Legal Digest Newsletter Archives
Feature Article
TEXAS CHARTER SCHOOLS: FIVE THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Lindsey Jones, Director of Legal and Policy Services Attorney at Law Texas Charter Schools Association Austin, Texas Introduction First authorized in 1995 by the Texas Legislature, charter schools have grown tremendously since their inception. Today, charter schools occupy a firm corner of the public school landscape, with 581 charter schools1 educating three percent of [...]
Law Dawg
by Jim Walsh Attorney at Law Walsh, Anderson, Gallegos, Green & Treviño, P.C. DEAR DAWG: It wasn’t my idea that I should be named “The Blusterville High School Hunka Hunka Burnin’ Love Valentine Heartthrob.” The girls in the senior class did this, Dawg. I had nothing to do with it. I guess they know [...]
Legal Developments
Open Meetings Act DID THE BOARD MEMBERS VIOLATE THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT? Case citation: Foreman v. Whitty, __ S.W.3d __, 2012 WL 6186336 (Tex. App. – San Antonio 2012). Editor’s Note: This case does not involve a school district, but is relevant to school districts. The litigation involves alleged violations of the Texas Open Meetings [...]
Legal Developments
Discrimination DID THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DISCRIMINATE WHEN IT FAILED TO PROMOTE THE FACILITIES EMPLOYEE? Case citation: Autry v. Fort Bend ISD, __ F.3d __, 2013 WL 68730 (5th Cir. 2013). Summary: Albert Autry worked in the Fort Bend Independent School District’s facilities department as an operations area supervisor. In July of 2008, a new position [...]
Legal Developments
Student Harassment WAS THE SCHOOL DISTRICT LIABLE FOR STUDENT-ON-STUDENT HARASSMENT? Case citation: Colomo v. San Angelo ISD, Dkt. No. 11-11178 (5th Cir. 2012) (unpublished). Editor’s Note: This case is an appeal of the dismissal of a suit against a school district and several school officials alleging assault by another student. The trial court entered judgment [...]
Legal Developments
Commissioner Jurisdiction DID THE EMPLOYEE FILE A TIMELY GRIEVANCE OVER HIS COMPENSATION? Case citation: Roesch v. Spurger ISD, Dkt. No. 052-R10-0410 (Comm’r Educ. September 21, 2012). Summary: Louis Roesch worked for the Spurger Independent School District as a part-time special education aide and part-time maintenance employee. During the 2008-09 school year, Roesch was reassigned to [...]
Legal Developments
SPECIAL EDUCATION & DISABILITY LAW
FAPE THE SCHOOL DISTRICT DID NOT DENY THE STUDENT A FAPE Case citation: R.P. v. Alamo Heights ISD, __ F.3d __, 2012 WL 6701939 (5th Cir. 2012). Summary: The student attended school in the Alamo Heights Independent School District and qualified for special education services as a student with autism, an intellectual disability, and a [...]
Legal Developments
Religion JUDGE UPHOLDS NORTHSIDE ISD STUDENT ID BADGES WITH TRACKING CHIP Case citation: A.H. v. Northside ISD, __ F.Supp.2d __, 2013 WL 85604 (W.D. Tex. 2013). Summary: A.H. is a student in the Northside Independent School District’s science and engineering magnet program, who objected to wearing a student identification badge equipped to track students’ whereabouts [...]