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
Department of Labor Final Rule Expands Employees’ Entitlement to Military Leave Under the Family and Medical Leave Act
On February 6, 2013, the United States Department of Labor issued a Final Rule implementing the amendments to Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) in the National Defense Authorization Act of…
| Law Alerts
DOL Issues New Administrator’s Interpretation of Family and Medical Leave Act Leave to Care for a Disabled Adult Child
On January 14, 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor issued an Administrator’s Interpretation clarifying several aspects of the FMLA’s application to FMLA leave taken by an employee to take care of an…
| Law Alerts
OCR Reminds Districts That They must Provide Disabled Students with Equal Opportunities in Athletics
On January 25, 2013 the U.S. Department of Education Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) issued a “Dear Colleague” letter reminding public school districts of their existing obligation to provide disabled…
| Law Alerts
Amendment to the Governmental Joint Purchasing Act Allows Governmental Units to Conduct Joint Purchases by Competitive Solicitation
The Governmental Joint Purchasing Act[1] (the “Act”) was amended in late 2012 by Public Act 97-895, and it now allows joint purchases with in-state or out-of-state cooperatives to be conducted by competitive…
| 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 Laws Effective 1.1.2013
The following laws have an effective date of January 1, 2013. School Districts Public Act 97‐0704 – Requires ISBE to coordinate, adapt and develop middle and high school mathematics curriculum models to…
| Law Alerts
Federal Court of Appeals Determines That Village May Be Liable for $80 Million for Placing Personally Identifiable Information on Parking Tickets
The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Senne v. Village of Palatine, Illinois, 695 F.3d 597 (7th Cir. 2012) (en banc), determined that the Village of Palatine may have violated the…
| Law Alerts
Correction to 2013 Consolidated Election Calendar
The 2013 Consolidated Election Calendar incorrectly identified Thursday, February 7, 2013 as the last day for local election officials to certify to the election authority all public questions to be…
| Law Alerts
Illinois Supreme Court Rejects Latest Challenge to the Illinois Public School Funding System
In February 2012, we issued a Law Alert regarding the Illinois Supreme Court’s decision to hear an appeal in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the state’s education funding system. On November…
| Law Alerts
Public Act 97-1134 Relieves Local Government Clerks and School and College Board Secretaries of Election Duties on Christmas Eve
On December 3, 2012, Governor Quinn signed into law Public Act 97-1134, amending Section 1-4 of the Illinois Election Code to provide much sought-after relief to school and college board…