Maintain School District Facilities with Annual Capital Outlay Projects

A Capital Outlay Project is a program authorized by Education Law and the NYSED Office of Facilities planning which allows school districts to plan and implement a Capital Project by informing voters about the project in the budget newsletter and including a line item for the project in the school district budget. If the budget …

Tiptoeing Towards School Elections During a Pandemic

The annual meeting and election for school districts is scheduled for May 18, 2021 this year, following the typical statutory calendar.  Although COVID-19 served as cause for the Governor to order school elections to be conducted entirely by absentee ballot last year, as of the publication of this article, there has been no similar order …

Meetings in the Sunshine – Compliance with the Open Meetings Law

Covid-19 Vaccination Incentive Programs: Avoiding the Pitfalls

The current law does not permit employers to require their employees to get the Covid-19 vaccination. However, employers can take steps to promote education about the vaccine among their workforce and provide certain incentives to encourage their employees to get the vaccine and/or exercise safety. Effective education of your workforce can result in greater morale …

Biden Administration Acts Swiftly – Signaling Change to Issues Impacting Schools

On January 20, 2021, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., issued an Executive Order, titled, “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation.” Signaling a dramatic change from prior federal guidance pertaining to transgender issues, the order states, in part, that, “Children should be able to learn without …

Oversight of Student Activity Funds is Not to be Taken Lightly

Teachers often serve as extraclassroom activity advisors.  Extraclassroom activities, in turn, often involve student fundraising efforts.  Students use the fundraising experience to learn basic financial literacy and accounting, with the goal of using the money raised to participate in an extraclassroom experience.  Club advisors should be provided with written guidance and support regarding their financial …