The KingSpry law firm in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is proud to announce Episode Six of their education law podcast, the Legal Lunch Room.
Each episode, our hosts invite education attorneys and school leaders to share how current education law trends and court decisions impact school boards, students and our community.
This episode explores Act 26 of 2023 which repealed the section of the Pennsylvania Public School Code dealing with religious garb for teachers. Featuring employment attorney Liz Kelly, as well as Easton Area School District Superintendent Tracey Piazza, our guests discuss this new law and its implications for our schools.
“As much as I would have suspected all along,” says Liz Kelly, “employees of public school districts are now permitted to wear religious garb.”
Twenty years in the making, this repeal was in response to a pivotal case from 2003. In Nichol v. Arin Intermediate Unit 28, the United States District Court of the Western District of Pennsylvania held that the school’s religious affiliations policy violated the Free Exercise of Religion and Free Speech clauses of the First Amendment. Click here to read more.
The podcast also looks at policies and procedures that create a more inclusive environment, where teachers are free to express themselves and their religion however they deem appropriate, so long as there is no impact on the educational aspect of the school environment.
Superintendent Piazza adds, “As a district, we are trying to be inclusive of all individuals and make sure that our staff and students feel appreciated and part of our community.”
We hope you’ll join us. Listeners may tune in to Legal Lunch Room on all major podcast platforms.
KingSpry attorneys Richard L. Campbell Jr and Jonathan M. Huerta host the podcast. Campbell focuses his practice in public finance and municipal law. Huerta focuses his practice in education and civil litigation. He is the Chair of the firm’s Local Taxation and Assessment Law Practice Group.
