Featured Articles

A January Reminder About Religion In School

Kyle Berman
January 19, 2011 13:56

It is January.  From the kids' point of view, they are back to school after an all too brief  winter recess.  From the point of view of administrators and the attorneys representing them, it is the end of another season fielding questions about religion in schools.  We...

Recent Articles

Fired Intelligent Design proponent says not a religious view

Kyle Berman
March 13, 2012 18:48

There is no direct school link, but I was reading a news item about a JPL (you know, "Jet Propulsion Labratories") employee who claimed he was fired for espousing his intelligent design beliefs at work.  Naturally, JPL denies the allegation, but the more interesting thing is that...

PA's Right to Know Law: can you keep it private if the exclusions don't quite fit?

Kyle Berman
March 12, 2012 15:34

What is an agency's Open Records Officer to do?  The exclusions in the PA RTKL are supposed to be "narrowly construed," but sometimes the information requested clearly SHOULD be protected. This issue came up recently in front of the PA Commonwealth Court.In Housing Authority of...

The 2012-2013 Bargaining Season Has Just Begun - What is Really Happening in Pennsylvania Teachers' Contract Negotiations?

Jeffrey Sultanik
February 02, 2012 12:15

According to Pennsylvania law, as of January 11, 2012, 160 out of the 500 school districts in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania commenced negotiations. However, a very different phenomenon is emerging in teachers’ contract negotiations. According to statistics from the Pennsylvania School...

What's the Rule on Cyber-Bullying? Who knows.

Kyle Berman
January 19, 2012 14:58

Well, it's official. There is still no single rule on schools disciplining students who post things on the internet from home that would break school rules if done when under the jurisdiction of the school.  This week the U.S. Supreme Court decided not to hear appeals from...

Hold the Phone!

January 16, 2012 19:04

 A new federal rule prohibiting commercial drivers from using a hand-held cell phone while operating a commercial truck or bus went into effect  on January 3, 2012.  For us educationally minded individuals, the next logical question becomes does this new ban on hand-held phone use...

PA Schools: Firing Employees with Old Convictions

Kyle Berman
December 14, 2011 17:33

The Pennsylvania Department of Education is taking a hard-lined and politicized view on what has to happen to an employee who self-reports an old conviction for an offense listed in §1-111(e).  Although not supported by the statute, in a new Basic Education Circular issued December 12,...

Contracting for Professional Services Under Pennsylvania Law

Jeffrey Sultanik
December 01, 2011 16:50

Recently, our office has gotten many more questions regarding the legal requirements for contracting with custodial service, security service, and maintenance service firms under Pennsylvania law. Custodial Services and Security Services.  Pennsylvania public school districts are not required...

PA School Districts Not To Pay for Pre-K Charter/Cyber Charters

Kyle Berman
November 29, 2011 18:06

On Wednesday, November 23, 2011, the PA Supreme Court issued its decision on whether a school district has to pay for a student to attend a charter or cyber charter school’s kindergarten when the student would be too young to attend the district’s program. The answer was a clear and...

You're Outta Th ... huh ... no? Still Working in PA's Schools

Kyle Berman
November 29, 2011 14:59

I recently received yet another call from a current school employee (working at a school Fox Rothschild does not represent) who had a problem because of old criminal conduct.  Obviously, with all this continuing interest, it is a good topic for discussion.This call came from...