2023 School Law Program and Social
This program will highlight issues for board members related to public records issues, shared documents, first amendment issues, and student and employee discipline.
Agenda:
5:00 p.m. – Registration & Refreshments
5:30 – 6:20 p.m. – Buelow Vetter School Law Program
6:20 – 8:00 p.m. – Refreshments & Hors d’oeuvres
Location: Empire Ballroom at Hilton Milwaukee City Center (509 West Wisconsin Avenue Milwaukee, WI 53203)
2022-23 Back to School Webinar: Top Legal Issues
This webinar will review the top legal issues that school officials should have on their radar going into the 2022-23 school year.
Is your school prepared for what’s ahead in 2022-23? In this webinar, we will review the top legal issues that school officials should have on their radar going into the 2022-23 school year. The presenters will provide practical advice on topics such as proposed Title IX changes, the use of discipline under IDEA & Section 504, employment law reminders, First Amendment case updates, public records case updates, and more. There will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.
Presenters (subject to change): Attorneys Mary Gerbig, Calvin Fermin, Lauren Burand, Sheila Thobani, Emily Turzinski, and Jennifer Williams
Location: Zoom (recording will be made available for later viewing)
WASPA Administrator’s Conference
MasterMinds Game Show
Claire Hartley, Attorney
Brian Waterman, Attorney
Buelow Vetter is sponsoring at the March 10th WASPA Administrator’s conference Claire E. Hartley & Brian J. Waterman are presenting March 10th at 3:15pm. How smart are you? This lively interactive presentation in the form of a game show will challenge you to solve relevant and complicated real-life scenarios by applying legal requirements with Human Resource know-how. Working in groups, you will compete to see who can claim the title of MasterMind!
2021 WASSA Virtual Fall Conference
On Thursday October 7th, Attorney Gary Ruesch will be speaking at the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA). Gary’s presentation entitled, “School Boards and School Board Members: The parameters of Discourse” will discuss statutory and policy limitations on the conduct and communication of elected officials. It will also examine the role and conduct of school board members as parents, colleagues, and supervisors in relation to district employees, students, and other parents. Gary will also discuss the implications of WILSON v HOUSTON COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM (5th Circuit, 2020), pending before the U.S. Supreme Court, regarding possible Constitutional limitations on remedies of a school board to discipline or sanction its members.
Join Buelow Vetter at the 2021 WCASS Fall Conference
On Monday, September 27 Buelow Vetter will be presenting two sessions at the WCASS Fall Conference Pre-Convention Legal Session.
Attorneys Gary Ruesch, Sheila Thobani, & Alana Leffler are set to discuss the implications of recent DPI and OCR decisions related to manifestation determinations and seclusion/restraint. Also review recent (and sometimes surprising!) DPI IDEA complaint decisions.
Later in the session attorneys Mary Gerbig and Emily Turzinski will give a legal update on Title IX, Social Media, Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students.
Please visit the link below to register for the event.
Buelow Vetter at Wisconsin Society for Healthcare Risk Management
On Friday, September 10th, Attorney Saveon Grenell and Attorney Claire Hartley will be speaking at the Wisconsin Society for Healthcare Risk Management Fall Conference 2021 (WSHRM). In the presentation entitled, “Harassment in Healthcare: How to Mitigate and Investigate”, Saveon and Claire will discuss the varying types of harassment, how to conduct a proper investigation, and what measures to take once an investigation has been completed.
What you need to know to successfully hire and manage your municipal employees
University of Wisconsin – Green Bay Master Academy: What you need to know to successfully hire and manage your municipal employees
August 24, 2021 | 1:00 – 4:00 PM
New Brookfield Conference Center, Brookfield, WI
Cost: $49
Topics Covered:
- Hiring –What you need to know: Employment applications, interviews and conducting background checks.
- After the hiring
- Managing Performance & Conflict
- Performance evaluations, discipline & discharge
- How to document
- Harassment and Discrimination — employee harassment, discrimination and retaliation
- Conducting an Investigation in the Workplace
- What to keep in the personnel file
- Maintain appropriate records and documentation
- Being a reference for a current or former employee
- Cobra
- Health & Safety Issues — Worker’s compensation, OSHA standards, workplace violence, FMLA
- Performance evaluations, discipline & discharge
- Managing Performance & Conflict
- Employee Handbooks – Non-union employee handbooks or policy manuals, the pro’s and con’s; what to watch out for; correct language use, policies, legal issues
Instructors:
Daniel G. Vliet, Attorney at Buelow Vetter—Buikema Olson & Vliet, LLC. Dan represents employers on a wide variety of employers on several labor and employment issues.
Saveon D. Grenell, Attorney at Buelow Vetter—Buikema Olson & Vliet, LLC. Saveon often assists clients in drafting policies and procedures, severance and settlement agreements, and advises them on issues such as harassment, discrimination, employee discipline and termination, and other human resources matters.
This workshop has been designed for all public officials. You do not have to be a member of WMCA to come. I encourage you to invite your staff and colleagues to gain this valuable information. This training qualifies for IIMC, MTAW, WMCA, WCCA, WCTA, WCCCA education hours towards certification.
Questions? Contact Kassie VanRemortel at 920-465-2468 or vanremok@uwgb.edu
Registration Closing Wednesday, August 18 @ Noon
2021-22 Back to School Webinar: Top Legal Issues
Is your school prepared for what’s ahead in 2021-22? In this webinar, we will review the top legal issues that school officials should have on their radar going into the 2021-22 school year. The presenters will provide practical advice on topics such as the updated school COVID protocol, mask requirements, virtual instruction, and more. There will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.
Presenters (subject to change): Attorneys Mary Gerbig, Claire Hartley, Alana Leffler, Sheila Thobani, and Emily Turzinski.
Location: Zoom
Date: Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Time: 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. (recording will be made available for later viewing)
Attorney Gary Ruesch at WASDA Summer Legal Seminar
On Thursday, July 29th, Attorney Gary Ruesch will be speaking at the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA). Gary’s presentation entitled, “The IDEA, Section 504, and Equity: Change is in the Wind!”, will discuss practical methods to anticipate, prevent and address new and changed initiatives from the Biden and Underly Administrations, and the COVID aftermath. This presentation will include checklists and strategies for IDEA Complaints and Investigations and OCR Complaints, Monitoring, and Investigations, including an updated guide and recommendations for Seclusion and Restraint. In addition, the impact of equity on student identification, programming, placement, and discipline will be reviewed, including the most recent and relevant case law.
Join us for the 2021 WASPA Legal Seminar For Experienced HR Practitioners
On Wednesday, July 14th, Attorney Claire Hartley will be presenting at the 2021 WASPA Legal Seminar for Experienced HR Practitioners. Claire’s presentation, entitled “Planning for the COVID Future: Continuing and Future Legal Considerations”, will discuss issues and legal updates regarding the continuation of safety protocols and mitigation strategies, vaccinations, testing, additional paid leave policies, and ongoing or changing accommodation needs for employees. Long-term considerations including staffing considerations and contract and policy modifications will also be addressed.
Returning Remote Employees to the Workplace
Considerations employers should take into account to make the transition as effective as possible, while minimizing their legal liability.
As COVID-19 cases decline and more of the population is vaccinated, many employers are deciding when and how to return remote workers back to the in-person workplace. Join us as we discuss what considerations employers should take into account to make the transition as efficient and effective as possible, while minimizing their legal liability.
Presenters include: Attorneys Joel Aziere, Saveon Grenell and Brian Waterman.
What you need to know heading into the 2021 – 2022 school year
Lessons learned from this past year and the top legal issues school districts should have on their radar going into the 2021-22 school year.
The 2020- 21 school year was one for the books! Please join us as we discuss lessons learned from this school year and the top legal issues school districts should have on their radar going into the 2021- 22 school year. We’ll discuss special education (impact of COVID), open enrollment, Title IX, employment/HR issues, and updates to school board policies and employee handbooks.
Presenters: Mary Gerbig, Claire Hartley, Alana Leffler, Emily Turzinski
Disciplining Public Safety Employees
When a municipality takes disciplinary action against police and fire personnel, it must navigate a web of procedural and substantive requirements, including those imposed by federal and state law, collective bargaining agreements, employment policies, and police and fire commission rules. Knowing these requirements and how they interact with one another is crucial to properly imposing discipline in a way that ensures fairness and limits a municipality’s liability. Join us as we explain the various legal considerations when disciplining public safety employees, and offer practical tips for obtaining the best possible outcome in such situations.
School Law: Handling Mental Health Issues
Prevent School Liability and Address the Unique Needs of All Students
Mental health issues in schools extend beyond special education classrooms, and each school professional needs to have a clear idea of what the law requires and how to comply with the plethora of regulations and procedures. In this engaging instruction, experienced practitioners will share their methods to prevent student neglect and discrimination, and their hard-won resolution approaches. Help every student get the best possible education with this focused school law guide to student mental health. Register today!
Current Hot Topics and HR Planning for the COVID Future
On October 15th, Attorneys Claire Hartley and Gary Ruesch will be presenting a webinar entitled “Current Hot Topics and HR Planning for the COVID Future” at the 2020 WASBO Fall Conference. They will discuss hot topics such as face mask policies, employee safety grievances, staff quarantines, and responding to employee leave, telework or other accommodation requests. And, they will discuss planning for the rest of the year and beyond, including how to effectively evaluate staff in a virtual or hybrid environment, preparing for potential non-renewals, and key contract provisions to include moving forward.
COVID-19 Issues in the Workplace Webinar
Employers of all sizes and in all industries are facing unprecedented challenges due to COVID-19. In this webinar we will address some of the most common COVID-19 workplace issues, such as employee leave and accommodation rights, considerations for remote working arrangements, maintaining a safe and healthy work environment, employers’ ability to screen and test employees, and the proper steps for responding to a positive COVID-19 case among your workforce. Join us as we explain employers’ legal obligations and offer practical tips for handling these and other human resources issues in these unique times.
2020-21 Back to School Webinar: Top Legal Issues
The start of the 2020-21 school year will be unlike any other! Is your school prepared? In this webinar, we will review the top legal issues that school officials should have on their radar going into the 2020-21 school year. The presenters will provide practical advice on topics such as school reopening protocol, mask requirements, virtual instruction, providing FAPE to children with disabilities, and employee leave under the FFCRA. There will be plenty of time for questions and group discussion.
Strengthen Your School’s IEP and 504 Plan Process and Protect Student Rights
IEPs and 504 plans are essential tools to ensure positive learning outcomes for many students. They also have the potential to cause legal issues for schools if they aren’t properly planned and carried out. Join Buelow Vetter Attorneys Gary Ruesch, Mary Gerbig, Claire Hartley and Alana Leffler for this comprehensive overview of legal liabilities in IEPs and 504 plans. Take away valuable information you can use to spot potential issues in your school’s IEP and 504 plan process. Register today!
- Ensure students get the tools they need to succeed by properly determining if they are eligible for an IEP or a 504 plan.
- Implement legally appropriate 504 plans that ensure a level playing field for eligible students.
- Conduct IEP meetings that include all the necessary players, and know what to do if someone is unable to attend.
- Handle situations where an IEP just isn’t working and modifications are immediately needed.
- Create behavioral intervention plans that properly take into account the information contained in functional behavior assessments.
- Properly protect the legal rights of students with IEPs and 504 plans in situations where discipline codes are broken.
- Get a practical update on the new and emerging special education issues.
Harassment and Bullying
Attorneys Claire Hartley and Lisa Bergersen will present on Harassment and Bullying at the Wisconsin Society for Healthcare Risk Management (WSHRM) Spring 2020 Conference. The event will be held at the Delafield Hotel in Delafield, Wisconsin.
Legal Update: How Can you Address Current Legal Issues?
Attorney Gary Ruesch and Attorney Alana Leffler will present “Legal Update: How Can You Address Current Legal Issues?” at the Cardinal Stritch University Principals’ Center Breakfast Series. The event will be held at the Embassy Suites, 1200 S. Moorland Rd., Brookfield, WI 53005.
- May 18, 2017: Attorney Joel Aziere and Attorney Suzanne Glisch presented "Getting Lost in the Weed: A Journey Through the Rapidly Changing World of Legalized Cannibis" at the 2017 Annual Conference of the Wisconsin Association of Corporate Counsel in Elkhart Lake, WI.
- May 4, 2017: Attorney Gary Ruesch and Attorney Alana Leffler presented "Endrew F. and Top 10 Essentials Directors Need to Know Right Now" at the WCASS Spring Conference in Madison, WI.
- April 24, 2017: Attorney Robert Buikema presented "Trump's First 100 Days - Labor Law Developments, Trends and Predictions" at the CUE Conference in Newport Beach, California.
- April 17, 2017: Attorney Gary Ruesch and Attorney Alana Leffler presented "Legal Update for the Passionate Reflective Educator" as part of Cardinal Stritch University's Breakfast Series.
- April 13, 2017: Attorney Gary Ruesch presented “Current Issues in Educational Law” as part of Cardinal Stritch University’s Breakfast Conversation Series.
- April 6-7, 2017: Attorney Mark Olson presented"Off-Duty Misconduct and Teacher Contract Non-Renewal" during the Wisconsin Association of School Personnel Administrators (WASPA) Spring Conference.
- March 9-10, 2017: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented "Behavior Interventions, IEPs and FAPE: A View From Washington" during the 24th Annual Institute on Educating Children with Emotional and Behavioral Disabilities in Wausau, WI.
- March 8, 2017: Gary Ruesch and Claire Hartley presented "Special Education Transportation" and participated in a panel discussion on best practices during the Wisconsin Association of School Business Officials' Transportation & Bus Safety Conference in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
- February 2, 2017: Renae Aldana and Alana Leffler presented "Legal Update: Education Cases Pention Before U.S. Supreme Court & Section 504 Update" during the WCASS Conference in Appleton, WI.
- January 28, 2017: Mark Olson presented "Constitutional Due Process Developments" during the ABA Labor Law Section Mid-Winter Meeting in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
- January 19, 2017: Several attorneys presented during our School Law Program and Reception at the Hilton Milwaukee City Center.
- December 16, 2016: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented "Charter School Law in Wisconsin" at the National Business Institute's seminar at the Holiday Inn Pewaukee-Milwaukee West.
- November 17, 2016: Joel Aziere and Alana Leffler presented "Social Media in the Employment Arena" during a Breakfast Briefing at the Majestic Theater in Waukesha.
- November 12, 2016: Mark Olson presented "Off-Duty Conduct of State and Local Government Employees" at the 10th Annual American Bar Association Labor and Employment Law Conference in Chicago, IL.
- October 14, 2016: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented "Legal Update for Administrators" at the Archdiocesan Education Convention at the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee, WI.
- October 13-14, 2016: Alana Leffler co-presented "What School Board Members Need to Know About a District's Special Education Obligations" at the WSAA/WASM School Law Conference at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
- October 13, 2016: Gary Ruesch presented "The Ethics of Negotiations" at the WSAA/WASB School Law Conference at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI.
- October 8, 2016: Mark Olson participated in a panel presentation to The College of Labor and Employment Lawyers Fall Law School Program in Chicago, IL.
- September 19, 2016: Susan Love and Brett Schnepper presented "Navigating the ADA, FMLA and Workers' Compensation Laws" during a Breakfast Briefing at the Majestic Theater in Waukesha.
- June 23, 2016: Matthew Flanary presented "Affordable Care Act for Municipal Employers" from 8:30-10:00 a.m. and from 10:15-11:45 a.m. for the League of Wisconsin Municipalities—Clerks, Treasurers and Finance Officers Institute, held at the Heidel House in Green Lake, WI.
- April 22, 2016: Mary Hubacher and Nancy Pirkey presented "Trends in Labor and Employment Law for Municipal Employers" at the Municipal Treasurers Association of Wisconsin Spring 2016 Conference, held at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel in Appleton, WI.
- May 5, 2016: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented at the Wisconsin Council of Administrators for Student Services, Spring 2015 Conference, held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Madison, WI. Mary Hubacher will also present "Challenging Behaviors, Discipline and the Law" on Thursday May 5.
- May 15, 2016: Rob Buikema presented "Ask The Expert—An Overview of Recent Developments in Labor Law" at the CUE—Positive Employee Relations conference on Sunday May 15 in Orlando, Florida.
- April 14, 2016: Gary Ruesch facilitated a discussion "Essential Question: Current Educational Law—What do we need to know?" for Cardinal Stritch Unversity's Breakfast Conversation Series.
- March 15, 2016: Gary Ruesch presented "How to Provide Legally Defensible Services: Point-Counter-Point" at the CESA #1 special education event in Pewaukee, WI.
- February 25, 2016: Joel Aziere presented "NLRB – Understanding the Evolving Landscape" at the MRA's Annual Federal and Wisconsin Employment Law Update, held in Milwaukee, WI.
- February 24, 2016: Gary Ruesch joined Lynn Boreson for a Point Counter-Point presentation at the 23rd Annual EBD Institute, held at the Westwood Conference Center in Wausau, WI. The event was sponsored by Marathon County Special Education.
- February 3, 2016: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented "Transgender and Gender Nonconforming Students" at the WCASS Winter Conference in Appleton, Wisconsin.
- January 22, 2016: Mark Olson will present "Procedural Due Process Issues and Decisions" to the ABA Labor Law Midwinter Conference in New Orleans, LA. For more information, visit the ABA Web site >
- January 21, 2016: 2016 School Law Program & Reception, coinciding with the 2016 School Board Winter Conference. Sessions included "Retiree Health Insurance Issues" (Matthew Flanary and Kevin Pollard), "Transgender Nondiscrimination" (Mark Olson and Alana Leffler), and "Individual Contracts/Teachers/Administrators" (Dan Vliet and Gary Ruesch).
- January 8, 2016: Matthew Flanary presented "ACA Refresher for 2016" to the Municipal Employers Association of Southeast Wisconsin.
- November 13, 2015: Gary Ruesch and Alana Leffler presented "Emerging Legal Issues in 2015-16" at the CESA #1 Statewide School-Based OT/PT Conference in the Wisconsin Dells.
- October 15, 2015: Dan Vliet presented "Saying Goodbye: Law and Strategy for Managing Resignations, Buyouts and Retirements" at the 2015 WSAA/WASB Employment & School Law Seminar held in Madison, WI.
- October 15, 2015: Mary Hubacher presented "What's Trending with Federal and State Agencies on Student Discrimination Issues?" at the 2015 WSAA/WASB Employment & School Law Seminar held in Madison, WI.
- October 10, 2015: Mark Olson presented on a panel at the 7th Circuit Fellows' Fall Program for Law Students, "Transitioning to Practice: Getting Noticed, Getting Hired, and Being Successful"—at the Chicago office of Winston and Strawn LLP, in Chicago.
- July 29-31, 2015: Gary Ruesch presented "Results Driven Accountability: What Should Districts Do in 2015-16 and Beyond?" as part of the Wisconsin Association of School District Administrators (WASDA) Legal Seminar, held July 29-31 at the Stone Harbor Resort in Sturgeon Bay, WI.
- July 28, 2015: Nancy Pirkey provided an "FLSA Update" at the Master Academy of Civic and Public Affairs sponsored by the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay.
- July 14, 2015: Alana Leffler presented "Section 504: An Overview and Practice Tips for Avoiding Compliance Mistakes" at the Waukesha School District Section 504 staff inservice.
- July 13, 2015: Nancy Pirkey presented "Basic Employment Law for Municipal Officials" at the Municipal Clerks & Treasurers Institute in Green Bay, WI.
- June 16, 2015: Matthew Flanary presented "Affordable Care Act for Municipal Employers" as part of the League of Wisconsin Municipalities' 2015 Clerks, Treasurers & Finance Officers Institute in Oshkosh, WI.
- June 5, 2015: Mark Olson and Alana Leffler presented "Top Things A Beginning Principal Should Know" to future Wisconsin School Administrators, through the Woodrow Wilson MBA Fellowship in Education Leadership at the Milwaukee School of Engineering.
- May 17, 2015: Mark Olson will be 50th Anniversary School Commencement speaker at University School of Milwaukee.