University of Texas Law logo Update your account
  • Sign in or Join Account and Briefcase
    Not a member yet? Sign up Forgot password?
  • Accredited CLE
    Live Conferences Studio Webcasts eConferences eCourses Hooked on CLE Answer Bar
  • Research & Self-Study
    Materials eLibrary
  • Subscriptions
    MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
  • Browse by Practice Area
    Administrative Admiralty and Maritime Alternative Dispute Resolution Appellate - Civil and Criminal Bankruptcy Business Entities Civil Rights Construction Corporate Counsel Criminal Cybersecurity Elder Law and Guardianship Employment Entertainment and Sports Law Environmental Essentials Ethics Exempt Organizations / Nonprofits Family Government Enforcement / White Collar Crime Healthcare Immigration Insurance Intellectual Property / Patent Law International Law Practice Management Litigation M&A and Securities Oil, Gas and Energy Practice Skills Real Estate Renewable Energy School Self-Care Taxation Technology Technology for Lawyers Trusts and Estates / Probate Water
  • Search
  • Shopping Cart

What are you searching for?

Skip to main content
UT Law CLE logo
  • Overview /
  • Schedule /
  • Faculty /
  • Credit Info /
  • Key Dates /
  • Venue /
  • Sponsors
Register or Buy ticket icon Buy

Approved for Continuing Education for School Board Members

Conference art

27th Annual

School Law Conference


Austin Mar 1-2, 2012 AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded
Buy
Related products: Materials
Brochure thumbnail
Download Brochure (PDF)

Overview

The School Law Conference is the definitive course for school administrators, school board members, education professionals, and the legal counsel who represent them.

The 2012 program brings you two days of extensive and relevant topics, including:

     • Straight answers from the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) on your questions about the Family
        Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

     • A review and exploration of recent cases brought against school districts and school officials under the
        Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, the Americans with Disabilities Act
        (ADA), and Section 1983

     • Recent developments in wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

     • Legal issues dealing with social media records and privacy for school employees

     • Friday’s luncheon presentation, Intellectual Property Conundrums in Schools

     • Ethical dilemmas commonly faced by school attorneys

     • And much more!

  • Buy

Event Schedule

Program is subject to change.
All times are Central Time Zone.

  • Day 1 March 1, 2012
  • Day 2 March 2, 2012
  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Thursday Morning, Mar. 1, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Joy S. Baskin, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
  • 7:30 am
    Registration Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:30 am
    Welcoming Remarks

  • 8:45 am
    0.75 hr
    Electronic Issues Case Update
    A summary of key cases over the past year.

    Ellen H. Spalding, Rogers Morris & Grover - Houston, TX

  • 9:30 am
    0.50 hr
    Qualified Immunity: Protecting Everyone but the Plainly Incompetent
    As civil rights in our relatively new, constitutional republic continue to evolve, how can a busy public official know the current state of the law and make all of the right decisions? What must a lawyer do to establish qualified immunity for a public employee client? Significant and recent 5th Circuit cases are discussed.

    Kevin F. Lungwitz, The Lungwitz Law Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 10:00 am
    Break

  • 10:15 am
    1.00 hr
    Unemployment Issues
    This session covers the employment compensation claim and appeal process in Texas, with special attention to the issues unique to school employees and the districts that employ them, as well as other employment laws that can have an impact on such claims.

    Martha P. Owen, Deats, Durst, Owen & Levy , P.L.L.C. - Austin, TX
    William T. Simmons, Texas Workforce Commission - Austin, TX

  • 11:15 am
    0.75 hr
    Questions You Always Wanted to Ask the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO)
    When practicing school law, you must always be mindful of Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Here's your chance to get straight answers to your trickiest FERPA questions directly from the FPCO.

    Ellen Campbell, U.S. Department of Education - Washington, DC

  • 12:00 pm
    Lunch on your Own

  • Thursday Afternoon, Mar. 1, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Joy S. Baskin, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
  • 1:15 pm
    0.50 hr
    Service Animals in the Public Schools: New Rights and Responsibilities
    Neither the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) nor Section 504 specifically address whether students with disabilities have the right to be accompanied by service animals on school grounds. However, the 2010 amendments to the Title II regulations implemented by the ADA clarify some of the requirements for service animals. This presentation examines those requirements, which took effect on March 15, 2011, and how they affect a student's right to bring an animal to school.

    Christopher Paul Borreca, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX

  • 1:45 pm
    1.00 hr
    Emails, Text Messages and Social Media: Open Records, Open Meetings and Privacy
    This session looks at two sides of one issue. First, the session covers the latest developments in open record and open meeting law addressing emails, text messages and other issues not in existence when the open government laws were originally drafted. Second, the session examines a school's ability to review and act upon emails, text messages and social media entries created by employees both as public employees and private citizens.

    Michael J. Golden, Boulette & Golden L.L.P. - Austin, TX
    Clarence Andrew Weber, Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP - Austin, TX

  • 2:45 pm
    Break

  • 3:00 pm
    0.75 hr
    Purchasing Laws
    Guidance for purchasing: HB 628 and more.

    Angela Gaye Bishop, Region 4 Education Service Center - Houston, TX

  • 3:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    Keeping Students Healthy
    This session focuses on a myriad of legal issues that arise when dealing with student-related health issues on district campuses. A detailed analysis of new statutory and case law impacting student allergies, confidentiality privacy and concussions, among others, are covered. In addition, an update on any new legal issues affecting school nurses is examined.

    Stacy C. Ferguson, Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz - San Antonio, TX

  • 4:30 pm
    0.75 hr
    IDEA, Section 504, the ADA and Section 1983: How Do They All Fit Together?
    A review of recent cases brought against school districts and school officials under IDEA, Section 504, the ADA and Section 1983. Under what circumstances can school officials face personal liability? Why the increase in cases alleging violations of all of these laws? To what degree do these laws overlap? When is exhaustion of administrative remedies required? These and other issues are explored.

    Jim Walsh, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - Austin, TX

  • 5:15 pm
    Adjourn

  • Time
    Credit
    Subject
    Speaker
  • Friday Morning, Mar. 2, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Joey W. Moore, Texas State Teachers Association - Austin, TX
  • 8:00 am
    Meeting Room Opens
    Includes continental breakfast.

  • 8:30 am
    1.00 hr
    The DAEP at 17: Recent Developments in Student Discipline
    A school district attorney and a school employee attorney discuss recent developments in student discipline, including the increasing attacks on the viability of Discipline Alternative Education Placements (DAEP) and the appropriate role of student removal in the disciplinary process.

    Julie A. Leahy, Texas Classroom Teachers Association - Austin, TX
    Merri Schneider-Vogel, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX

  • 9:30 am
    0.75 hr
    Commissioner Decision Update
    An update on recent Commissioner of Education decisions.

    Mark P. Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX

  • 10:15 am
    Break

  • 10:30 am
    1.00 hr
    Federal Laws You Didn't Know You Were Breaking
    Is it illegal to ask your secretary about her mother's cancer treatments? Is identity theft training mandatory? Are you breaking the law by paying your superintendent's health insurance premiums? And what about all of that toxic mold? Panelists discuss the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act (FACTA), health care reform, and, time permitting, environmental issues (federal and state) for school districts.

    Holly M. Claghorn, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
    Susan G. Morrison, The Fowler Law Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX
    Fred A. Stormer III, Underwood Law Firm - Amarillo, TX

  • 11:30 am
    1.00 hr
    Avoiding Liability under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)
    This session reviews recent developments in wage and hour issues under the Fair Labor Standards Act. What are the most common mistakes and how do you avoid them? Practical tips for resolving Department of Labor wage and hour payroll investigations and disputes also are discussed.

    Chris G. Elizalde, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C. - Austin, TX
    Leticia D. McGowan, Dallas Independent School District Office of Legal Services - Dallas, TX

  • 12:30 pm
    Break to Pick up Box Lunch
    Included in conference registration.

  • Friday Afternoon, Mar. 2, 2012
    Presiding Officer:
    Joey W. Moore, Texas State Teachers Association - Austin, TX
  • LUNCHEON PRESENTATION

  • 12:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    Intellectual Property Conundrums in Schools
    Take a tour of key intellectual property issues affecting schools, including ownership of copyrights, fair use in its many variants, district logos/trademarks, and preventive steps districts can take to protect themselves from intellectual property issues in an online environment.

    Carol Ann Pirrung Simpson, Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Mehl, P.C. - Plano, TX

  • 1:30 pm
    Break

  • 1:45 pm
    0.75 hr
    The DA's Office and the School District: An Effective Partnership
    This session examines juvenile law issues and the interplay between the school district and the DA's office.

    Carrie Rhynehart Galatas, Conroe Independent School District - Conroe, TX
    Philip A. Grant, Montgomery County D.A. Office - Conroe, TX

  • 2:30 pm
    1.50 hrs ethics
    Reel Ethics! From Screens Big and Small
    Two seasoned school law practitioners use clips from movies and television to illustrate ethical dilemmas commonly faced by school attorneys.

    Jefferson K. Brim III, Brim, Arnett, Robinett, Conners & McCormick, P.C. - Austin, TX
    Lisa A. Brown, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX

  • 4:00 pm
    Adjourn

  • Day 1 March 1, 2012
  • Day 2 March 2, 2012
Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Angela Gaye Bishop

Region 4 Education Service Center
Houston, TX

Christopher Paul Borreca

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III

Brim, Arnett, Robinett, Conners & McCormick, P.C.
Austin, TX

Lisa A. Brown

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Ellen Campbell

U.S. Department of Education
Washington, DC

Holly M. Claghorn

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Chris G. Elizalde

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C.
Austin, TX

Stacy C. Ferguson

Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz
San Antonio, TX

Carrie Rhynehart Galatas

Conroe Independent School District
Conroe, TX

Michael J. Golden

Boulette & Golden L.L.P.
Austin, TX

Philip A. Grant

Montgomery County D.A. Office
Conroe, TX

Julie A. Leahy

Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Kevin F. Lungwitz

The Lungwitz Law Firm, P.C.
Austin, TX

Leticia D. McGowan

Dallas Independent School District Office of Legal Services
Dallas, TX

Susan G. Morrison

The Fowler Law Firm, P.C.
Austin, TX

Martha P. Owen

Deats, Durst, Owen & Levy , P.L.L.C.
Austin, TX

Merri Schneider-Vogel

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

William T. Simmons

Texas Workforce Commission
Austin, TX

Carol Ann Pirrung Simpson

Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Mehl, P.C.
Plano, TX

Ellen H. Spalding

Rogers Morris & Grover
Houston, TX

Fred A. Stormer III

Underwood Law Firm
Amarillo, TX

Mark P. Tilley

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Jim Walsh

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C.
Austin, TX

Clarence Andrew Weber

Kelly Hart & Hallman LLP
Austin, TX

Planning Committee

Joey W. Moore—Chair

Texas State Teachers Association
Austin, TX

David A. Anderson

Texas Education Agency
Austin, TX

Joy S. Baskin

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III

Brim, Arnett, Robinett, Conners & McCormick, P.C.
Austin, TX

Lisa A. Brown

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Juan J. Cruz

Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz, LLP
Laredo, TX

Michael J. Currie

Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Donna Derryberry

Association of Texas Professional Educators
Austin, TX

Christopher B. Gilbert

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Mark Christopher Goulet

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Trevino, P.C.
Austin, TX

Allan Stewart Graves

Adams Lynch & Loftin
Grapevine, TX

Andrea Slater Gulley

Underwood Law Firm
Amarillo, TX

Wayne D. Haglund

Haglund Law Firm, P.C.
Lufkin, TX

Roger D. Hepworth

The Fowler Law Firm
Austin, TX

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Wesley Johnson

Escamilla, Poneck & Cruz, LLP
Monroe, LA

Mia M. Martin

Richardson ISD
Richardson, TX

Leticia D. McGowan

Dallas Independent School District Office of Legal Services
Dallas, TX

Cheryl T. Mehl

Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Mehl, P.C.
Austin, TX

S. Anthony Safi

Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C.
El Paso, TX

Ellen H. Spalding

Rogers Morris & Grover
Houston, TX

Fred A. Stormer III

Underwood Law Firm
Amarillo, TX

Mark P. Tilley

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Credit Info

  • Austin
MCLE Credit
Toggle view Texas – 13.50 hrs  |  1.50 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Labor and Employment Law
You may claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the State Bar of Texas. A Certificate of Attendance will be provided in Your Briefcase for your records. The system reports Texas CLE credit every Tuesday. If you are claiming credit in the last week of your birth month, self-report your CLE credit directly to the State Bar of Texas at texasbar.com, using the course number  provided on your certificate of attendance.
Other Credit
Toggle view TX Accounting CPE – 16.00 hrs
The University of Texas School of Law (Provider #250) live conferences are presumptively approved by The Texas State Board of Public Accountancy for Texas Accounting CPE credit based on a 50-minute credit hour. Approved for general CPE credit only.

At the conference, you are welcome to sign in on the Accounting CPE Record of Attendance form at the registration desk, but we are now reporting all credit online. You will receive a Texas Accounting Certificate of Completion in Your Briefcase. Self-report your CPE credit directly to TSBPA. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.  

Contact us at accreditation@utcle.org if you have additional questions.
Toggle view TX School Board Member (TEA) – 13.50 hrs
UT Law CLE is a Registered Provider of TEA Board Member training under provider number 2022-3-2-RP-6149. You may use your hours from the School Law Conference to self-report your credit for TEA Board Member training. More information is located at the TEA website and the training site here:

https://tea.texas.gov/texas-schools/school-boards/school-board-member-training

http://www.tea.state.tx.us

Key Dates

Austin – Mar 1-2, 2012 – AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded
Buy
  • Austin
Standard Registration
Last day for $475.00 Regular pricing: Feb 22, 2012

$525.00 for registrations received after this time

Standard Registration - USB Key & Printed Binder
Last day for $525.00 Regular pricing: Feb 22, 2012

$575.00 for registrations received after this time

Corporate Counsel Section Members - USB Key ONLY
Last day for $450.00 Regular pricing: Feb 22, 2012

$500.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Feb 24, 2012

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Feb 27, 2012

Venue

speaker

AT&T Conference Center

The University of Texas at Austin
1900 University Avenue
Austin, TX
877.744.8822 (reservations)
Map

Accommodations

$169.00 good through Jan 30, 2012

Parking Information

Free daily self-parking at UT garages. Separate fees apply for valet and overnight parking.

Our Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors! Click each logo below to learn more.

Download Sponsor Details Become a Sponsor
Become a Sponsor
Email UT Law CLE for more information on sponsoring an event.

Stay in the loop with UT Law CLE

Sign-Up Now  
Accredited CLE
Live Conferences
Studio Webcasts
eConferences
eCourses
Hooked on CLE
Answer Bar
Research & Self-Study
Materials
eLibrary

Subscriptions
MCLE On-Demand and eLibrary
Your UT Law CLE
Your Briefcase
Your Account
Your Cart
Redeem Your Code
Sign In or Join
About
Scholarships
Sponsorships
Speakers
Texas Law Resources
UT Law CLE
About Us
Our Volunteers
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Security
Help & Contact
FAQ
Contact Us
Facebook    LinkedIn    Twitter    Youtube

© 2025 The University of Texas School of Law Continuing Legal Education | 512.475.6700 | Version 9.017.1

Back to top
More Information
Warning
Error
Warning
Please sign in to continue
Forgot Password   |  Create Account
Item has been added to your cart.

Item description

Checkout
Item has been added to your Briefcase.

Item description

Go to your Briefcase