30^th Annual

School Law Conference

Austin Feb 19-20, 2015 Renaissance Hotel
Conference Concluded

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Related products: Materials

Overview

UT Law’s 30th Annual School Law Conference is the definitive program for school administrators, school board members, education professionals, and the legal counsel who represent them. Presentations offer in-depth, practical discussion of the legal and regulatory issues affecting schools and school districts, and provide a must-have set of materials and resources.

Mark P. Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards, provides an update on Commissioner of Education decisions from the past year, and Leticia D. McGowan, Dallas Independent School District, discusses recent developments from the Attorney General’s office
Explore the challenges that arise for school districts regarding immigrant students and the legal obligation to educate all students, and examine the issues related to planning out-of-state and international student travel
Review home schooling current legal issues that have arisen since the Texas Supreme Court’s landmark Leeper decision
Russell Wilson, Schulman Lopez & Hoffer LLP and Judge-Elect of the 218th District Court, presents How the Boom-Bust Cycle of the Oil and Gas Business Affects Schools
Learn best practices to address difficult UIL and Title IX compliance issues as well as tips for managing athletics when it comes to employing coaches
Explore school personnel issues such as school district relationships with law enforcement agencies, pregnancy discrimination, and the dilemmas and dangers that social media poses for teachers and other educators
Wayne Schiess, Senior Lecturer and Director of The David J. Beck Center for Legal Research, Writing, and Appellate Advocacy, The University of Texas School of Law, presents Ethics in Court Papers, an entertaining and informative presentation of real cases in which lawyers got into trouble for poor writing

Event Schedule

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

Day 1 February 19, 2015
Day 2 February 20, 2015

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Thursday Morning, Feb. 19, 2015
Presiding Officer:
Michael J. Currie, Texas Classroom Teachers Association - Austin, TX
7:30 am

Registration Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:35 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:45 am

1.00 hr

Commissioner Decisions Update

An update on Commissioner of Education decisions from the past year.

Mark P. Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
9:45 am

0.75 hr

Update from the Attorney General’s Office

Recent developments in Attorney General opinions, open records decisions, AG informal letter rulings, and open meetings guidance.

Leticia D. McGowan, Dallas Independent School District - Dallas, TX
10:30 am

Break
10:45 am

1.00 hr

Student Immigration Issues

In the past year, there has been an unprecedented rise in the number of unaccompanied minors entering Texas—many of whom may become students in Texas public schools while they await legal proceedings. Explore the unique questions and challenges that arise for school districts as they seek to meet their legal obligations to educate all students regardless of citizenship status.

Joey W. Moore, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C. - Austin, TX
Cynthia Rincón, Fort Bend ISD - Sugar Land, TX
Leslie R. Story, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
11:45 am

Lunch On Your Own
Thursday Afternoon, Feb. 19, 2015
Presiding Officer:
Michael J. Currie, Texas Classroom Teachers Association - Austin, TX
1:00 pm

0.75 hr

20 Years after Leeper, Current Legal Issues in Home Schooling

A review of home schooling legal issues since the Texas Supreme Court’s landmark Leeper decision, including recent court decisions involving parent claims against school personnel attempting to enforce the compulsory school attendance laws, U.S. Department of Education advisories, community college admissions and financial aid issues, and high school “diploma mill” litigation.

This session has moved to 10:30 AM Friday

Lisa A. Brown, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX
S. Anthony Safi, Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C. - El Paso, TX
1:45 pm

0.75 hr

How the Boom-Bust Cycle of the Oil and Gas Business Affects Schools

When the oil and gas boom comes, it presents schools with numerous challenges, including skyrocketing appraisals, the loss of much of the revenue to recapture payments to the State, residential rents so high that the school is compelled to provide housing for new employees, rapidly growing enrollment (including students whose housing qualifies them as homeless under McKinney-Vento), and health and safety issues such as roads crowded with speeding commercial vehicles.

Hon. Russell Wilson, 218th District Court - Floresville, TX
2:30 pm

0.50 hr

Calculating Full-Time Status under the Affordable Care Act

Gain insight into the “look-back/stability period” method for determining whether variable hour employees, including substitutes, are “full-time” for purposes of the Affordable Care Act, penalties associated with failing to offer full-time employees insurance, and other strategies to ensure compliance with the Affordable Care Act’s offer requirement.

Cory Rush, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
3:00 pm

Break
3:15 pm

0.75 hr

Managing Athletics: Hiring and Firing Coaches, and Best Practices for Handling Thorny UIL and Title IX Compliance Issues

Hear the pros and cons of using dual contracts for coaches, as well as how to avoid pitfalls in retaining and evaluating coaches. Best practices for addressing difficult UIL and Title IX compliance issues are also included.

Mark Cousins, PhD, Director of Athletics, University Interscholastic League - Austin, TX
Elneita Hutchins-Taylor, Houston Independent School District - Houston, TX
4:00 pm

0.50 hr

Records Retention and Destruction

Advising school districts regarding their retention and destruction of records is fraught with potential pitfalls carrying serious consequences. Review the relevant state and federal laws relating to record retention, Texas’s retention schedules, the ins and outs of litigation holds, and some of the practical takeaways for school districts in how they handle, retain and properly dispose of their records.

Christine S. Badillo, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green and Treviño, P.C. - Austin, TX
4:30 pm

0.75 hr ethics

Ethical Conduct in Mediations, Grievances and Negotiations

Understanding the ethical issues related to mediations, grievances and negotiations is essential to making those processes as productive as possible. Review the applicable ethical standards and gain practical advice on getting the most benefit from mediations, grievances and negotiations.

Derrell A. Coleman, JD, PhD, West & Associates, L.L.P. - Dallas, TX
5:15 pm

Adjourn

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Feb. 20, 2015
Presiding Officer:
Juan J. Cruz, J. Cruz & Associates, LLC - Laredo, TX
7:30 am

Conference Room Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:30 am

1.00 hr

Employment Case Law Update: How Retaliation and Rob Lowe Made a Comeback

An update of recent employment law cases (Don’t be like this Rob Lowe).

James E. "Jim" Byrom, Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C. - Houston, TX
9:30 am

0.75 hr

Cracking the Case: School District Relationships with Law Enforcement Agencies

A district's relationship with law enforcement can be highly beneficial, yet highly complex. School districts can choose from a variety of arrangements, and the rules change depending on what choices the district makes. A roadmap of the tricky areas when dealing with school-based police with practical tips for avoiding missteps.

Paul A. Lamp, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
10:15 am

Break
10:30 am

0.75 hr

What to Expect When She's Expecting

A review of the EEOC’s Enforcement Guidance on Pregnancy Discrimination and Related Issues and a discussion of Young vs. UPS, the PDA case currently pending before the U.S. Supreme Court.

This session has moved to 1:00 PM Thursday

Elizabeth Poole, Texas State Teachers Association - Austin, TX
11:15 am

0.50 hr
0.25 hr ethics

FERPA: Questions Answered(?) and FPCO Changes

FERPA sometimes raises more questions than it answers! Hear the solutions to some frequently-asked FERPA questions and learn what the Family Policy Compliance Office (FPCO) is doing to help schools and their lawyers regarding these questions.

Thomas E. "Tom" Myers, Brackett & Ellis - Fort Worth, TX
11:45 am

0.50 hr

Don’t Let Your #TeacherProblems Go Viral

Hear the dilemmas and dangers that social media poses for teachers and other educators. Gain tools and tips on how best to address these issues and how to prevent problems before they start.

Martha P. Owen, Deats, Durst, Owen & Levy, P.L.L.C. - Austin, TX
12:15 pm

Pick Up Lunch

Included in registration.
Friday Afternoon, Feb. 20, 2015
Presiding Officer:
Juan J. Cruz, J. Cruz & Associates, LLC - Laredo, TX
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:35 pm

1.00 hr ethics

Ethics in Court Papers

An entertaining and informative look at real cases in which lawyers got into trouble for misquoting, exceeding the page limit, failing to cite, plagiarizing, and just plain poor writing.

Wayne Schiess, The University of Texas School of Law - Austin, TX
1:35 pm

Break
1:50 pm

0.50 hr

Construction Defects and Contract Breach

Nowhere is it more true than in school construction that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Most serious construction problems can be avoided when school districts take control of their construction projects. This is only possible when you know your own legal obligations and the legal obligations of the rest of the construction team. Examine some school construction current events and learn simple strategies to keep you and your construction projects off this list.

David P. Hansen, Eichelbaum Wardell Hansen Powell & Mehl, P.C. - Austin, TX
2:20 pm

0.75 hr

Student Travel: "On the Road Again..."

Review the issues related to planning out-of-state or international student travel, including what law applies, funding from booster clubs, travel-related contracts, personal and district liability, and consideration of travel advisories.

Janet Sobey Bubert, Brackett & Ellis - Fort Worth, TX
3:05 pm

1.00 hr

Who’s in Control? Alternative School District Governance Statutes in the Texas Education Code

Explore alternative school district governance statutes and administrative regulations, including specifically those that govern TEA accreditation interventions and sanctions, and those that govern the adoption of a home-rule school district charter.

Lisa R. McBride, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX
Christopher L. Tritico, Tritico Rainey, PLLC - Houston, TX
4:05 pm

Adjourn

Day 1 February 19, 2015
Day 2 February 20, 2015

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Christine S. Badillo

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

Lisa A. Brown

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Janet Sobey Bubert

Brackett & Ellis
Fort Worth, TX

James E. "Jim" Byrom

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C.
Houston, TX

Derrell A. Coleman, JD, PhD

West & Associates, L.L.P.
Dallas, TX

Mark Cousins, PhD

Director of Athletics, University Interscholastic League
Austin, TX

David P. Hansen

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

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Paul A. Lamp

Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P.
Houston, TX

Lisa R. McBride

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Leticia D. McGowan

Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, TX

Joey W. Moore

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C.
Austin, TX

Thomas E. "Tom" Myers

Brackett & Ellis
Fort Worth, TX

Martha P. Owen

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

Elizabeth Poole

Texas State Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Cynthia Rincón

Fort Bend ISD
Sugar Land, TX

Cory Rush

Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P.
Houston, TX

S. Anthony Safi

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

Wayne Schiess

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Leslie R. Story

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Mark P. Tilley

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Christopher L. Tritico

Tritico Rainey, PLLC
Houston, TX

Hon. Russell Wilson

218th District Court
Floresville, TX

Planning Committee

Juan J. Cruz—Co-Chair

J. Cruz & Associates, LLC
Laredo, TX

Michael J. Currie—Co-Chair

Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Julie Chen Allen

Spring Independent School District
Houston, TX

Joy S. Baskin

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Jefferson K. Brim III

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

Von Byer

Texas Education Agency
Austin, TX

Shellie Hoffman Crow

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C.
Austin, TX

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Schulman Lopez & Hoffer LLP
San Antonio, 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 & Treviño, P.C.
Austin, TX

Allan Stewart Graves

Adams Lynch & Loftin
Grapevine, TX

Andrea Slater Gulley

Underwood Law Firm, P.C.
Amarillo, TX

Wayne D. Haglund

Attorney at Law
Lufkin, TX

Jennifer L. Hall

Escamilla & Poneck, LLP
San Antonio, TX

Roger D. Hepworth

The Fowler Law Firm
Austin, TX

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Wesley E. Johnson

Escamilla & Poneck, LLP
San Antonio, TX

Miles J. LeBlanc

Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Hollis L. Levy

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Kevin F. Lungwitz

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

Marquette M. Maresh

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C.
Austin, TX

Mia M. Martin

Richardson Independent School District
Richardson, TX

Leticia D. McGowan

Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, TX

Mari M. McGowan

Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Joplin, P.C.
McKinney, TX

Cheryl T. Mehl

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

Joey W. Moore

Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C.
Austin, TX

Thomas E. "Tom" Myers

Brackett & Ellis
Fort Worth, TX

Elizabeth Poole

Texas State Teachers Association
Austin, TX

S. Anthony Safi

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

Merri Schneider-Vogel

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Marney Collins Sims

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Houston, TX

Ellen H. Spalding

Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P.
Houston, TX

Fred A. Stormer III

Underwood Law Firm, P.C.
Amarillo, TX

Mark P. Tilley

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Holly Boyd Wardell

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

Credit Info

Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 13.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Civil Trial 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.

California – 13.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics

You must claim your credit online in Your Briefcase, and will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE is required to provide the State Bar with electronic attendance records for any MCLE participatory activity within 60 days of completion of the activity. The California licensee is responsible for reporting their compliance/credit hours earned to the State Bar at the end of their reporting period directly to the State Bar of California at calbar.ca.gov. UT Law CLE will maintain Attendance Records for four years.

Ohio – 13.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to The Supreme Court of Ohio within 30 days after the conference.

Oklahoma – 16.00 hrs | 2.50 hrs Ethics

You must claim and certify your credit online in Your Briefcase, then you will then be provided a Certificate of Attendance for your records. UT Law CLE will report credit on your behalf to the Oklahoma Bar Association within 30 days after the conference.

Other Credit

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.

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 – Feb 19-20, 2015 – Renaissance Hotel

Conference Concluded

Buy

Austin

Individual
Last day for $495.00 Regular pricing: Feb 11, 2015

$545.00 for registrations received after this time

School District Employee
Last day for $395.00 Regular pricing: Feb 11, 2015

$445.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $445.00 Regular pricing: Feb 11, 2015

$495.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $400.00 Regular pricing: Feb 11, 2015

$450.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Feb 13, 2015

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Feb 16, 2015

Venue

Renaissance Hotel

9721 Arboretum Boulevard
Austin, TX
512.343.2626 (reservations)

Accommodations

$179 room rate good through January 21, 2015 (subject to availability).
Reserve your room online.

Parking Information

Self-parking: Complimentary
Daily valet parking: $16
Overnight valet parking: $20

30th Annual

School Law Conference

Austin Feb 19-20, 2015 Renaissance Hotel Conference Concluded

Buy

Related products: Materials

Overview

Event Schedule

Thursday Morning, Feb. 19, 2015

Thursday Afternoon, Feb. 19, 2015

Friday Morning, Feb. 20, 2015

Friday Afternoon, Feb. 20, 2015

Conference Faculty

Christine S. Badillo

Lisa A. Brown

Janet Sobey Bubert

James E. "Jim" Byrom

Derrell A. Coleman, JD, PhD

Mark Cousins, PhD

David P. Hansen

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Paul A. Lamp

Lisa R. McBride

Leticia D. McGowan

Joey W. Moore

Thomas E. "Tom" Myers

Martha P. Owen

Elizabeth Poole

Cynthia Rincón

Cory Rush

S. Anthony Safi

Wayne Schiess

Leslie R. Story

Mark P. Tilley

Christopher L. Tritico

Hon. Russell Wilson

Planning Committee

Juan J. Cruz—Co-Chair

Michael J. Currie—Co-Chair

Julie Chen Allen

Joy S. Baskin

Jefferson K. Brim III

Von Byer

Shellie Hoffman Crow

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Donna Derryberry

Christopher B. Gilbert

Mark Christopher Goulet

Allan Stewart Graves

Andrea Slater Gulley

Wayne D. Haglund

Jennifer L. Hall

Roger D. Hepworth

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Wesley E. Johnson

Miles J. LeBlanc

Hollis L. Levy

Kevin F. Lungwitz

Marquette M. Maresh

Mia M. Martin

Leticia D. McGowan

Mari M. McGowan

Cheryl T. Mehl

Joey W. Moore

Thomas E. "Tom" Myers

Elizabeth Poole

S. Anthony Safi

Merri Schneider-Vogel

Marney Collins Sims

Ellen H. Spalding

Fred A. Stormer III

Mark P. Tilley

Holly Boyd Wardell

Credit Info

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

Key Dates

Venue

Renaissance Hotel

Accommodations

Parking Information

30^th Annual

Austin Feb 19-20, 2015 Renaissance Hotel
Conference Concluded