Critical Legal Issues

Welcome

10:00 a.m.–10:10 a.m.

Presenters:

Dr. Rodney Watson, Region 4 ESC

John Hopkins, Partner, Thompson & Horton, LLP

General Session

10:10 a.m.–11:45 a.m.

School Finance and Legislative Update

Location: The Connection Center Room

Presenter:
David Thompson, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP

Arguing in Cyberspace:  An Update on School Official and Employee Speech on Social Media Platforms

Presenter:
Chris Gilbert, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP

This session will discuss whether and to what extent school employees and school board members can talk about public issues on social media platforms, focusing on the two big cases that will be heard by the Supreme Court this fall (Lindke v. Freed, and Garnier v. O’Connor-Ratcliff) about whether government officials can delete comments and block users on social media.

Presentation: Arguing in Cyberspace

Grab-and-Go Lunch

11:45 a.m.–12:00 p.m.

Breakout Sessions

12:00 p.m.–1:00 p.m.

Top 10 Special Education Questions You Asked Your Lawyer in 2022-2023—Special Education

Location: Great Room, BC
 

Presenters:
Rebecca Bailey, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP
Arlene Gonzalez, Associate, Thompson & Horton LLP
 

This session will touch on hot topics of the 2022–2023 school year, share the top 10 special education questions Thompson & Horton received in 2022–2023, and discuss how districts should approach these issues going into the new year school year.

Presentation: Top 10 Special Education Questions

Top 10 Special Education Questions (notes pages)

Student and Parent Rights and Issues Update: HB 1605, the READER and CROWN Acts, and More!

Location: Room 1140

Presenter:
Chris Gilbert, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP

Join this breakout for a deeper dive into recent issues involving students and parents including accountability, book issues under the READER Act, and an update on recent trends in dress codes, including the newly passed CROWN Act.

Presentation: Student and Parent Rights and issues Update

Personnel Issues: What Every Campus Needs to Know About the New Workplace Accommodation Standards and Other Legislative Updates

Location: Room 1430

Presenter:

Stephanie Hamm, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP

Join this breakout to discuss the new legal standard for accommodating employees’ religious beliefs, the new legal protections for pregnant and nursing mothers under the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act and the PUMP Act, and recent employment-related updates from the Texas Legislature.

Presentation: What Every Campus Needs to Know About the New Workplace Accommodation Standards and Other Legislative Updates

School Safety and Operations Update—Review of HB 3 and Other Safety and Operations Legislation—Safety/Business

Location: Room 1420

Presenters:

• Ken Culbreath, Officer of Emergency Management and School Safety Director, Region 4 Education Service Center
• John Hopkins, Partner, Thompson & Horton LLP
• Robert Zingelmann, CFO, Region 4 Education Service Center
• Ken Culbreath, Director of Emergency Management & School Safety, Region 4 Education Service Center
• Katie Vestal, Associate, Thompson & Horton LLP

What Charters Should Know for the 2023–2044 School Year and Beyond

Location: Connection Center Room

Presenter:

Celena Vinson, Counsel, Thompson & Horton LLP

In this breakout, you will learn about critical bills passed during the legislative session that impact charter schools as well as recent court decisions that could expose charters to civil rights claims. You will also hear about new state and federal regulations that protect employees and require employers to take certain actions. We will discuss what these new regulations and decisions mean for you and how you can be prepared for this school year and beyond

Presentation: What Charters Should Know for the 2023–2044 School Year and Beyond