The Legal Ledger

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 …

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…

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…

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:

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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…

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…

On March 18, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) issued new guidance on web accessibility and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), emphasizing its position that school districts and other governmental entities…

The Supreme Court of the United States recently provided a decision in a First Amendment retaliation claim.  In the case, the board of trustees of the Houston Community College (HCC) censured David Wilson, one of its board members, and barred him from holding officer positions on the board or from receiving travel reimbursements. Wilson alleged that the censure violated his First Amendment right to free speech. The district court ruled against him, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit reversed.…

OSBA’s division of legal services will be participating in two training opportunities next week.

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The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) is easing requirements for COVID-19 case reporting by K-12 schools. As of March 10, K-12 schools are no longer required to:

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