Earlier this year, Governor Tom Corbett signed into law Act 9 of 2014 (“Act 9”), an amendment to the Pennsylvania Wiretap and Electronic Surveillance Control Act. This amendment expressly authorizes the use of audio surveillance equipment on school buses or school vehicles for disciplinary or security purposes and provides important clarifications of the law. This new legislation was, in part, … [Read more...] about The Recordings on the Bus Go Round and Round…. An Amendment to Pennsylvania’s Criminal Wiretap Law Authorizes Audio Recordings on School Vehicles.
School Law Bullet
Federal Court Rules School Did Not Violate Section 504 By Having Allergic Student Eat Lunch At a Desk in Cafeteria
In T.F. v. Fox Chapel Area School District, No. 12-01666 (W.D. Pa Nov. 5, 2013), the United States District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania has ruled that a school district did not discriminate against a student with a severe tree nut allergy in violation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Although the school district’s explanation for seating the student alone at a desk in a … [Read more...] about Federal Court Rules School Did Not Violate Section 504 By Having Allergic Student Eat Lunch At a Desk in Cafeteria
Dramatic and Unheralded Changes Made To The Educator Discipline Act
On December 18, while schools were preparing to shut their doors for the holiday break, Governor Corbett signed into law a series of ten bills designed to improve the way that Pennsylvania handles child abuse reporting and investigations. Slipped in among those changes, however, was a major overhaul of what was known as the “Professional Educator Discipline Act,“ (which, as a result of the … [Read more...] about Dramatic and Unheralded Changes Made To The Educator Discipline Act
Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Limits on Private Meeting Discussions By Public Entities
December 17, 2013 decision in Smith v. Township of Richmond affirms Commonwealth Court ruling in favor of Township and hones in on the nature of "deliberations." (See SLB 98, September 11, 2012 for additional details on the case). What Happened In 2010, the Township of Richmond was involved in litigation with a cement company and a citizen group regarding the expansion of a limestone quarry into … [Read more...] about Pennsylvania Supreme Court Clarifies Limits on Private Meeting Discussions By Public Entities
Recent Commonwealth Court Ruling Has Substantial Impact on Transportation for Schools
Last week, the Commonwealth Court arrived at a decision that will significantly impact the transportation schedules, cost of operations, and protocols for safely ensuring transportation to students in public, charter and private schools. In Timothy Watts v. Manheim School District, the court was faced with a question not previously addressed in Pennsylvania: is a school district obligated to … [Read more...] about Recent Commonwealth Court Ruling Has Substantial Impact on Transportation for Schools
