Business Official Academy: Legal Issues Impacting the School Business Office

Join Ferrara Fiorenza for this virtual series examining the legal issues impacting school business offices.

Register for $100 per session, or purchase the entire series bundle for $550 per district.

Sessions include:

Cyber Resilience: Safeguarding Your School District from Digital Threats
October 25, 2024 | 8:00am-8:45am

Get up-to-date information on school cybersecurity and learn how to protect your district from digital threats. We'll explore common cyberattacks like wire fraud, ransomware, and phishing, and share practical tips to boost your cybersecurity practices. Walk away with strategies to shield your district from legal, financial, and reputational harm in the digital age.

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Mastering Piggyback Purchasing: Dos, Don'ts, and Legal Landmines
November 22, 2024 | 8:00am-8:45am

Navigate the ins and outs of piggyback purchasing with confidence. We'll cover how to properly document compliance, avoid criticism from the Comptroller's office, and correctly use this purchasing method in capital construction projects. Learn to leverage piggyback purchasing effectively while staying on the right side of the law.

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Competitive Bidding, RFPs, and Commercial Contracts:
Crafting Reliable Procedures
December 20, 2024 | 8:00am-8:45am

Unlock the secrets of effective and legally-compliant competitive bidding and RFP processes. We'll explore circumstances when the law mandates these procedures, dive into the legal and policy requirements governing them, and show you how to develop bids and RFPs that both comply with the law and protect your school district's interests. We'll also provide a framework for spotting contract terms that either violate New York law or fail to protect your district's interests. Plus, we'll review specific contract requirements for specialty services like school security, transportation, universal pre-K, school-based health centers, and school physicians.

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From Blueprint to Reality: Navigating Capital Construction Projects
January 17, 2025 | 8:00am-8:45am

Gain insights on the legal issues impacting school districts and acquire practical tips for every stage of your capital project. We'll cover legal hurdles and practical tips from the voter referendum stage through to project completion. Learn how to contract key services, retain contractors through various procurement methods, handle disputes, and successfully close out your capital project.

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Collective Bargaining Mastery: Costs, Contracts, and Conflict Resolution
February 28, 2025 | 8:00am-8:45am

Master the art of collective bargaining. This session will prepare you to review salary schedules and create scattergrams; quantify the “hidden costs” associated with stipends, longevities, shift differentials, coverages, etc.; anticipate health insurance trends and cull the related data; and understand negotiation history and grievances/improper practice charges.

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Lease and Facilities Agreements: Mastering the Fine Print
March 21, 2025 | 8:00am-8:45am

Become an expert in navigating lease and facilities use agreements. We'll explore when these agreements are necessary and how to develop legally compliant agreements for both using third-party facilities and allowing third-party use of school facilities. We'll also tackle tricky issues like fair market value rent, facility improvements, and getting the Commissioner of Education's approval.

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