Question of the Month: How much access do board members have to student and employee records?
Access to student records
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NOTE: This information is designed merely to inform and alert you of recent legal developments. This blog is not a substitute for competent legal counsel and readers should not act upon this information without legal advice. If legal advice is needed with respect to a specific factual situation, readers are encouraged to seek professional assistance.
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When are committees and subcommittees subject to the Open Meetings Act? - Sidebar
In today’s Legal Ledger Sidebar, Sara Clark and John Price discuss committees and subcommittees, which is a topic that comes up frequently for our members. Specifically, they discuss when committees are required to comply with the Open Meetings Act and what that means.
Bus driver flex career path model created by DEW
The last budget bill, House Bill 33, made significant changes to public education in Ohio. Over the last few months, OSBA’s legal division has been sharing information and resources developed by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce (DEW) to implement those changes.
Participating in political activities
As we approach the March 19 primary election, we’ve started receiving more calls on the legal hotline about the ability of board members and district employees to engage in political activities.
Voting at school board meetings – Sidebar
In the most recent OSBA Legal Ledger Sidebar, Sara Clark and Jennifer Hardin discuss voting at school board meetings, including quorum, specific requirements for votes, method of voting and executive sessions.
Office for Civil Rights guidance document
Earlier this week, the Office for Civil Rights (OCR) at the U.S. Department of Education issued new guidance documents on Section 504 (Sec. 504) of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Sec. 504 prohibits discrimination against students with disabilities by public schools and other institutions receiving federal funds. The four new guidance documents provide assistance to school districts on Sec. 504 rights of students with specific conditions.
Board members serving in other roles
Recently, we’ve received several calls on the OSBA legal hotline about the ability of a board member to serve in different capacities within the community. Being an effective board member requires a combination of skills and traits, and a commitment to the welfare of the educational community.
Join OSBA for our Annual Special Education Law Workshop on Feb. 23
OSBA’s popular Special Education Law Workshop is just two weeks away! This year, the workshop is taking place on Friday, February 23, 2024, from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. We’re offering the workshop as a hybrid event for your convenience. You can either join us in person at OSBA’s offices at 8050 North High St. in Columbus or join us virtually on Zoom.
Question of the Month: Can a school board member sell anything to the district?
For 2024, the OSBA legal division has decided to bring back a popular blog feature: question of the month. We will be focusing on questions that apply to many school board members and come up frequently in phone calls and presentations.
2024's first question of the month is: Can a school board member sell anything to the district? There are a couple of laws that apply to this question.
Becoming a pro at parliamentary procedure
Most school boards in Ohio rely on Robert’s Rules of Order to help them run effective and efficient school board meetings. Although there are aspects of Robert’s that you will never use as a school board member, there are several you’ll find yourself using more regularly. Let’s discuss a few topics that members frequently call us about on the OSBA legal hotline.