School Law Conference

An update on Commissioner of Education decisions, AG opinions and school finance litigation.

Mark P. Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX

A review of the current processes used by SBEC staff to conduct investigations into allegations of educator misconduct with an examination of recent SBEC decisions, policies and rules to discern the standards applied to determine whether sanctions should be imposed for certain types of misconduct, and if so, what those sanctions should be.

Julie A. Leahy, Texas Classroom Teachers Association - Austin, TX

This presentation compares and contrasts Chapter 21 of the Texas Labor Code with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and touches on substantive and procedural aspects of the two statutes in order to determine whether plaintiffs and defendants prefer one to the other. The extent to which these supposedly parallel remedies actually diverge is also considered.

Ellen Sprovach, Rosenberg & Sprovach - Houston, TX
Francisco J. Valenzuela, Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt & Kutchi - Dallas, TX

Attorneys from both sides of the bar provide their perspectives on judicial developments under the Whistleblower Act, including a review of recent Texas Supreme Court cases that impose new pleading requirements on plaintiffs.

Lisa A. Brown, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX
John W. Judge, Judge, Kostura & Putman, P.C. - Austin, TX

You mean we need an architect AND a lawyer to build it?

Wayne D. Haglund, Attorney at Law - Lufkin, TX

The statutory guidance of the role of the internal auditor is limited. Discussed are the legal and ethical issues a school law practitioner needs to examine when dealing with audits, reports and communication between the internal auditor and Board members or administrative staff. Additional issues covered are the evaluation process, suggested Board policies and troubling issues affecting internal auditors.

Juan J. Cruz, Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz, LLP - Laredo, TX

Examination of the current debate over vouchers in the public school system, including pros and cons of common voucher systems, constitutional and other legal issues, pending legislation and how vouchers have been treated in other parts of the country.

Christopher B. Gilbert, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX

Individual mental health issues in the workplace are complex and challenging for workers and management alike. Hear from two veteran school lawyers how employers and employees can/should work together to accommodate these concerns for the good of all.

Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim, Arnett, Robinett, Conners & McCormick, P.C. - Austin, TX
Dorcas A. Green, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - Austin, TX

A legal analysis of when a school district may discipline an educator for off-duty conduct.

Joey W. Moore, Texas State Teachers Association - Austin, TX

Discussion regarding recent developments in the law governing off-campus student speech and technology usage, cell phone searches, e-issues and limits on the school district's ability to regulate or control off-campus student conduct or speech.

Jonathan Griffin Brush, Rogers, Morris & Grover LLP - Houston, TX

School districts increasingly are becoming battlegrounds for shaping the First Amendment rights of students, employees and community members. Whether it is a group seeking a last-minute injunction to prohibit prayer at graduation or cheerleaders seeking injunctive relief to permit the display of "Christian" messages on team banners, school districts face significant challenges in balancing the rights of all parties. This presentation provides a view of the developments in student religious speech at schools.

Stacy Tuer Castillo, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - San Antonio, TX
Donald Craig Wood, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - San Antonio, TX

Review of the latest decisions related to the Open Meetings Act.

Angela Eads Tekell, Belton ISD - Belton, TX

Practical issues that arise with the application of employee leave policy including federal, state and local law considerations, neutral absence control policies and leave accrual.

Mia M. Martin, Richardson Independent School District - Richardson, TX

Included in conference registration.

Implications for federal education initiatives resulting from the 2012 elections, including ESEA, funding, special education, civil rights enforcement and more.

Thomas E.M. Hutton, Education Adjuncts LLC, and Patterson Buchanan Fobes & Leitch, Inc. P.S. - Honolulu, HI

How compensation and contract practices impact TRS benefits, including the contract period, retire-rehire surcharge, lump-sum payments and related issues.

Holly E. Murphy, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
Rebecca M. Smith, Teacher Retirement System of Texas - Austin, TX

An update on recent decisions related to the thorny issue of administrator transfers, plus an analysis of the requirements for administrator and superintendent evaluations. Finally, borne of the frustration of many a school board, proposed new forms for administrator and superintendent evaluations.

Lynn Rossi Scott, Brackett & Ellis, P.C. - Fort Worth, TX

It seems as if one percent of lawyers we encounter are unaware of the Texas Lawyer's Creed. How do the rest of us maintain this mandate for professionalism in difficult situations? This session presents extreme examples and practical tips on maintaining professionalism and ethics in trying situations with counsel, clients and judges.

Mark Christopher Goulet, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - Austin, TX
David Luningham, Watson, Caraway, Midkiff & Luningham, L.L.P. - Fort Worth, TX