This past July, the U.S. Department of Education released the Transparency Best Practices for Schools and Districts, a new set of guidelines created to improve relations between school districts and parents surrounding school...more
In a strongly worded 42 page decision, the Second District Appellate Court ruled in Gurba v. Community HS Dist. 155, that school districts are subject to the zoning regulations of home rule municipalities. The decision...more
The summer is nearly behind us, and it has been a busy summer for the Public Access Counselor (PAC) office of the Illinois Attorney General, which issued five binding decisions since May on Open Meetings Act (OMA) and Freedom...more
In Gurba v. Community H.S. Dist. 155, a McHenry County Circuit court judge ruled that a local high school district violated the law when it refused to subject itself to the local zoning process of its host municipality....more
The Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (PAC) closed out the year by issuing two binding opinions. The following is a summary of key points from the opinions of which public bodies should be aware....more
The use of technology in school districts continues to increase and evolve. Districts are using technology to enhance curriculum, replace traditional text books, and communicate with students, parents, and the community. ...more
In a recent Illinois Appellate Court decision, the Court held that a public body was in violation of the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) where the public body initially willfully ignored its obligation to respond to a FOIA...more
An Illinois Appellate Court recently upheld a waiver and release clause in a fitness club’s membership agreement that barred an injured member from seeking damages in court. In Hussein v. L.A. Fitness International, the...more
In This Issue:
- ADMINISTRATION
..Hazing
..Firearm Concealed Carry Act
..School Safety Drills
..Medical Insurance for Interscholastic Athletes
..Insurance
..Duties of a Principal
...more
The Public Access Counselor of the Illinois Attorney General’s office recently issued a binding opinion holding that a board of trustees for a fire protection district violated section 2.01 of the OMA by “holding a meeting at...more
Recently, the Illinois Appellate Court clarified three key provisions of the Illinois Freedom of Information Act: the “predecisional” or “deliberative process” exemption; the exemption for unwarranted invasion of personal...more
The Appellate Court of Illinois (First District) recently issued an opinion clarifying how a public body can waive the Freedom of Information Act protection for predecisional records....more
The Illinois Appellate Court recently ruled that electronic communications about public business sent or received by members of a city council during a public meeting or study session are “public records” subject to the...more
The Illinois courts and the Attorney General’s Public Access Counselor (“PAC”) issued a flurry of decisions in May and June relating to the Illinois Freedom of Information Act (“FOIA”) and the Illinois Open Meetings Act...more
Recently, the Illinois Public Access Counselor rendered a binding opinion, holding that a committee violated the Open Meetings Act when it chose to recommend an individual to fill a vacancy on the committee and made that...more
In Parker v. Lyons, 2013 WL 1624336 (C.D. Ill. 2013), a candidate filed a nominating petition with the requisite number of signatures and was later served with a quo warranto action by the State’s Attorney. The quo warranto...more
In Rubin v. City of Lancaster, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower court’s determination that the city council’s invocation policy and practice did not amount to an unconstitutional establishment of religion....more
In Hayden v. Greensburg Community School Corporation, the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana found that a school’s haircut policy for the boys’ basketball team did not constitute gender discrimination,...more
In Paridon v. Trumbull County Children’s Services Board, the Ohio Court of Appeals upheld the Trumbull County Children’s Services Board (Board) practice of requiring individuals to sign-in before attending the Board’s...more
3/27/2013
We have learned from several clients that debt collection efforts for school districts by the Illinois Office of the Comptroller under the Local Debt Recovery Program (LDRP) have been put on hold indefinitely. In a notice...more
The deadline for members of public bodies to take the Open Meetings Act training course is approaching fast.
Pursuant to recent amendments to the OMA, members elected or appointed prior to January 1, 2012 must take the...more
The Public Access Counselor of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office (PAC) issued a binding opinion last week finding that the Washington County Board Finance Committee violated the Open Meetings Act (OMA). The violation...more
11/17/2012