Earlier this week, Auditor of State Keith Faber’s office announced that an Ohio grand jury had indicted a former school superintendent for numerous violations of law. Among the violations were 13 counts of having an unlawful interest in a public contract for securing contracts for a family member. The indictment alleges that, while he was superintendent, the charged individual used his public position…
Posted by Sara C. Clark on
If you listen carefully, you might be able to hear Alice Cooper singing in the distance. School may be out for the summer, but that doesn’t mean all is quiet in the schoolhouse. We know that many districts use the summer months to complete building repairs and improvements and dispose of old or unused property. Several boards across the state will also experience turnover on their boards this summer, as board members step down from…
Posted by John R. Price on
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Posted by Jennifer A. Hardin on
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) has announced several efforts to support students with mental health challenges.
On Monday, May 23, USDOE is hosting a half-day virtual summit on supporting the needs of students with mental health needs and students with disabilities as they emerge from the pandemic. The summit, “Recovering to Thriving: Supporting Mental Health and…
Posted by Sara C. Clark on
As we approach the end of the 2021-22 school year, there are myriad deadlines that require district officials or employees to act. As a reminder, OSBA’s legal division compiles a list of many of the …
Posted by John R. Price on
On April 1, 2022, the Ohio Court of Appeals for the First District, which covers Hamilton County, issued a ruling in the case of State ex rel. Mohr v. Colerain Twp., invalidating a land use plan created by a township subcommittee that operated in violation of the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The decision serves as a reminder…
Posted by Jennifer A. Hardin on
Last Monday, the Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in the case of Kennedy v. Bremerton School District, which asks whether it is constitutional for school employees to pray on school grounds, at a school event, with students and other members of the school community present.
The landmark case on school prayer, Engel v. Vitale, 370 U.S. 421 (1962), concluded that the First Amendment…
Posted by Sara C. Clark on
The Ohio Electronic Records Committee (OhioERC) recently pushed out a new online training series for state and local governmental officials and employees. The training provides information and best practices on managing email as a public record and includes four training modules:
- …
Posted by John R. Price on
Spring is field trip season for many school districts. Whether it’s the annual overnight pilgrimage to Washington, D.C., or a day trip closer to home, it’s important to make sure you are thinking about the unique needs of students with disabilities who will be participating in those trips.
Section 504 of the…
Posted by Jennifer A. Hardin on
On Tuesday, the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) announced that its member schools will have the opportunity to vote on a number of amendments to OHSAA’s constitution and bylaws that govern the organization and high school athletics. Included among the changes is a name, image and likeness (NIL) measure similar to those that affect Ohio’s college athletes…