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School law touches nearly every part of a public school district’s work, but the answers aren’t always as simple as they seem.

On this episode of Report to the Office, OSBA President Mary Cleveland talks with education attorney Erin Wessendorf-Wortman of Ennis Britton about the rights, responsibilities and legal considerations that come with school board service.

They discuss who a school district’s attorney represents, confidentiality, executive session, social media and the line between an individual board member's role and the authority of the board as a whole.

Mary also tests Erin with a round of “myth or fact.”

Report to the Office is part of the OSBA Today podcast network.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Supporting student mental health is an important part of creating an environment where students are ready to learn. But where should school leaders start?

OSBA Forum host Mark Bobo talks with Nancy Eigel-Miller and Tricia Buchert of 1N5 about prevention, recognizing when students may need additional help, using data and student voice, supporting educators and building partnerships with community organizations.

They also discuss what school boards and district leaders should be asking about their district’s approach to mental health — and why schools don’t have to do this work alone.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Student discipline can seem straightforward: A student breaks a rule, the district determines what happened and there’s a consequence. Legally, there can be much more to consider.

OSBA attorneys Sara Clark and Dustin Koslen join Scott Gerfen to discuss suspensions and expulsions, students with IEPs and 504 plans, discipline involving younger students and other legal considerations school leaders should keep in mind.

They also preview OSBA’s Student Discipline webinar on Oct. 7, featuring Jessica Dawso of Scott Scriven LLP.

Learn more and register at ohioschoolboards.org.

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For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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A strategic plan shouldn't be something a school board approves and then rarely discusses again.

In this episode of Leading the Way, OSBA’s Kristi Robbins and Teri Morgan talk with Scott Gerfen about making strategic planning an ongoing part of a district’s work.

They discuss the board’s role, community involvement, common mistakes, measuring progress and keeping a strategic plan relevant as district needs and leadership change.

They also explain how OSBA’s Board and Management Services team can serve as a neutral facilitator and help districts develop a strategic planning process tailored to their needs.

Learn more at ohioschoolboards.org.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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What does career-technical education look like today?

OSBA President Mary Cleveland talks with Great Oaks Career Campuses President and CEO Harry Snyder about the changing role of career-tech education in Ohio. They discuss growing student interest, opportunities to earn college credit, connections with business and industry and why choosing career tech doesn't lock a student into one career.

Snyder also looks at what's ahead, including efforts to introduce career exploration earlier and create more pathways for students.

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For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Rep. Beryl Brown Piccolantonio knows school advocacy from both sides.

Before representing Ohio’s 4th House District, she spent eight years on the Gahanna-Jefferson City Schools Board of Education. She joins OSBA’s Malania Birney to talk about what she learned as a board member, how that experience shapes her work in the Ohio House and what school board members should know when working with state lawmakers.

The conversation covers legislative committees, testimony, building relationships with lawmakers and why firsthand experiences from local school districts can make a difference. They also look ahead to the lame-duck session and the next state operating budget.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Five years after Ohio began implementing the Fair School Funding Plan, former Ohio House Speaker Bob Cupp, a Republican, and former state Rep. John Patterson, a Democrat, reunite to discuss how they worked across party lines to tackle one of Ohio’s most complicated public policy issues.

Cupp and Patterson share how they built trust, brought school leaders and other experts into the process and found common ground despite their political differences.

They also discuss the plan’s future, Ohio’s property tax debate and how school board members can build stronger relationships with their legislators.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Public comment gives parents and community members an opportunity to speak directly to their elected school board. But what happens when comments become contentious, or the audience becomes disruptive?

OSBA attorneys Sara Clark and Jennie Hardin discuss the legal boundaries surrounding public comment at school board meetings, including limited public forums, First Amendment protections and the restrictions boards may place on speakers. They also explain why public comment rules must be enforced reasonably and without regard to viewpoint.

Plus, what is a “heckler’s veto,” and what should a board president do when the crowd — rather than the speaker — is causing the disruption?

The episode also previews OSBA’s “When board meetings get tricky” webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 9.

#SchoolBoards #SchoolLaw #PublicComment #BoardGovernance #OhioEducation #OSBA

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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What is an educational service center, and what does it do for Ohio’s public schools?

OSBA President Mary Cleveland sits down with Hamilton County Educational Service Center board member Bill Ferguson to unpack the role ESCs play in supporting school districts across Ohio.

Ferguson explains how ESCs provide shared services ranging from special education and professional development to interim leadership and early childhood education. He also discusses how ESCs are funded, the savings their shared-services model can provide and why these partnerships can be particularly valuable for smaller school districts.

#OhioEducation #SchoolBoards #PublicEducation #ReportToTheOffice #EducationalServiceCenters

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.

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Amber Ballard saw a problem affecting students with disabilities and decided not to accept that nothing could be done.

The Norwood City Schools board member worked with district leaders and OSBA’s legislative team to develop a proposal that ultimately became part of Ohio law. She joins OSBA President Mary Cleveland to explain why students receiving services beyond their traditional graduation year were being counted unfairly, how that affected school districts and what the new law means for students and families.

Amber also shares what she learned about advocacy, persistence and the power of one person choosing to step forward.

For more resources, training and advocacy updates from the Ohio School Boards Association, visit ohioschoolboards.org.