understand everyone’s busy schedules and other obligations. Keeping our members informed is a top priority, and that is why OSBA has …
Along with a new year comes new obligations and requirements that schools must meet with respect to Workers Compensation. One of the easiest ways to stay up-to-date is by attending one of the upcoming SchoolComp workshops to hear the latest on workers compensation, rates, filing deadlines, retrospective and group requirements, unemployment, MCO and BWC updates, and safety training. While designed with our programs’ plan…
Recently, the U.S. Department of Education made two announcements that will affect the legal landscape once implemented.
In the first press release, the department announced that the Office for Civil…
