Priority Briefings

Effective January 22, 2021, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) has adopted new regulations that require districts to provide “Qualified Interpreters” at IEP meetings to allow parents, whose native language is other than English, to meaningfully participate in the meeting. The regulations also require districts to give parents notice of the availability of interpretation…

For the second time in a little more than three years, an Illinois Appellate Court panel has rejected the persistent claims of tax rate objectors that limited bonds, such as working cash bonds, cannot be used for capital projects without prior voter approval. In 2017, the Illinois Appellate Court, Second District, issued an opinion in…

Recently, the Public Access Counselor at the Illinois Attorney General’s Office (“the PAC”) has issued opinions on remote meeting concerns involving the Open Meetings Act. Public bodies must take efforts to ensure compliance or risk findings of a violation of the Open Meetings Act. In a non-binding opinion, the PAC determined that a school district…

Beginning January 1, 2021, Illinois school districts and other local taxing bodies are required to post a link on their websites to the following URL:  https://www.imrf.org/en/about-imrf/transparency/employer-cost-and-participation-information This webpage is on the Illinois Municipal Retirement Fund (“IMRF”) website and contains information about all IMRF employers’ participation in the fund. Illinois Public Act 101-504, which was passed…

As you are aware, filings for school board candidates are handled by the County Clerk rather than at the local school districts as was done in the past.  The Cook County Clerk handles this increase in the volume of filings by using multiple sites in the suburbs as well as the Clerk’s central office in…

This is to alert you to a class action lawsuit in which the attorneys for the plaintiff students, although bringing the case in a New York federal court, are attempting to draw in school districts throughout the country, even in Illinois.  If you receive notice of this case, we advise you not to respond without…

New guidance issued this week by the Illinois Department of Public Health (“IDPH”) provides clarity on the role local health departments play in helping schools combat the spread of COVID-19 as they return to hybrid or full in-person instruction. While school districts should maintain consistent and open communication with their local health departments, here are…

Recently, our firm issued a Priority Briefing regarding how schools should respond if and when staff or students test positive for COVID-19 or present with COVID-19 symptoms. On August 12 and 13, the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) issued new guidance on these issues. Although much of the information remains the same, the new…

You may recall that we recently reported on the amendments to Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. The amendments to Title IX became final on May 6, 2020 and must be followed by school districts beginning today, August 14, 2020. The amendments, among many other things, accomplished the following: Changed the timeline for…

As school districts open for full time in-person instruction and/or blended-remote learning, they will undoubtedly have staff and students test positive for COVID-19 or arrive at school with related symptoms. It is therefore imperative that school districts understand current public health guidelines for how to handle these situations, including who should be sent home, when…