31^st Annual

School Law Conference

Austin Feb 25-26, 2016 AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded

Buy

Related products: eConferences Materials

Overview

UT Law’s 31st 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.

Join the Director of NSBA’s Council of School Attorneys, Sonja Trainor, for an update on the current state of federal law and guidance on student data privacy.
Explore the challenging state and federal regulations related to firearms on school district property, prohibited weapons and other changes to student discipline.
Learn what is expected of the school district by OCR and the current legal standards imposed by the courts in cases where students are bullied.
Analyze the conflict between student free speech rights and a school’s obligation to maintain a safe and secure environment
Review new federal procurement regulations (EDGAR), the new state conflict of interest disclosure requirements and their respective impacts on school district procurement and purchasing practices, including a comparison of the federal and state law requirements.
Review the various types of protected activity and prohibited retaliation and explore how these claims proceed through the various administrative systems, like the EEOC. Learn best employment practices that every school should use that will help establish a defense to these claims before you need one.
Learn responses to difficult questions regarding the intersection of family law and school law

Event Schedule

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

Day 1 February 25, 2016
Day 2 February 26, 2016

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Thursday Morning, Feb. 25, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Juan J. Cruz, J. Cruz & Associates, LLC - Laredo, TX
7:30 am

Registration Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:35 am

Welcoming Remarks
8:45 am

1.00 hr

Student Data Privacy: The National Conversation

Join the Director of NSBA’s Council of School Attorneys for an update on the current state of federal law and guidance on student data privacy. Look at proposed (or passed) legislation amending key education statutes, including the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act, as well as stand-alone bills addressing vendor conduct. Learn how Texas initiatives, including SB 507 on video cameras in the classroom, fit into national trends, and what you might expect from federal policy-makers in the near future.

Sonja Trainor, Director, Council of School Attorneys, National School Boards Association - Alexandria, VA
9:45 am

0.50 hr

Guns in Schools and Chapter 37 Changes

A look at the challenging state and federal regulations related to firearms on school district property, prohibited weapons, and other changes to student discipline. Do gun-free school zones truly exist with the advent of open carry? What is the impact for K-12 students attending classes on college campuses? Is a pocketknife a prohibited weapon?

Pam Kaminsky, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
10:15 am

Break
10:30 am

0.75 hr

From the Classroom to the Cloud: Responsibilities of the District When Students Are Bullied

Bullying, whether at school or in cyberspace, continues to be a major concern of students, parents, and school officials. Explore what is expected of the school district by OCR and the current legal standards imposed by the courts in cases where students are bullied.

Richard M. Abernathy, Abernathy, Roeder, Boyd & Hullett, P.C. - McKinney, TX
Janet L. Horton, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX
11:15 am

1.00 hr

The Other Tinker Test: Analyzing the Conflict between Student Free Speech Rights and a School’s Obligation to Maintain a Safe and Secure Environment

Schools trying to deal with twenty-first century mandates to adopt anti-discrimination and anti-bullying measures, accommodate the surge of LGBTQ students, and roll with the ever-changing Establishment Clause landscape are increasingly finding themselves the targets of student free speech “I can say what I wanna say” lawsuits. Explore the legal framework for analyzing the dichotomy between private student speech and school government speech to determine when schools seeking to promote the greater good can say, “No, you can’t.”

Christopher B. Gilbert, Thompson & Horton LLP - Houston, TX
12:15 pm

Lunch On Your Own
Thursday Afternoon, Feb. 25, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Juan J. Cruz, J. Cruz & Associates, LLC - Laredo, TX
1:30 pm

1.00 hr

Keeping Up with SBEC Laws, Regulations, and Procedures

Gain an understanding of different perspectives of the laws, rules, and procedures when complaints are filed against educators and examine the new reporting requirements to SBEC that districts must adhere to, including the likelihood of sanctions against a district superintendent that fails to report in a timely manner.

Brandon Y. Brim, Brim, Arnett, & Robinett, P.C. - Austin, TX
Mike Harper, Killeen Independent School District - Killeen, TX
Karla A. Schultz, Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C. - Austin, TX
2:30 pm

0.50 hr

Office for Civil Rights: Facility Accessibility

Gain insight into handling an OCR investigation regarding campus accessibility as well as practical advice for schools when facing an OCR complaint.

Wayne D. Haglund, Haglund Law Firm, P.C. - Lufkin, TX
3:00 pm

Break
3:15 pm

0.50 hr

Board Hearings: What the FNG?

An analysis of recent legal developments regarding local school board hearings pertaining to student, employee, and public complaints.

Deron T. Robinson, Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C. - Irving, TX
3:45 pm

0.75 hr

The Superintendent’s Employment Contract: A Tool for Avoiding Catalysts to Conflict

A discussion of how particular contract provisions can operate as a method of effective communication between the superintendent and the board of trustees to avoid common areas of conflict in the board–superintendent relationship.

Allan S. Graves, Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. - Grapevine, TX
Cory S. Hartsfield, Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C. - Grapevine, TX
4:30 pm

1.00 hr ethics

Wheel of Clients: Which One Is Yours?

A round-table discussion of school lawyers' ethical responsibilities. Whom do the lawyers represent, and how can they avoid potential ethical landmines?

Amanda Moore, Texas State Teachers Association - Austin, TX
Leila Sarmecanic, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
Catosha L. Woods, Houston Independent School District - Houston, TX
5:30 pm

Adjourn

Time

Credit

Subject

Speaker
Friday Morning, Feb. 26, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Ellen H. Spalding, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
7:30 am

Conference Room Opens

Includes continental breakfast.
8:30 am

1.00 hr

Commissioner Decisions and Legal Update

An update on Commissioner of Education decisions and significant AG opinions from the past year.

Mark P. Tilley, Texas Association of School Boards - Austin, TX
9:30 am

0.75 hr

Procurement and Purchasing: Recent Developments in State and Federal Laws and Regulations

A critical overview of new federal procurement regulations (EDGAR), the new State conflict of interest disclosure requirements, and their respective impacts on school district procurement and purchasing practices, including a comparison of the federal and state law requirements.

S. Anthony Safi, Mounce, Green, Myers, Safi, Paxson & Galatzan, P.C. - El Paso, TX
10:15 am

Break
10:30 am

0.50 hr

Using Student Performance to Measure Teacher Effectiveness: PDAS, T-Tess, and Beyond

To what extent is student performance a valid measure of teacher effectiveness? Examine the role that student performance plays in the evaluative process and to what extent that data can be used to support implementation of growth plans, recommendations for nonrenewal, and other employment decisions.

Julie Leahy, Texas Classroom Teachers Association - Austin, TX
11:00 am

0.75 hr

Wage and Hour: Are School Districts under Attack?

An update on the current landscape of the Fair Labor Standards Act and its implications for employers.

Lisa Royee Ray, Dallas Independent School District - Dallas, TX
11:45 am

Pick Up Lunch

Included in registration.
Friday Afternoon, Feb. 26, 2016
Presiding Officer:
Ellen H. Spalding, Rogers, Morris & Grover, L.L.P. - Houston, TX
LUNCHEON PRESENTATION
12:05 pm

0.50 hr

What Schools Can Do, Aside from the Obvious, to Protect Themselves from Retaliation Claims

Texas takes a shotgun approach to prohibiting retaliation in the workplace, with several different statutes giving rise to distinct causes of action based on the nature of the protected activity. There are also several federal laws prohibiting retaliation of various sorts. Review the various types of protected activity and prohibited retaliation and explore how these claims proceed through the various administrative systems, like the EEOC, that are often a first stop before a lawsuit is filed. Most importantly, learn best employment practices that every school should use and that will help establish a defense to these claims before you even know you need one.

Bryan P. Dahlberg, Schulman Lopez & Hoffer LLP - San Antonio, TX
12:35 pm

Break
12:50 pm

0.50 hr

The Intersection of Family Law and School Law

Does Grandpa have any rights to the child? Can Mom’s new girlfriend attend the parent–teacher conference? Can Dad eat lunch with the child on his non-possession days? Who gets to make the educational decisions for the child? How do you advise your administrators when the parents don’t agree to any of this? What is your reaction as a lawyer when your administrators are subpoenaed to a family law hearing? Learn responses to these and other gray-area questions where family law and school law collide.

Kevin F. Lungwitz, The Lungwitz Law Firm, P.C. - Austin, TX
1:20 pm

0.50 hr

Overview of the New Truancy Law

New laws decriminalize truancy, but continue to hold students accountable through a new system of truancy courts. Review the new law and discover a wealth of resources aimed at implementing the new system.

David Slayton, Office of Court Administration - Austin, TX
1:50 pm

1.00 hr ethics

Practicing Law in a Tech-Driven World

Technology presents a host of new and complex ethical issues for lawyers to navigate. Managing client communications via text and email, 24/7 accessibility to clients, maintaining confidentiality in the age of hackers, having an online presence as a lawyer, and using social media and electronic advertising to augment your practice are just some of the issues to consider.

D. Craig Wood, Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C. - San Antonio, TX
2:50 pm

Adjourn

Day 1 February 25, 2016
Day 2 February 26, 2016

Download Schedule

Conference Faculty

Richard M. Abernathy

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

Brandon Y. Brim

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

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Schulman Lopez & Hoffer LLP
San Antonio, TX

Christopher B. Gilbert

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Allan S. Graves

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.
Grapevine, TX

Wayne D. Haglund

Haglund Law Firm, P.C.
Lufkin, TX

Mike Harper

Killeen Independent School District
Killeen, TX

Cory S. Hartsfield

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.
Grapevine, TX

Janet L. Horton

Thompson & Horton LLP
Houston, TX

Pam Kaminsky

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

Julie Leahy

Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Kevin F. Lungwitz

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

Amanda Moore

Texas State Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Lisa Royee Ray

Dallas Independent School District
Dallas, TX

Deron T. Robinson

Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C.
Irving, TX

S. Anthony Safi

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

Leila Sarmecanic

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

Karla A. Schultz

Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C.
Austin, TX

David Slayton

Office of Court Administration
Austin, TX

Mark P. Tilley

Texas Association of School Boards
Austin, TX

Sonja Trainor

Director, Council of School Attorneys, National School Boards Association
Alexandria, VA

D. Craig Wood

Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, P.C.
San Antonio, TX

Catosha L. Woods

Houston Independent School District
Houston, TX

Planning Committee

Juan J. Cruz—Co-Chair

J. Cruz & Associates, LLC
Laredo, TX

Ellen H. Spalding—Co-Chair

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

Von Byer

Texas Education Agency
Austin, TX

Michael J. Currie

Texas Classroom Teachers Association
Austin, TX

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Schulman Lopez & Hoffer LLP
San Antonio, TX

Donna Derryberry

Association of Texas Professional Educators
Austin, TX

Allan S. Graves

Adams, Lynch & Loftin, P.C.
Grapevine, TX

Andrea Slater Gulley

Amarillo Independent School District
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 E. Johnson

Escamilla & Poneck, LLP
San Antonio, TX

Kelli H. Karczewski

Karczewski Bradshaw, L.L.P.
Nacogdoches, TX

Marquette M. Maresh

Walsh Gallegos Treviño Russo & Kyle, 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 & Hullett, P.C.
McKinney, TX

Cheryl T. Mehl

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

Laura O'Leary

Fanning Harper Martinson Brandt and Kutchin
Dallas, TX

Kate A. Peteet

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Elizabeth Poole

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

Russell Ramirez

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

Lynn Rossi Scott

Brackett & Ellis, P.C.
Fort Worth, TX

Marney Collins Sims

Cypress-Fairbanks ISD
Houston, TX

Gregory J. Smith

The University of Texas School of Law
Austin, TX

Fred A. Stormer III

Underwood
Amarillo, TX

Credit Info

Austin

MCLE Credit

Texas – 12.50 hrs | 2.00 hrs Ethics
Legal Specialization(s): Administrative Law, Civil Appellate 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 – 12.50 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.

Oklahoma – 15.00 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 – 0.00 hr

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) – 0.00 hr

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 25-26, 2016 – AT&T Conference Center

Conference Concluded

Buy

Austin

Individual
Last day for $495.00 Regular pricing: Feb 17, 2016

$545.00 for registrations received after this time

School District Employee
Last day for $395.00 Regular pricing: Feb 17, 2016

$395.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (5 registrants minimum)
Last day for $445.00 Regular pricing: Feb 17, 2016

$495.00 for registrations received after this time

Group (10 registrants minimum)
Last day for $400.00 Regular pricing: Feb 17, 2016

$450.00 for registrations received after this time

Last day for cancellation (full refund): Feb 19, 2016

$50 processing fee applied after this date

Last day for cancellation: Feb 22, 2016

Venue

AT&T Conference Center

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

Accommodations

The AT&T Hotel is sold out. The following hotels currently have availability:

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Austin - University Area
Radisson Hotel & Suites Austin Downtown

Parking Information

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

31st Annual

School Law Conference

Austin Feb 25-26, 2016 AT&T Conference Center Conference Concluded

Buy

Related products: eConferences Materials

Overview

Event Schedule

Thursday Morning, Feb. 25, 2016

Thursday Afternoon, Feb. 25, 2016

Friday Morning, Feb. 26, 2016

Friday Afternoon, Feb. 26, 2016

Conference Faculty

Richard M. Abernathy

Brandon Y. Brim

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Christopher B. Gilbert

Allan S. Graves

Wayne D. Haglund

Mike Harper

Cory S. Hartsfield

Janet L. Horton

Pam Kaminsky

Julie Leahy

Kevin F. Lungwitz

Amanda Moore

Lisa Royee Ray

Deron T. Robinson

S. Anthony Safi

Leila Sarmecanic

Karla A. Schultz

David Slayton

Mark P. Tilley

Sonja Trainor

D. Craig Wood

Catosha L. Woods

Planning Committee

Juan J. Cruz—Co-Chair

Ellen H. Spalding—Co-Chair

Julie Chen Allen

Joy S. Baskin

Jefferson K. Brim III

Von Byer

Michael J. Currie

Bryan P. Dahlberg

Donna Derryberry

Allan S. Graves

Andrea Slater Gulley

Wayne D. Haglund

Roger D. Hepworth

Elneita Hutchins-Taylor

Wesley E. Johnson

Kelli H. Karczewski

Marquette M. Maresh

Mia M. Martin

Leticia D. McGowan

Mari M. McGowan

Cheryl T. Mehl

Laura O'Leary

Kate A. Peteet

Elizabeth Poole

Russell Ramirez

S. Anthony Safi

Merri Schneider-Vogel

Lynn Rossi Scott

Marney Collins Sims

Gregory J. Smith

Fred A. Stormer III

Credit Info

MCLE Credit

Other Credit

Key Dates

Venue

AT&T Conference Center

Accommodations

Parking Information

Stay in the loop with UT Law CLE

31^st Annual

Austin Feb 25-26, 2016 AT&T Conference Center
Conference Concluded