Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: Ensuring Proper Diploma Requirements Are Met

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered: Ensuring Proper Diploma Requirements Are Met

by | Nov 18, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, General, School Management

 

It may only be November, but it is never too early to start planning for graduation. As we begin looking ahead to the big day, let us revisit a law that impacts our obligation to our students as they reach this major milestone in their academic journey. 

O.R.C. 3313.61 lays out the graduation requirements for high school students and guidance for districts when issuing diplomas. Under the statute, the board of education of any city, exempted village, or local school district that operates a high school shall grant a diploma to any student who successfully meets the minimum academic standards, credit requirements, and assessments necessary for graduation. Ohio law expects districts to maintain accurate and verifiable records of each student’s progress toward graduation, and based on these records, schools must proactively notify students and parents of requirements, assessment deadlines, and available pathways to meet the criteria to graduate on time. Proper record-keeping and communication is essential. It makes it easier to identify if a student may need additional academic support services, and it can help districts determine if a student may be a better fit for an alternative pathway to graduation, such as dual enrollment in a CCP program or exploring work-based learning opportunities.

The often-overlooked signature provision in O.R.C. 3313.61(D) requires that each diploma awarded under this section be signed by the following individuals:

  • the president and treasurer of the issuing board;
  • the superintendent of schools; and
  • the principal of the high school.

Additionally, each diploma shall bear the date of its issue, be in such form as the district board prescribes, and be paid for out of the district’s general fund. Districts may fail to comply with the statute in a variety of ways. Maybe a district routinely only requires the principal to sign the diploma instead of including the Board of Education President and Treasurer, or vice versa.

Forgetting a signature or two may seem trivial, but compliance ensures that we protect the integrity of the diploma. Issuing a diploma should be meaningful. The diploma is supposed to signify that a student has the skills, knowledge, and credentials necessary for the next step in their lives – not to mention that the signatures are a legal requirement. Although it may seem unlikely, failure to adhere to this law could have potential legal consequences for the district if an action is brought by students, their parents, or advocacy groups.

What does this mean for your district? The bottom line is that districts must comply with O.R.C. 3313.61 to ensure that all students meet the necessary requirements for graduation and are equipped for future success. This includes specific signature requirements for issuing diplomas. High school graduation is an important milestone for our students that requires over a decade of focus and dedication. They have spent countless hours preparing for this moment that symbolizes their transition to adulthood. We must work together to support all students in meeting their graduation goals, and we owe it to them to get it right when they walk across that stage.  

 

The Power of Punctuation: Debate Over Grammar Leads Ohio Supreme Court to Limit Executive Sessions for the Purchase of Property

The Power of Punctuation: Debate Over Grammar Leads Ohio Supreme Court to Limit Executive Sessions for the Purchase of Property

by | Aug 18, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, General

Look Ahead Am. v. Stark Cty. Bd. of Elections, Slip Opinion No. 2024-Ohio-2691.

On July 18, 2024, the Ohio Supreme Court determined that the Stark County Board of Elections misused executive sessions to discuss and plan the purchase of new property, specifically voting equipment. A company filed a complaint based on the Board’s decision to enter executive sessions on four separate occasions to discuss and plan for the purchasing of new voting systems. Both lower courts upheld the Board’s decisions after concluding that executive sessions were permitted for any purchase of property, but the Ohio Supreme Court disagreed. Reversing the decision, the Court clarified that executive sessions are permitted to discuss the purchase of property only to consider information “which would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.”

Ohio’s Open Meetings Act permits a public body to enter executive session for the following reasons:

To consider the purchase of property for public purposes, the sale of property at competitive bidding, or the sale or other disposition of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property in accordance with R.C. 505.10, if premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.

The courts agreed that the statute had a plain meaning, but they disagreed over what, exactly, that plain meaning was. According to the Supreme Court, the difference is based on punctuation and the rules of grammar. The lower courts both relied on the “rule of the last antecedent,” which applies a limiting clause or phrase to the noun or phrase that it immediately follows. Using that rule, the courts argued that the premature-disclosure clause only applied to the sale of unneeded, obsolete, or unfit-for-use property.

However, the statute’s use of commas modifies the rule of the last antecedent. Relying on several leading treatises on statutory interpretation, the Ohio Supreme Court argued that separating the antecedents and the qualifying phrase by a comma is evidence that the qualifier is supposed to apply to all antecedents. Under this interpretation, the premature-disclosure clause applies to every listed reason to start an executive session involving property, including the purchase of property, and not just the last reason as the lower courts suggested.

What this means for your district? This is yet another reminder that Districts must review and understand the public meeting exceptions rather than rely on memory and past practice. While Districts often recess into executive session to discuss property purchases, Districts cannot call executive sessions to discuss such purchases unless they can show that the premature disclosure of information would give an unfair competitive or bargaining advantage to a person whose personal, private interest is adverse to the general public interest.

EEOC Releases New Guidance on Workplace Harassment

EEOC Releases New Guidance on Workplace Harassment

by | May 23, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, Labor and Employment

On April 24, 2024, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) released new guidance on harassment in the workplace (“the Guidance”). The Guidance takes effect immediately. The Guidance sets forth the EEOC’s position on harassment that constitutes unlawful discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (“Title VII”). Some of the major changes in the Guidance are as follows:

  • Sex-based harassment includes harassment based on sexual identity and sexual orientation.
  • Unlawful harassment based on pregnancy or childbirth may include issues such as lactation and decisions regarding contraception and abortion.
  • Harassment based on “color” (including skin color pigmentation considerations) is prohibited
  • Conduct on video meetings can contribute to a hostile work environment
  • Conduct on non-work-related platforms, such as social media accounts, may contribute to creating a hostile work environment
  • A hostile work environment may be established by a single incident
  • Title VII prohibits “intraclass harassment,” (meaning harassment based on a protected characteristic but conducted by a member of the same protected class).

Why New Guidance? The Guidance was released to address the transformation in workplace environments due to the advent of the internet. Certain technological innovations, such as email and video conferencing, have become indispensable tools for business operations. In addition, the Guidance was released after the Supreme Court’s 2020 decision in Bostock v. Clayton County, in which the Court held that harassment based on gender identity or sexual orientation constitutes unlawful sexual harassment under Title VII. After the Court issued the Bostock decision, the EEOC convened a Select Task Force on Harassment in the Workplace and issued a report detailing its recommendations. This Guidance applies Bostock to the harassment context, explaining that harassment based on gender identity or sexual orientation constitutes unlawful sexual harassment under Title VII.

What Does This Mean for Your District? School districts should reevaluate their harassment policies considering the new Guidance. The Guidance itself encourages employers to have clear harassment policies and implement a safe and effective system for employees to report harassment. In addition, all employees should receive updated training on the new Guidance.

EEOC Releases New Guidance on Workplace Harassment

Court Clarifies When SERB has Exclusive Jurisdiction

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, Labor and Employment

Tipp City Edn. Assn. v. Tipp City Exempted Village School Dist. Bd. of Edn., 2023-Ohio-4000

 After a district issued an unpaid suspension to a teacher following several parental complaints, the Tipp City Education Association (TCEA) filed a grievance alleging that the district violated the collective bargaining agreement. The TCEA alleged that the district violated the agreement when it failed to encourage the parents to first discuss their complaints with the teacher, disciplining the teacher without good and just cause, and then failing to discipline in a progressive manner. The district and the TCEA proceeded through the grievance process, however they were unable to resolve the issue. Unlike the typical collective bargaining agreement that concludes the grievance process with binding arbitration, the agreement in this case provided that a grievant “may seek resolution through legal options.” As a result, the TCEA filed their complaint in the trial court. The school district argued that the complaint was improper because the court lacked jurisdiction, and that these claims fall exclusively under SERB’s jurisdiction.

 The 2nd Appellate District noted that there are two general areas in which SERB has exclusive jurisdiction to resolve unfair labor practice charges: 1. Where the parties file charges with SERB alleging an unfair labor practice; and 2. Where a complaint brought before the common pleas court alleges conduct that constitutes an unfair labor practice. Otherwise, under the Ohio Revised Code Section 4117.09(b)(1) a party may bring a suit for violation of a CBA in the court of common pleas. The 2nd District specifically noted that “nowhere in the Revised Code does the general assembly assign SERB exclusive jurisdiction over all issues touching on that chapter’s provisions.” Moreover, the Supreme Court of Ohio has expressly acknowledged that a plaintiff may bring a claim in common pleas court when that claim exists independently of the revised code, even if the claim may touch on the collective bargaining relationship.

 The court concluded by stating that in determining whether SERB has exclusive jurisdiction over a claim, the test is whether the claim is arising from or depends on the collective bargaining rights created by RC 4117, rather than the collective bargaining agreement.

 What does this mean for your district? If a party advances claims to a common pleas court and that claim arises from or depends on CBA rights created by the Revised Code, SERB has exclusive, original jurisdiction. However, if the party advances claims that are independent of the Revised Code and your collective bargaining agreement does not mandate binding arbitration, the case may proceed in common pleas court.

Read it Here! Science of Reading Professional Development Requirements Published

Read it Here! Science of Reading Professional Development Requirements Published

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, General, Student Education and Discipline

 

 

 In late March, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce published guidance for districts on how to fulfill the staff training requirement for the new literacy improvement provision of HB 33.  The guidance may be accessed here. That provision mandates that teachers and administrators must complete professional development in the science of reading by June 30, 2025. This new guidance lays out how the training requirements can be met by staff through identifying the training topics, vendors, resources, and details for these select professional development opportunities. The training is available in online modules in the Department’s Learning Management System in addition to face-to face meetings with trained facilitators.

The guidance notes that teachers and administrators who completed similar training, notably the professional development that supports the requirements of Ohio’s Dyslexia Support laws, may also satisfy the HB 33 requirements. A training comparison chart is included in the guidance document.

Finally, the guidance provides some instruction concerning the stipend due to teachers for completing this professional development. Stipend amounts vary from $1,200 for all K-5 teachers, 6-12 English language arts teachers, and all intervention specialists, English learner teachers, reading specialists, or instructional coaches for grades K-12, to $400 for 6-12 teachers of subjects other than ELA.  Districts must first pay teachers the applicable stipend and then seek reimbursement from the Department.   HB 33 highlights that teachers shall complete the course “at a time that minimizes disruption to normal instructional hours. “

What this Means for Schools: Now that the guidance and course identification information is available, districts can commence planning to these required professional development opportunities.  Districts are cautioned to review their collective bargaining agreements and consult legal counsel to determine the appropriateness of using pre-arranged professional development days for this coursework in light of the stipend requirement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Career Tech Corner: CTC Construction Program Builds Interest in Construction Delivery Methods

Career Tech Corner: CTC Construction Program Builds Interest in Construction Delivery Methods

by | Apr 24, 2024 | Board Policy & Representation, Construction & Real Estate, General

The last Biennium Budget Bill included grants for the expansion of career technical opportunities. Last fall, the Governor’s office announced that of the 59 applicants for the Career Technical Construction Program, 35 were awarded almost $200 million. This funding will be used to build and expand classrooms and training centers at JVSDs, compacts, and comprehensives across Ohio in various programs like engineering, manufacturing, health sciences, construction, and more.

There are various construction delivery methods available to recipients of these funds who choose to use the for construction projects. The main three delivery methods utilized by school districts are summarized below.

1. Design-Bid-Build (“DBB”). This is the more traditional method of construction delivery. With this method, the owner hires an architect to develop the plans, specifications and estimates of cost. This requires a qualifications-based selection process. The architect then assists the owner with bidding the various bid packages for the contract either through a single general contract or multiple contractors. This method is typically used for smaller projects such as minor renovations, pre-fabricated buildings, athletic facility upgrades, etc., but can be utilized for larger projects as well. The Owner would contract with the architect and each prime contractor coming onto the project.

2. Design-Build (“DB”). This is often confused with DBB even though it is an entirely different delivery method. Through this method, the architect is responsible for both the design and the construction of the project. The owner has a single contract with the design-build firm. The design-build firm is selected according to a two-stage selection process that first considers qualifications then technical and price components for the delivery of the project. Prior to selecting a design-build firm, the Owner must hire a criteria architect to develop the design criteria for the project. The criteria architect is hired using a qualifications-based selection process in the same manner as hiring an architect or engineer for professional design services. Design-build is considered a faster delivery method, however, this is because there is not a lot of owner input on the actual design itself, only the criteria for the design, i.e., what components and functions the finished build must have. This method is good for projects such as an additional wing of traditional classrooms that do not have unique design components.

3. Construction Manager at-Risk (“CMR”). This is currently the most popular delivery method for new school construction, major renovations and additions projects, and projects where the owner wants to have a lot of input on the design and functional components of the build. With CMR, the owner hires an architect for the necessary professional design services. The Owner goes through a two-stage selection process first considering qualifications, then technical and pricing proposals. The Owner combines the scores across both stages and awards a contract to the winner. The CMR serves as both the construction manager and the builder. The Owner has a single contract with the CMR and the CMR is responsible for bringing in all materials, labor, and equipment to the Project.

Districts undertaking large or complex projects may consider hiring an owner’s representative. An owner’s representative is a professional agent who advises the owner and supervises the project to make sure it stays on track. While it is true that the architect and contractor will have contractual obligations to the owner, they are not “in their corner” so to speak and may end up in an adversarial position if a dispute about the work arises. The owner’s rep in turn is the agent of the owner and their focus is on asserting the owner’s interests on the project. The Ennis Britton Consulting Group (“EBCG”) provides owner’s representative services. Barb and Steve Shergalis of EBCG are former architects very experienced in public school construction projects.

Each of these delivery methods has their own unique requirements for properly soliciting the contracts to get the Project off the ground. It is therefore important to make sure that you are taking all the proper steps to ensure you have a valid contract in place that does not expose the Board of Education to unnecessary liability risks. Please do not hesitate to contact a member of the Ennis Britton Construction Practice Group with questions about the right delivery method for your project.