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
U.S. Supreme Court Upholds Michigan’s Affirmative Action Ban
On April 22, 2014, in Schuette v. Coalition to Defend Affirmative Action, in a 6-2 decision, the United States Supreme Court held that Michigan’s constitutional amendment banning race-based preferences in the…
| Law Alerts
NLRB Holds That Northwestern Scholarship Football Players Are Employees Who May Unionize
Decision to Direct an Election for Northwestern University Scholarship Football Players On March 26, National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Region 13 Director, Peter Sung Ohr, issued a decision finding Northwestern University…
| Law Alerts
Illinois Supreme Court Allows Architect to Shorten Construction Statute of Limitations
The Illinois Supreme Court in the case of Community Unit School District No. 7 v. Wight & Co., 2014 IL 115330 (2014) determined that an architect could eliminate the critical…
| Law Alerts
New Administrative Rules and Illinois State Police Form Issued for Clear and Present Danger Determination Reporting – Colleges
In a previous law alert, we noted that the new Firearm Concealed Carry Act (“Act”) contains a provision which imposes certain mental health reporting requirements on the chief administrative officer of public…
| Law Alerts
New Administrative Rules and Illinois State Police Form Issued for Clear and Present Danger Determination Reporting – School Districts
In a previous law alert, we noted that the new Firearm Concealed Carry Act (“Act”) contains a provision which imposes certain mental health reporting requirements on school administrators. Specifically, pursuant to the…
| Law Alerts
Treasury and IRS Issue Final Employer Mandate Rules for the Affordable Care Act
On February 10, 2014, the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) issued final regulations for implementing the employer shared responsibility provisions of the Affordable Care…
| Law Alerts
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
Appellate Court Protects Student Records from Disclosure in Grievance Proceeding
In a recent decision, the Illinois Appellate Court held that a school district did not commit an unfair labor practice when it refused to release student records to a union…
| Law Alerts
Historic Pension Reform Signed into Law by Governor Quinn
On December 3, 2013, The Illinois House of Representatives and the Illinois Senate narrowly approved Senate Bill 1 (as amended), thereby greatly overhauling the public retirement benefits provided for under…
| Law Alerts
New Concealed Carry Act Requires School Administrators to Report When a Student Is Determined to Be a Clear and Present Danger
Inserted within the new Firearm Concealed Carry Act is a law which imposes certain mental health reporting requirements on school administrators. Specifically, pursuant to the new School Administrator Reporting of…