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NYSASA Conference Agenda (PDF)

 

  

19th ANNUAL SCHOOL ATTORNEY LAW CONFERENCE

A TRIP DOWN BROADWAY

Smash Hit Presentations by Leading School Attorneys in New York State

May 31 - June 2, 2019
The Sagamore, Bolton Landing, New York
Reservations: 866.384.1944 or 518.644.9400

Presented by
The New York State Association of School Attorneys
in conjunction with

The New York State School Boards Association

 

CONFERENCE REGISTRATION FEES

Conference Registration Deadline: May 17, 2019
Refunds will not be granted for cancellations received after May 17, 2019. All cancellations must be made in writing to the New York State School Boards Association. No-shows will be billed at the full registration fee.

Conference Registration Fees:
NYSASA Member Rate: $435 Nonmember Rate: $495*
Fees include refreshment breaks, two breakfasts, lunch, Saturday barbecue and materials, and a non-refundable $75 administrative fee. *Receive a $60 credit toward NYSASA membership if you join within 30 days of the conference. Contact Greg Guercio, Treasurer of NYSASA, at 516.694.3000 for more details.

You may also register guests/spouses/child(ren) at a participant rate, which includes meals only. No program or materials will be provided to guests.

Guest Rate

  • Adult (18+ years): $231
  • Teenager (13 –18 years): $149
  • Child(ren) (3 – 12 years): $39
  • Child(ren) (Under 3 years): $0

There is no additional fee required for attending the “Education Law Basics” portion of the conference (Friday, May 31, from 1:50 – 5:30 p.m.). Please indicate on your online registration form if you plan on attending this portion of the conference.

Reminder:
The 19th Annual School Attorney Law Conference will be “paperless.” Attendees will receive a packet with each presenter’s PowerPoint. Prior to the seminar, you will receive an email with a direct link to download and preview the seminar materials in a printer-friendly format. Free Wi-Fi will be provided at the conference site.  

LODGING • THE SAGAMORE

The New York State Association of School Attorneys has reserved a room block at The Sagamore until April 30, 2019. Reservations will continue to be accepted after this date, at prevailing room rates, subject to availability. Dependent upon demand, rooms may become unavailable prior to April 30, 2019.

A credit card is required to confirm each reservation. A non-refundable $35 processing fee will be charged at the time of booking. The balance of the stay will be charged to the card on file 14 days prior to the arrival date. For cancellations more than 14 days prior to arrival, the $35 processing fee will be forfeited. For cancellations less than 14 days prior to arrival, the total amount will be forfeited. For no shows on the scheduled arrival date, reservations will be cancelled and the amount collected will be forfeited.
Per-night room rates,* for single or double occupancy:

  • Lower Lodge Room: $229 • Walk-In Lodge Room: $249 • Lower Lodge Suite: $349
  • Walk-In Lodge Suite: $369 • Hotel Room Garden View: $329 • Hotel Room Lake View: $349
  • Hotel Suite Garden View: $399 • Hotel Suite Lake View: $429

*These rates are subject to a taxed resort fee of $20 per room per day, as well as 7% state and local taxes and 4% Warren County Occupancy Tax.

The Sagamore provides an 18-hole golf course, luxury spa, tennis courts, trails, boating, private beach, indoor/outdoor pools and a fitness center.

13.0 CLE CREDITS**
11.0 Areas of Professional Practice
1.0 Ethics and Professionalism
1.0 Diversity, Inclusion, Elimination of Bias
New York State Continuing Legal Education (CLE) Credits: This program is approved for 13.0 CLE credit hours (11.0 Areas of Professional Practice; 1.0 Ethics & Professionalism - course content appropriate for newly admitted and experienced attorneys;1.0 in Diversity, Inclusion, Elimination of Bias - content appropriate for experienced attorneys only).

Important Notice: Partial credit for program segments not allowed. Partial credit for program segments not allowed. Under the New York State Continuing Legal Education Board Regulations and Guidelines, attendees at CLE programs cannot receive MCLE credit for a program segment unless they are present for the entire segment. Persons who arrive late, depart early, or are absent for any portion of the segment will not receive credit for that segment.

Tuition Assistance: Application for tuition assistance to attend this program may be made based on financial hardship. Under that policy, an applicant who has a genuine financial hardship may apply in writing not later than five working days prior to the program, explaining the basis of his/her hardship, and, if approved, may receive tuition assistance, depending upon the circumstances. For more details, please contact either Beth L. Sims, NYSASA President, at 845.486.4200 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or Jay Worona, NYSSBA, at 518.783.0200 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

**Includes credit hours for attending Education Law Basics
More Information

For more information about the conference, visit www.nysasa.org, or contact Beth L. Sims, NYSASA President, at 845.486.4200 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; or Jay Worona, NYSSBA, at 518.783.0200 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Program Chairs:
Neil M. Block, Esq., Ingerman Smith, L.L.P.
Eric J. Wilson, Esq., Baldwinsville Central School District

Agenda

Friday, May 31, 2019
12:00 - 1:00 p.m. NYSASA Board of Directors' Meeting
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. Registration for Education Law Basics and Main Conference
4:00 - 6:00 p.m. Registration for Main Conference
SCHOOL LAW BASICS
1:50 - 2:00 p.m. Introduction and Welcome
Beth L. Sims, Esq., President, NYSASA
2:00 - 3:05 p.m

“Author, Author” (Israel Horovitz) – Policy Development
School boards are charged with the responsibility of creating policies governing the operation of their district. School attorneys are often asked to provide guidance on how to effectively draft and/or edit policies. Learn what an attorney’s best practices are in this area.
Mary Anne Sadowski, Esq., Partner, Ingerman Smith, LLP
Marnie E. Smith, Esq., Partner, Harris Beach PLLC

3:05 - 4:10 p.m.
“The Crucible” (Arthur Miller) – How to Conduct an Employment Discrimination Investigation
The notoriety of the “Me Too Movement” has triggered an increasing number of employment discrimination complaints in school districts. Veteran school attorneys will provide attendees with the tools to conduct a legally compliant investigation from its inception through its conclusion.
Jeffrey D. Honeywell, Esq., Honeywell Law Firm PLLC
Beth A. Bourassa, Esq., Partner, Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP
4:10 - 4:20 p.m.
Break
4:20 - 5:30 p.m.
“Lend Me a Tenor” (Ken Ludwig) – Tenure and Seniority Rights
An in depth review of the legal intricacies involved with the tenure process and seniority rights and the impact of recent APPR changes on the conferral of tenure. 
Lawrence J. Tenenbaum, Esq.,
Partner, Jaspan Schlesinger LLP
Erin M. O’Grady-Parent, Esq., Partner, Guercio & Guercio, LLP
6:00 - 6:15 p.m.
Introduction and Welcome
Beth L. Sims, Esq., President, NYSASA
6:15 - 7:30 p.m.
A Conversation with SED Counsel
Learn what the counsel to the State Education Department sees as the issues that school attorneys will need to address in the year ahead.
Alison Bianchi, Esq., Counsel and Deputy Commissioner for Legal Affairs, NYS Education Department
Jay Worona, Esq., Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel, New York State School Boards Association
7:30 p.m.
Dinner on Your Own
Saturday, June 1, 2019
7:15 - 8:15 a.m.
NYSASA Board of Directors Meeting (if necessary)
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Registration for Main Conference
7:30 - 8:30 a.m.
Breakfast (included with registration)
8:15 - 8:20 a.m.
Introduction and Welcome
Beth L. Sims, Esq., President, NYSASA
8:20 - 9:30 a.m.
"Annie Get Your Gun” (Dorothy Fields, Herbert Fields) – School Safety and Crisis Management
With an increase in violent crime in schools and its associated media attention, this presentation will focus on the school attorney’s role in coordinating an effective strategy to respond to inquiries from the media and the public.
David Albert,
Director of Communications, Marketing and Research, New York State School Boards Association
Keshia Clukey,
Albany Correspondent, Bloomberg BNA
Frank W. Miller, Esq., The Frank W. Miller Law Firm
Jay Worona, Esq., Deputy Executive Director & General Counsel, New York State School Boards Association
9:30 - 9:40 a.m.
Break
9:40 - 10:30 a.m.
“Next to Normal” (Brian Yorkey) – How to Handle Employee Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Learn legally defensible strategies to respond to mental health and substance abuse issues in the workplace.
Richard K. Zuckerman, Esq., Partner, Lamb & Barnosky, LLP
Donald (Don) E. Budmen, Esq.,
Partner, Ferrara Fiorenza P.C.
10:30 - 11:20 a.m.
“Dear Evan Hansen” (Steven Levenson, Benj Pase) – Student Mental Health and Substance Abuse Issues
An exploration of the legal framework for identifying, evaluating and supporting students requiring mental health services. Legal issues include: IDEA; Section 504; student discipline; confidentiality; legal agreements with mental health care providers; mental health surveys; FERPA and the provision of educational services for hospitalized students.
Heather M. Cole, Esq.,
Partner, Ferrara Fiorenza P.C.
Beth L. Sims, Esq.,
Partner, Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLP
Andrew J. Freedman, Esq.,
Partner, Hodgson Russ, LLP
11:20 - 11:30 a.m.
Break
11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.
“School of Rock” (Julian Fellowes)
The former Senior Advisor to the United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos will discuss the latest legal and policy initiatives of the Department, including Title IX regulations.
Thomas E. Wheeler II, Esq., former Senior Advisor to the United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
12:20 - 12:45 p.m.
NYSASA Annual Meeting for Members
Election of NYSASA Directors and Officers and approval of NYSASA’s Legislative Agenda
12:45 - 1:45 p.m.
Lunch (included with registration)
1:45 - 6:30 p.m.
Take advantage of resort activities
6:30 - 9:00 p.m.
Reception and Barbeque (included with registration)
Sunday, June 2, 2019
7:30 - 9:00 a.m.
Breakfast (included with registration)
8:50 - 9:00 a.m.
Introduction and Welcome
Beth L. Sims, Esq., 
President, NYSASA
9:00 - 9:50 a.m.
“Dirty Rotten Scoundrels” (Jeffrey Lane) – The School Attorney’s Role in the Relationship Between the Superintendent and the Board of Education
Experienced school attorneys will review how to protect the Board of Education in its relationship with the Superintendent of Schools and the legal issues which arise when the Board of Education decides to terminate that relationship.
John P. Sheahan, Esq., Partner, Guercio & Guercio, LLP
John H. Gross, Esq., Partner, Ingerman Smith LLP
James (Jay) E. Girvin, Esq., Partner, Girvin & Ferlazzo, PC
9:50 - 10:40 a.m.
“Hamilton” (Lin-Manuel Miranda) – Diversity/Inclusion in the Practice of Law
A review recent legal developments that impact diversity; emerging trends in diversity and inclusion and practical suggestions for achieving a sustainable, diverse law office practice.
Joel C. Moore, Esq., Assistant Legal Counsel, Buffalo City School District
Candace J. Gomez, Esq., Partner, Bond Shoeneck & King PLLC
10:40 - 10:50 a.m.
Break
10:50 - 11:50 a.m.
“Wicked” (Winnie Holzman) – Ethics in Dealing with a Split Board
This presentation will address the ethical challenges that a school attorney confronts representing a divided Board of Education.
Michael K. Lambert, Esq., Partner, Shaw, Perelson, May & Lambert, LLP
Thomas M. Volz, Esq.,
Law Offices of Thomas M. Volz, PLLC
11:50 a.m.
Adjourn

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