The LEGAL ONE Podcast

In this episode, listeners will learn about the legal framework that must be followed when responding to school staff member requests for accommodations, including key legal considerations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504. The episode will include a review of the interactive process that school districts must follow and examples of incidents where employees made unreasonable requests, as well as examples where districts failed to act reasonably. Listeners will also learn about the need to formalize the process of addressing accommodation requests and the central role of Human Resources in addressing these issues.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guests - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant; Mark Daniels, Superintendent, East Windsor Regional School District; Keith Gourlay, CEFM, Executive Director, New Jersey School Buildings and Grounds Association

In this episode, listeners will learn about the legal framework that must be followed when responding to school staff member requests for accommodations, including key legal considerations under the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504. The episode will include a review of the interactive process that school districts must follow and examples of incidents where employees made unreasonable requests, as well as examples where districts failed to act reasonably. Listeners will also learn about the need to formalize the process of addressing accommodation requests and the central role of Human Resources in addressing these issues.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guest - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant

In this episode, listeners will learn about the importance of working with students to explore potential solutions to important issues. That includes getting student input on how to talk with students about issues such as substance use and student mental health, and how to get student buy-in for major changes in state law, including implementation of the new law on internet-enabled devices. In short, this episode is focused on the value of student voice in helping to craft solutions and get student buy-in for new programs and other initiatives

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guests - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant and John T. Farinella, Esq., Coordinator of Legal Education, Foundation for Educational Administration/NJPSA Legal Counsel

In this episode, listeners will learn about the importance of listening to students on a wide range of issues in order to identify potential health and safety hazards, understand emerging trends related to topics such as substance use and mental health, and serve as a reality check to assess the real world impact of district policies, protocols and practices.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guests - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant and John T. Farinella, Esq., Coordinator of Legal Education, Foundation for Educational Administration/NJPSA Legal Counsel

In this episode, listeners will learn about the major legal issues that occur when communications break down between school officials and parents of students with disabilities, and strategies for effectively navigating areas of potential disagreement and promoting collaboration. Topics discussed include addressing child find obligations, collaborating with parents in developing, reviewing and revising IEPs, addressing student behavioral issues and recognizing the unique perspective, expertise and critical insights that parents bring to the table.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guests - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant and Geta Vogel, LEGAL ONE Coordinator of Mental Health, Wellness and the Law

In this episode, listeners learn about the key areas where disputes are most likely to arise between parents and school districts related to student behavior and bullying, the potential legal ramifications when those disputes occur and escalate, strategies for deescalating and resolving issues, and key steps for building trusting relationships with parents and promoting a positive school climate. Listeners will learn how to apply the LIGHT System, an innovative framework for effectively communicating with all key stakeholders.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, Foundation for Educational Administration

Guests - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant and Geta Vogel, LEGAL ONE Coordinator of Mental Health, Wellness and the Law

This episode focuses on raising awareness about the environmental and health issues that arise related to the handling of disposable vapes, the current state and federal laws that address handling and disposal of these products, and current guidelines that are available to help guide schools in addressing this complex issue.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA

Guests - Maya Shenoy, MPH, NCNTT, Program Manager at the Southern NJ Perinatal Cooperative; Kim Burns, NCTTP, Tobacco Program Manager for Tobacco Free for a Healthy NJ, Southern Region

In this episode, listeners will learn about the key legal requirements to provide Arts Education in New Jersey Schools. Listeners will gain information about the benefits that a School District and its students gain in areas including Special Education, reducing chronic student absenteeism, improving graduation rates and academic success, improving school climate and culture, mental health benefits, improving student communication skills, providing inclusive environments open to all students, providing leadership opportunities for students, and increasing student engagement.

Host - Sandra Jacques, Esq., LLM., Assistant Director of Legal Education/LEGAL ONE

Guests - Wendy Liscow, Executive Director, Arts Ed NJ; Kira Rizzuto, Director of Learning Programs, Arts Ed NJ; John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law/LEGAL ONE

This episode focuses on understanding the evolution of the tobacco industry’s efforts to target minors and promote tobacco use, the resources available through the Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies to assist school districts and others throughout the nation, and lessons learned from prior successes in addressing tobacco use among youth.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA

Guest - Kevin Schroth, Esq., Associate Professor in the Department of Health Behavior, Society, and Policy at the Rutgers School of Public Health and member of the Institute for Nicotine and Tobacco Studies, Rutgers University

This episode focuses on the evolving trends related to use of tobacco products by students, effective strategies for working with youth at the grassroots level, relevant legal obligations for school officials, and a review of a comprehensive toolkit developed by New Jersey Prevention Network and LEGAL ONE.

Host - David Nash, Esq., Director of Legal Education and National Outreach, FEA

Guests - Diane Litterer, Executive Director, New Jersey Prevention Network; Carlo Favretto, Statewide Youth Coordinator - Incorruptible Us, New Jersey Prevention Network