Legal News & Updates
We monitor legal developments to provide timely, insightful guidance, keeping our clients informed of the latest changes in laws, regulations, and industry trends. Our team stays engaged in the evolution of the law, enabling us to proactively address emerging issues and offer strategic counsel for both current and future challenges.
Latest Updates & News
Gov. Pritzker Renews His Call to Ban Cell Phones in Illinois Classrooms
During his annual State of the State address, Governor Pritzker renewed his call to ban cell phone use during school hours, stating, “It’s time to get cell phones out of the classroom.” The Governor’s office cited research showing that “72% of high school teachers identified cell phone distraction as a ‘major problem’ in their classroom.”
ISSRA, Not FOIA: Clarifying Parents’ Avenue to Access Educational Records
Parents have the right to access their student’s educational records. However, there can be confusion as to which avenue under the law they can or should pursue for access to these student records.
Illinois PAC Issues Binding Opinion on Improper Restrictions on Public Comment
The Illinois PAC issued binding opinion 26-001, finding that the Village of Sauk Village violated the Open Meetings Act by impermissibly restricting a member of the public from addressing the Village Board during a committee meeting.
| Law Alerts
Appellate Court Upholds Municipal Ordinance That Reduces Vacation Buy-Back Benefit For Retiring Employees
The 4th District Court of Appeals in Springfield has upheld a municipal ordinance discontinuing the opportunity for city employees to sell back unused vacation days several months before their retirement. In Pisani,…
| Law Alerts
New School Lead Testing Law Also Amends School Code and Tort Immunity Act to Allow Expanded Use of Life Safety and Tort Funds
Public Act 99-922, effective January 17, 2017, primarily requires testing for lead in drinking water at schools and daycare facilities. In a gesture which may help schools pay the cost…
| Law Alerts
New Law Mandates Lead Testing Requirements For School Districts
With headline news concerning the presence of lead in school district water systems across the country, including Chicago, Governor Rauner recently signed P.A. 099-922 which requires testing for lead in…
| Law Alerts
Illinois Supreme Court Rules Open Meetings Act Does Not Require a Recital of “Key Terms” in a Settlement Agreement Prior to Taking Action
In Board of Educ. of Springfield School Dist. No. 186 v. The Atty. General of Illinois, 2017 IL 120343, the Illinois Supreme Court provided binding clarification of the Open Meetings Act…
| Law Alerts
Circuit Court Dismisses Declaratory Judgment and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection Action Brought Against School District Following Denial of Teacher’s Request to Use Paid Sick Leave Under Section 24-6 of the School Code
On February 1, 2017, a DuPage County Circuit Court judge dismissed a declaratory judgment and Illinois Wage Payment and Collection action brought by a tenured teacher against her employer, Naperville…
| Law Alerts
Employer Held Liable for Third-Party Harassment of its Employee
On December 21, 2016, a jury in the Northern District of Illinois awarded a former Costco employee $250,000 in damages in a Title VII sexual harassment lawsuit. The verdict followed…
| Law Alerts
Illinois Supreme Court Rules School Boards Have Final Decision-Making Authority When Dismissing Tenured Teachers for Misconduct
In the first reported case following the 2011 amendments to Section 24-12 of the School Code, which, among other things, set the parameters for a school board’s dismissal of a…
| In Brief
Educational Support Staff RIF Checklist
A RIF of ESPs occurs whenever a district decides to decrease the number of ESPs employed by the school board or to discontinue a particular type of support service. A…
| Law Alerts
New Health Reimbursement Arrangement Option Exclusively for Qualified Small Employers
A new employee benefit option was created on December 13, 2016, when the 21st Century Cures Act (the “Act”) was signed into law. Section 18001 of the Act creates a…
| Firm News
Nanci Rogers Retirement
It is bittersweet to announce that at the end of this year, Nanci Rogers will be retiring. Nanci has been an integral part of Robbins Schwartz since joining the firm…