EdCounsel Insights

With the increase in teacher’s minimum salary requirements, many districts are reevaluating the design of their teacher salary schedules.  In this episode, Duane discusses the statutory parameters for teacher salary schedules that should be considered in rethinking schedule design for the 25-26 school year. 

With the advance of generative artificial intelligence, schools are becoming increasingly interested in the implementation and usage of AI in a variety of ways.  In this episode, Duane discusses a few of the primary legal considerations that schools should bear in mind as they move forward with AI in their District. 

Running for a school board tends to be a lot more involved that most potential candidates assume it will be when they step forward to serve.  In this episode, Duane Martin and Emily Omohundro discuss many of the procedural and practical aspects of running for school board in an attempt to demystify the process and prepare candidates for the challenges and rewards of serving on the board.

Every holiday season, questions arise regarding concerts, displays, attire and other forms of expression that may be considered religious in nature.   Schools must strike a balance between allowing individuals to express themselves and the school’s endorsement of religion under the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.  Join Emily, Drew and Duane in this episode of EdCounsel Insights as they talk through scenarios regarding religious expression in schools during this holiday season.     

As concerns over security continue to impact schools, questions surrounding the rights of registered sex offenders, their proximity to schools, and the legal parameters in place to protect students have become pressing issues. What does the Missouri law say about where sex offenders can be in relation to schools? How are schools to balance the rights of individuals with the need to protect our children? In this episode of EdCounsel Insights, we discuss how Missouri’s law regarding sex offenders applies to Missouri public school districts before turning to some of the parameters and practical issues associated with permitting sex offenders on school property. 

One of the primary responsibilities of an elected school board is to make policies that serve as a framework for how the local school district operates.  In this episode, Duane and Emily discuss policy development, policy services, and perspectives regarding how school boards can better serve their communities in their policy-making process. 

Missouri public school districts are limited in the methods they can use to procure construction of facilities.  In this episode, Duane and Tom discuss the various methods of construction procurement and the ins and outs of procuring design professionals and construction contractors.

As student misconduct increases in frequency and severity this fall, many school board members are questioning their role in discipline matters. In this episode, Duane dives into an often-overlooked aspect of student discipline: the critical responsibilities of the school board. He discusses how boards establish policies, determine procedures, and make final decisions on student discipline, shedding light on their influence in shaping a safe and supportive school environment. Join us for this discussion of the school board's vital role in addressing student behavior.

Missouri school districts have been hit with numerous online threats lately.  In this episode, Duane talks through the primary legal issues in disciplining online threats including gathering evidence, addressing off campus misconduct, and navigating free speech concerns.

In this episode, Emily and Duane discuss the ins and outs of student residency requirements including statutory exceptions to the residency requirements, residency waivers, guardianship, powers of attorney, and other related topics.