This episode was provided in Partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management.

With school staffing shortages growing across the nation, it is imperative that school districts competing for staff members signal that they offer a family-friendly environment that recognizes the many pressing needs that may arise for staff members related to their families. At the same time, school staff members provide essential services and school districts need staff members to be present in order to operate efficiently and provide reliable educational and support services for students. This episode will review legal requirements under federal and state law that impact family issues that may arise for staff, including legal obligations related to family and medical leave, sick leave, and addressing the needs of staff members struggling with mental health and/or substance use issues. It will provide tips for creating a positive school culture while ensuring that essential school functions are provided, even when emergency issues arise for staff members.

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

Guests - Rebecca Gold, Experienced School Leader, Human Resources Professional and LEGAL ONE Consultant; Paula Clark, Esq., Director of HR/In-House Labor and Employment Counsel, Wayne Township School District

This episode was provided in Partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher Risk Management.

Sexual harassment in public schools can take many forms. This episode will provide a clear definition of what constitutes sexual harassment and the legal obligations that must be addressed in response to any potential incidents. This will include a review of staff-to-staff, staff-to-student and student-to-student issues, and requirements that must be met under federal and state law, including federal Title IX, New Jersey’s Law Against Discrimination and Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights.

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

Guests - Sandra L. Jacques, Esq., LL.M., Assistant Director of Legal Education, FEA; Rebecca Gold, Experienced School Leader, Human Resources Professional and LEGAL ONE Consultant

This episode was provided in Partnership with Arthur J. Gallagher.

There is a growing awareness of the importance of ensuring that all students build strong connections with trusted adults in the school setting. At the same time, it is critical that school staff members understand the importance of maintaining appropriate boundaries, in order to avoid even the appearance of an improper relationship with students. This episode will review tips for creating a Code of Conduct for staff members that provides for a clear understanding of staff/student boundaries and protocols for promptly and effectively addressing any concerns that may arise. Participants will learn about one New Jersey school district’s innovative approach and a national model for addressing this issue.

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

Guests - Rebecca Gold, Experienced School Leader, Human Resources Professional and LEGAL ONE Consultant; Jetta Bernier, Executive Director, MassKids; Dr. Rosetta Treece, Superintendent, Hopewell Valley Regional School District

This episode was provided in Partnership with Alliant Insurance Services.

All school districts need to understand their obligations for implementing Title IX, which ensures that no students in our schools are victims of gender-based discrimination, whether in the form of inadequate support for female students in athletics, under-representation in certain rigorous academic programs or ineffective responses to reports of student sexual harassment. On August 1st, 2024, those obligations underwent major changes as a result of 1677 pages of new federal regulations that went into effect that day. This podcast episode will highlight the key changes in those regulations, as well as recent Title IX case law, and provide tips for schools in fulfilling their legal obligations under Title IX.

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

Guest - Sandra L. Jacques, Esq., LL.M., Assistant Director of Legal Education. FEA

This episode was provided in Partnership with Alliant Insurance Services.

Ensuring that students are able to safely participate in school athletics takes a team effort. That team includes parents, students, private healthcare providers and, of course, key school officials, including school nurses, school physicians, athletic directors, coaches and athletic trainers. For the 24-25 school year, major changes were made to the process for student athlete clearance, including revised forms and new limitations on information that is to be shared with school officials, absent parental consent. This podcast episode will highlight the key aspects of the revised student athlete clearance process, ongoing obligations to address any new medical issues that school officials may become aware of, and strategies for ensuring that necessary information is shared between students, parents, healthcare providers and school officials in order to promote the health and safety of all student athletes.

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

Guest - Bert Mandelbaum, MD, FAAP, School Physician

This episode was provided in Partnership with Alliant Insurance Services.

We are experiencing a surge in students nationwide who are in need of mental health supports. Involvement in school athletics has the potential to greatly benefit both the physical and mental health and well-being of students. However, student athletes often face enormous pressures to succeed, both athletically and academically. For any student athlete, there is also the challenge of learning to cope with the emotional rollercoaster that inevitably comes with athletic competition. In addition, for many student athletes, the coach is the school employee who knows that student better than any other staff member, and may be the first to recognize subtle changes in the student's demeanor or behavior. In this podcast episode, participants will learn about the legal requirements relevant to addressing student mental health issues, the critical role of the coach and athletic director, and key protocols for creating a safety net to support all student athletes.

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

Guests - Maureen A. Brogan, LPC, ACS, DAAETS, DRCC, Program Manager, Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC), Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care; Michael Stoia, Athletic Director, Red Bank Regional High School District; Lori Todd, MA, LPC, ACS, Student Assistance Counselor, Red Bank Regional High School District

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

Guest - George Guy, Principal, Cherry Hill Public Schools

Discrimination in our schools can take many forms.  Sometimes it takes the form of overt, intentional acts which any reasonable person should recognize.  But other times, discrimination can take more insidious, subtle forms.  Learning how to identify those subtle forms of discrimination, including microaggressions and implicit biases, is critical for school districts in order to meet their legal duty of care and to ensure a school climate and culture that embraces the value of diversity, equity, and inclusion.  In this episode, participants will learn about the legal obligations related to identifying, responding to, and overcoming microaggressions and implicit biases that impact the school setting for all stakeholders.

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

Guest - Rebecca Gold, LEGAL ONE Consultant

With school districts facing increasing staffing shortages, efforts to promote diversity in hiring have become more challenging than ever.  Those efforts have become ever more complicated by a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision invalidating the use of certain affirmative action policies at Harvard and the University of North Carolina.  However, the legal requirement to promote diversity in hiring and ensure nondiscriminatory hiring and promotions remains in effect for all New Jersey school districts.  In this episode, participants will gain an understanding of current legal requirements, the impact of a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, and the elements related to recruitment and hiring practices that must be addressed in each district’s Comprehensive Equity Plan.  Listeners will also learn about innovative recruiting strategies that have made a real difference for New Jersey school districts.

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

Guest - Maureen A. Brogan, LPC, ACS, DAAETS, DRCC, Program Manager, Traumatic Loss Coalitions for Youth (TLC), Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care

Recent data suggests an alarming spike in mental health needs for students and staff in our public schools.  In this episode, participants will learn about legal requirements under state and federal law related to addressing mental health needs, including a new State law regarding depression screening for students, expansions of state requirements related to health insurance coverage, an overview of the interactive process and reasonable accommodations, and key mental health considerations related to school security.

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

Guest - John Worthington, Esq., Coordinator of Special Education Law, FEA

New Jersey has one of the most expansive anti-discrimination laws in the nation, which provides strong protections for students and staff members in our schools.  In this episode, participants will learn about the broad protections available under NJLAD, including protected categories, recent expansions and clarifications of those protections related to racial discrimination, protections from discrimination linked to hair type/style/texture, and gender equity, including equity in pay and protections for the rights of new mothers, and the various options available for raising a claim of discrimination against a school district.