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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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Upcoming deadlines for Ohio public schools

Summer is still a busy time for school districts and educational service centers in Ohio. There are several deadlines for statutory reporting requirements that fall during the summer months. Among those deadlines are:

Question of the Month: Can a school board member vote on the district’s negotiated collective bargaining agreement if their family member is employed by the district?  

Ohio’s Ethics Law generally prohibits a public official from using their influence to secure authorization of a public contract for the public official’s family. However, the Ohio Ethics Commission has held that a school board member can vote, discuss, deliberate, lobby or otherwise participate in the ratification or rejection of a negotiated collective bargaining agreement (CBA) that affects their family member, so long as the following criteria are met:  

Federal district court issues injunction blocking new Title IX rule

On June 17, 2024, a federal district court in Kentucky issued an injunction blocking implementation of the new Title IX rule issued by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) in April. The injunction is effective in Ohio and several other states. Over the past few weeks, OSBA has posted information for our members about the new rule, as it would create significant changes to the scope of Title IX and the processes that must be followed when allegations of sex discrimination are made in schools.

Cell phones and schools

This week’s blog post examines cell phone usage and schools, including the new law requiring districts to adopt a policy on student cell phone use and legal issues related to cell phone use by board members.

Question of the month: There is a vacancy on our board. What do we do?

We at OSBA get a lot of questions about board vacancies. This topic is tricky because often board vacancies happen unexpectedly or under less-than-ideal circumstances, and the timing requirements under RC 3313.11 can be awkward. The first step is to recognize when a vacancy occurs, so that the board can ensure that it acts within the applicable timelines. Board vacancies occur when a member resigns, moves out of the district, is removed from office, passes away or otherwise becomes ineligible to hold the office.