Many school districts use their annual organizational meeting as a time to make board committee appointments. As school boards create new committees or invite new members to serve on these committees, it’s a good time to review the applicability of the Open Meetings Act to committees.
January is a time when many boards of education take stock of the management of their school districts. It is organizational meeting season, and often there are new members joining the board’s ranks. We at OSBA also receive many calls this time of year about what steps boards must take if they want to renew or non-renew a superintendent’s contract and when these steps must be taken.
Late in December, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued an opinion providing important clarity to public bodies, including school boards, facing claims that they have violated Ohio’s Open Meeting Act (OMA). The case, Ames v. Rootstown Twp. Bd.
It is hard to believe, but the holiday season is here, and we are quickly approaching the end of 2022. The holiday break is around the corner, the Buckeyes are in the College Football Playoff, and we’re about to ring in 2023. For boards of education, though, there are important deadlines and other items to keep in mind as we approach January despite the festivities of the season.
Yesterday, the Supreme Court of Ohio issued an opinion in Hicks v. Clermont County Board of Commissioners, in which a public body was sued for violations of the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The Supreme Court determined that, when alleging a violation of the OMA, the plaintiff bears the burden of proving the violation.
As you start winding down the 2022 calendar year, keep in mind the following year-end dates and deadlines:
Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Education released updated guidance on blended learning plans, clarifying that blended learning is not be used on an emergency or contingent basis, such as for illness-related or weather-related building closures, parent-teacher conferences, professional development days, or staffing shortages.
Earlier this week, the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) and US Student Privacy Policy Office (SPPO) issued new resources for school districts.
Hiring substitute teachers
This past Wednesday, Oct. 19, was Global Ethics Day, meaning this is an ideal time to think about rules governing the compatibility of public offices. These situations arise when public officials like school board members wish to serve in other public roles while on the school board. By nature, school board members are often civic-minded and community-oriented individuals involved in different community or service ventures.
