Episode 55 Special Education – Private Schools and Alternatives to Public School Placements

Episode 55 Special Education – Private Schools and Alternatives to Public School Placements

In the wake of COVID-19, many families have experienced or explored new ways for their children to receive education.  Lozano Smith attorneys Lauri Arrowsmith and Kaitlyn Tucker will examine the recent trend of more parents seeking alternative placements for their children with disabilities and how educational agencies should handle such requests, including those seeking placement …

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Episode 54 Best Practices in Managing Disruptions at School Board Meetings

Episode 54 Best Practices in Managing Disruptions at School Board Meetings

Managing school board meetings in the face of disruption created by parents, employees, and members of the public can be challenging.  This podcast will explore best practices to regulate this disruption and create rules and de-escalation techniques to ensure an orderly meeting.  To explore this timely topic, co-host Joshua Whiteside introduces a discussion on point …

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Episode 53 Elections and the California Voting Rights Act – How and Why it Works, and “Post-Transition” Best Practices

Episode 53 Elections and the California Voting Rights Act – How and Why it Works, and “Post-Transition” Best Practices

Hosts Sloan Simmons joins veteran municipal practitioner James Sanchez and Governance Practice Group Co-Chair Ryan Tung to discuss the election process and the California Voting Rights Act (CVRA), including the legal requirements and practical impacts of the CVRA, as well as best practices for California public entities following the transition from at-large to trustee area …

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Episode 51 (Part 2) Student Vaccines and Student Masks – Late February 2022 Developments

Episode 51 (Part 2) Student Vaccines and Student Masks – Late February 2022 Developments

Hosts Joshua Whiteside and Sloan Simmons are back to discuss the latest litigation development related to a school district’s student COVID-19 vaccination mandate and the rapidly changing guidance and directives related to student and staff mask requirements, including CDPH’s recent announcement that face masks are no longer legally required indoors at K-12 schools after March …

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Episode 52 Personnel Actions and the March 15th Deadline – Are You Ready?

Episode 52 Personnel Actions and the March 15th Deadline – Are You Ready?

Host Sloan Simmons joins partners and Lozano Smith Labor and Employment Co-Practice Group Leaders Michelle Cannon and Gabriela Flowers to discuss several important school district labor and employment deadlines that fall on March 15.  This brief but information packed episode includes discussion on various types of release from employment as well as layoffs.  Additionally, this …

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Episode 51 (Part 1) Student Vaccines and Student Masks – Latest Developments

Episode 51 (Part 1) Student Vaccines and Student Masks – Latest Developments

Host Joshua Whiteside joins Lozano Smith partner Sloan Simmons to discuss the present status of student COVID-19 vaccination and student masks requirements, including the status of State directives on point and the results of litigation in these areas. Show Notes & References 0:48 – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) February 15, 2022 announcement and …

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Episode 50 Modular Buildings: A Primer for School Districts

Episode 50 Modular Buildings: A Primer for School Districts

Host Sloan Simmons joins Lozano Smith partner Arne Sandberg to discuss modular buildings for California school districts, including the basics about modular buildings, procurement alternatives, and new legal developments impacting this area of school construction. Show Notes & References 1:24 – Modular buildings 2:05 – Modular component buildings vs. modular portables 4:55 – Issue of …

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Episode 49 Preparing for the New Year: New Student Laws In Effect Now and in 2022 and Beyond

Episode 49 Preparing for the New Year: New Student Laws In Effect Now and in 2022 and Beyond

Host Joshua Whiteside joins Lozano Smith attorney Ruth Mendyk to discuss updates and new obligations facing educational agencies now and during the second half of the 2021-22 school year. This discussion includes a review of important legislation from the Fall 2021 legislative session. Show Notes & References 2:30 – Education Code 48205 – Excused absences …

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Episode 48 COVID-19 School Closures: Compensatory Education in the Special Education Context

Episode 48 COVID-19 School Closures: Compensatory Education in the Special Education Context

Following COVID-19 school closures during the 2019-2020 school year, many school districts are faced with making determinations regarding potential compensatory education for their special education student populations.  Host Sloan Simmons discusses the concept of compensatory education and school closures with Lozano Smith special education experts Marcy Gutierrez and Collen Villarreal, including important factors for districts …

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Episode 47 The Supreme Court Speaks: Guidelines for Regulation of Student Off-Campus Speech

Episode 47 The Supreme Court Speaks: Guidelines for Regulation of Student Off-Campus Speech

For the first time since 2007, the United States Supreme Court has weighed-in on student free speech rights under the First Amendment. In Mahanoy Area School District v. B.L., the high court addressed for the first time the parameters and limits for schools’ regulation of student off-campus speech. In this episode, Lozano Smith student speech …

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