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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the second in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Whether your school district successfully passed a bond or parcel tax in years past or just this month, once those financial resources are accounted for, the process of moving forward with construction begins.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons connects with Lozano Smith CCS expert George S. Sziraki, Ed.D. and Partner Kelly Rem regarding best practices for superintendents and their teams for advanced planning, issue spotting, engaging with their school boards, constituents, and other important stakeholders in the school construction project process.  Practical takeaways from this episode can benefit school district leaders at any stage of the school construction process, but in particular those at the starting point of the process.

Show Notes & References

• 3:06 –  Budget process and the importance of management oversight
• 4:25 – The impact of timeline development on budget markers
• 7:19 – Accounting for unanticipated delays
• 8:40 – Stakeholder communications and legal aspects that come into play
• 12:36 – School bonds and Oversight Committees
• 13:37 – Lozano Smith Podcast Episode 68 Citizen Bond Oversight Committees: A Primer for School Districts (Listen here)
• 13:55 – Strategies for fostering good relationships with Oversight Committees
• 15:06 – Communications through the preconstruction phase and understanding delivery methods
• 17:11 – Potential legal engagement and knowing when to pass the baton
• 18:09 – The Levine Act
• 18:53 – Factoring in Title IX inequity issues and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance
• 21:40 – Front-end policy development
• 22:34 – CUPCCAA (California Uniform Public Construction Cost Accounting Act)
• 23:53 – When disputes arise
• 26:03 – Big picture takeaways

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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This Lozano Smith Podcast episode is the first in a 4-part series Leadership in Action, brought to you by Lozano Smith and Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services, also known as CCS.  Increasingly in recent years, the perception of governing board meetings have trended negative, with school leaders concerned over disruptions, lack of productivity, and more.  In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith CCS expert Kevin Skelly, Ph.D. and Partner Megan Macy regarding best practices in fostering a welcoming and positive experience during governing board meetings, to the benefit of district constituents, students, staff, administrators, and the governing board.  Practical takeaways from this episode can benefit both new and veteran governing board members in improving the experience and productivity of board meetings.

Show Notes & References

• 3:13 – Making board meetings positive
• 7:04 – Planning for meetings and bringing issues forward
• 8:38 – Creating welcoming board meetings for constituents
• 13:10 – Connecting with constituents at meeting
• 13:57 – Celebrating success at board meetings
• 16:54 – Media coverage and relationships with local news networks
• 19:08 – Importance of board trainings and in-the-moment issue spotting
• 23:36 – Taking students and teachers into account
• 26:35 – Getting a “win” out of a “loss” at a board meeting
• 31:25 – Qualities of good governance teams and successful strategies to employ
• 36:27 – Modeling respect at board meetings

 

To learn more about the Lozano Smith’s Concierge Consulting Services (CCS) team, join us here.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In this episode of our podcast, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith special education experts Aly Bivins and Josh Walden.  They discuss the recent trends and guidance in the arena of goal writing for special education students.  Aly and Josh provide insights on recent OAH decisions on point, and lessons learned from those due process outcomes.

Show Notes & References

• 1:17 – Lozano Smith Podcast Episode 66 – Addressing Inclusion Confusion Following COVID (Listen here)
• 2:06 – The importance of annual goals (D.R. v. Redondo Beach Unified School District (9th Cir. 2022) 56 F.4th 636) (Client News Brief 15 – April 2023)
• 3:06 – Impact on Rachel H. decision (Sacramento City Unified School District v. Rachel H. (9th Cir. 1994) F.3d 1405)
• 3:52 – Recent Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH) decisions regarding goals
• 5:03 – OAH on clarity in goal writing
• 5:22 – South Sutter Charter School case (Student v. South Sutter Charter School (OAH 2024) Case Nos. 2023100030/2023100175)
• 8:47 – Meeting the “stranger test”
• 9:52 – Goals and relationship to instruction and services
• 10:24 – LAUSD case (Student v. Los Angeles Unified School District (OAH 2024) Case No. 2023100526)
• 11:38 – Separate goals in relation to specific areas of need
• 12:18 – S.W. v. Capistrano case standard (Capistrano Unified School District v. S.W. (9th Cir. 2021) 21 F.4th 1125; Student v. Capistrano Unified School District (OAH 2023) Case No. 2023050289)
• 13:40 – Including underlying conditions in goals
• 15:44 – Baselines and Ukiah case (Student v. Ukiah Unified School District (OAH 2024) Case Nos. 2024010195/2023100750)
• 19:11 – Big picture takeaways

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith charter school experts Courtney de Groof and Eric Barba.  The group discusses the recent Oklahoma Supreme Court decision to block the nation’s first proposed religious charter school and implications of this development here in California and more broadly.

Show Notes & References

• 1:55 – Drummond vs. Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board (Client News Brief 31 – August 2023)
• 7:23 – Issues presented in Oklahoma Decision
• 8:42 – Oklahoma State Charter Schools Act
• 9:45 – Federal constitutional questions that were addressed
• 12:22 – Federal cases (Trinity Lutheran Church of Columbia, Inc. v. Comer (2017) 582 U.S. 449; Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue, et al (2020) 591 US 464)
• 19:11 – Big picture takeaways

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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Join host Sloan Simmons as he discusses new legislative enactments and trending student issues impacting the 2024-2025 school year with Lozano Smith experts Kyle Raney and Kendra Tovey.  This episode covers a range of hot topic issues, from a new round of changes to Independent Study to AB 1955.

Show Notes & References

• 1:17 – School recess (Senate Bill (SB) 291) (Client News Brief 45 – December 2023)
• 3:59 – Repeal of withholding recess as a disciplinary measure
• 6:01 – Defiance and disruption, and the Keep Kids in School Bill (SB 274) (Client News Brief 37 – November 2023) 
• 9:39 – Changes to Independent Study (IS) (SB 153) (Client News Brief 38 – August 2024)
• 10:29 – “Short term” versus “Long term” IS
• 11:15 – Impacts on ADA (average daily attendance) apportionment
• 12:47 – Asynchronous instruction/participation
• 13:47 – The intersection of emergency closures and IS (Education Code sections 46393 and 51747)
• 18:45 – Gender identity rights for students and the SAFETY Act (Assembly Bill (AB) 1955)
• 20:06 – AB 1266 (2014)
• 20:45 – California Department of Education (CDE) Legal Guidance and FAQs on AB 1266
• 22:50 – AB 1955 and protections for LEA employees and contractors
• 24:55 – Updates to annual notices:
  • 25:17 – Discrimination complaints related to textbooks, materials and curriculum
  • 26:20 – Non-compliance with the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) requirements
  • 27:13 – California College Guidance Initiative Data Sharing
• 27:44 – Cell phones on campus
• 30:24 – Mandated policies limiting smart phone use (AB 3216)

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In this podcast, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith Title IX Practice Group Leaders Monica Batanero and Sarah Fama in a step-by-step discussion regarding the new Title IX regulations, as well as helpful context regarding various legal challenges pending around the country to the new regulations.

Show Notes & References

• 1:48 – Overview of Title IX
• 3:48 – New Title IX Regulations
• 6:14 – California regulations under the Education code
• 8:19 – Flexibility within new regulations
• 10:28 – Sex-based harassment structure for students at higher education institutions (34 CFR 106.46)
• 12:06 – August 1, 2024 implementation deadline and policy updates
• 18:22 – Lawsuits around the country and impacts on California schools
• 19:05 – State of Kansas v. U.S. Department of Education, No. 23-CV-3205-JWL, 2024 WL [specific page numbers to be determined], (D. Kan. July 2, 2024)
• 21:58 – Overruling of the Chevron Doctrine and its impact
• 22:53 – Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, 603 U.S. ___ (2024); 144 S.Ct. 2244
• 23:05 – Bostock v. Clayton County, 590 U.S. 644 (2020)
• 26:09 – Resources and training opportunities
• 26:45 – Lozano Smith Illuminate
• 28:00 – Lozano Smith Title IX Toolkit – Email clientservices@lozanosmith.com for more information

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In this episode, host Sloan Simmons engages with Lozano Smith attorneys Carolyn Gemma and Jaspreet Lochab-Dogra regarding the application and interactions between the various compliant procedures utilized by California’s K-12 school districts.

Show Notes & References

• 1:45 – Common complaint procedures
  • 1:51 – BP/AP 1312.1 (Complaints Concerning District Employees)
  • 1:56 – BP/AP 1312.3 (Uniform Complaint Procedures (UCP))
  • 2:01 – BP/AP 4030 (Non-Discrimination in Employment)
  • 2:05 – Title IX and Williams complaint procedures
• 2:38 – UCP process
• 3:33 – What is covered under the UCP
• 4:39 – Removal of special education from the UCP
• 6:05 – Complaint procedures for employees with protected characteristics (BP/AR 4030)
• 6:32 – Complaint procedures for employees not related to protected characteristics (BP/AR 1312.1)
• 7:34 – Interaction of UCP and Title IX complaint processes
• 7:59 – New Title IX Regulations (OCR) – August 1, 2024
• 9:27 – Appeals under new Title IX Regulations
• 11:24 – Complaints regarding instructional materials or facilities (Williams complaint procedures)
• 11:37 – Complaints regarding library materials (AB 1078)
• 13:47 – UCP vs. Williams complaint process
• 15:29 – Commonalities between complaint processes

 

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In episode four of our series on Artificial Intelligence for Public Agencies and School Districts, we explore the intersection of student issues and AI.  Join Lozano Smith attorneys Karen M. Rezendes, Ruth E. Mendyk, and Joshua Whiteside in their discussion of the use of AI and its effect on K-12 students, existing rules and regulations, issues of deepfakes and plagiarism, and big picture considerations for school administrators.

Show Notes & References

• 1:57 – Law, rules, and regulations
• 3:54 – Other considerations for students and the use of AI
• 5:55 – Importance of human connection between educators and students
• 7:55 – Risks and misuse of AI by students and staff
• 9:55 – Creation of “deepfakes”
• 12:29 – Discipline for cyberbullying (Education Code section 48900(r))
• 13:50 – Existing and emerging AI editing tools
• 15:16 – Academic integrity and plagiarism
• 17:56 – AI’s influence on teacher instruction
• 19:11 – Student research and Codes of Conduct
• 22:30 – Positive and negative impacts of AI on learning
• 25:58 – Risk of misinformation
• 26:46 – Lack of checks and balances
• 28:14 – Sources of information – potential for bad actors and flawed information
• 31:02 – Educating students on digital literacy
• 32:02 – Advice for school administrators

 

Visit Lozano Smith’s Artificial Intelligence page at www.lozanosmith.com/ai.php.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In episode three of our series on Artificial Intelligence for Public Agencies and School Districts, we delve into the ways AI is impacting the facilities and operations side of school districts. Join Lozano Smith attorneys Karen M. Rezendes, Robert A. Lomeli, and Junaid Halani as they discuss how AI technologies are being integrated into the day-to-day processes of school districts’ facilities departments and business operations. We also discuss real-world applications and potential pitfalls involving AI as AI has an ever-increasing presence and utility in allowing resource strapped public agencies to function efficiently.

Show Notes & References

• 2:05 – Managing school Facilities and Business (FAB) operations
• 4:13 – Regulations on use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in FAB
• 8:28 – Major concerns with intersection of AI and FAB
• 11:02 – Overreliance and legal noncompliance
• 15:12 – Ethical considerations and risks
• 23:32 – Example experiences for public agencies and school districts
• 30:35 – Outlook on the future

 

Visit Lozano Smith’s Artificial Intelligence page at www.lozanosmith.com/ai.php.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.

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In episode two of our series on Artificial Intelligence for Public Agencies and School Districts, we delve into the ways AI is revolutionizing the field of special education. Join Lozano Smith attorneys Karen M. Rezendes, Sarah L. Garcia, and Karina Demirchyan as they discuss how AI technologies are enabling a more inclusive learning environment and creating more equitable educational opportunities for students with diverse needs. We also discuss real-world applications and success stories involving AI, ethical considerations, and our future outlook regarding AI tools in special education.

Show Notes & References

• 2:12 – AI in the context of special education
• 3:38 – Individualized support and AI
• 4:35 – Legal regulations for AI
• 5:38 – Data privacy concerns
• 7:35 – Bias issues
• 8:52 – Ethical considerations and challenges
• 10:33 – AI success stories
• 17:37 – The role of AI at IEPs and other meetings with parent involvement
• 19:37 – Currently available AI supports
• 22:03 – The future of AI and special education

 

Visit Lozano Smith’s Artificial Intelligence page at www.lozanosmith.com/ai.php.

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.