Dec 31, 2023
The shareholders of the law firm Tueth Keeney Cooper Mohan & Jackstadt, P.C. recently elected Firm attorney Merry Rhoades to the Firm’s Management Committee. Merry’s duties are set to begin January 1, 2024. Merry Rhoades has more than 30 years of experience representing Illinois public education institutions. Because of her 30-plus years of experience, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of a school district ranging from board governance matters to board policy matters to student matters to special
read more
May 26, 2020
by Merry Rhoades The Illinois General Assembly, at its May 22, 2020 Special Session, relieved administrative burdens on special educators. Below is a summary of changes to Sections 14-8.02f and 14-8.02h of the Illinois School Code: Changes to Section 14-8.02f
- Starting July 1, 2020, any evaluation report or data collected to be considered at an eligibility meeting or IEP review meeting is to be provided 3 school days prior to the scheduled IEP meeting. For a student previously determined
read more
May 11, 2020
On May 6, 2020, the U.S. Department of Education (“ED”) released the final Title IX regulations (“Final Rule“). The implementation date for the Final Rule is August 14, 2020. While discussion about the Title IX regulations has largely centered on colleges and universities, the changes will also impact how K-12 districts in Illinois should respond to students’ reports of sexual assault and harassment under Title IX. Below are some of the key Title IX provisions
read more
Mar 23, 2020
Executive Order 2020-07, issued on March 16, 2020, suspended key elements of the OMA regarding board member attendance and participation at public meetings. Normally, the Open Meetings Act requires that a majority of a quorum be physically present at all meetings. Additionally, it places strict conditions on when a board member may participate in a meeting remotely. However, Executive Order 2020-07 has temporarily suspended both of these rules. Therefore, until April 8, 2020, all board members are permitted to participate
read more
Dec 10, 2019
Tueth Keeney attorneys join Regional Office of Education #13 (“ROE 13”) presenting Administrator Academy #686: Legal Implications of the Use of Technology in the School District. Merry Rhoades, Shane Jones, Adam Henningsen, and Elizabeth Kelly will discuss the legal implications related to the use of technology in schools by students and employees. Topics to be discussed will include how courts address technology in the school environment, particularly under the First and Fourth Amendment to
read more
Nov 19, 2019
by Elizabeth Kelly and Merry Rhoades Last week, the Illinois General Assembly wrapped up its fall veto session. Notably, one of the items on the veto session agenda was HB 3586 ““ the new law from August 2019 impacting school districts and special education cooperatives across the state. Though no great substantive changes were made to HB 3586, below is a quick overview of what has changed under veto session legislation SB 0460. Hit the Pause Button on HB 3586
read more
Feb 22, 2018
Planning for a Student Protest or Demonstration The tragic school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida has inspired a national dialogue on the causes of school shootings and the appropriate policies to address these all-too-frequent occurrences. Led by those who survived the tragedy, students nationwide are engaging in spirited conversations on these issues with other members of their school communities. In classrooms, cafeterias, and on social media, students are taking an active role in their democracy by
read more
Sep 19, 2017
Beginning September 19, 2017 Teach Illinois will release a series of webinars featuring six Tueth Keeney attorneys unpacking and working through the landmark school funding reform bill that became law in Illinois on August 31, 2017. This new law, SB 1947, not only reforms the school funding formula, but it also revises many provisions in the school code. Tueth Keeney attorneys are taking the law piece-by-piece to explain
read more
Mar 29, 2017
Tueth Keeney attorney Merry Rhoades presented a webinar for Teach Illinois on March 28, 2017. Merry spoke on the subject of Restorative Justice in Illinois School law, including the significant revisions to student discipline procedures imposed by Senate Bill 100. SB100 implements principles of restorative justice, and requires schools to use restorative practices rather than “˜zero tolerance”™ discipline policies, with an intent to reduce the so-called school-to-prison pipeline. Teach Illinois is a collaborative venture among the Illinois Regional
read more
Jun 22, 2012
Merry Rhoades from Tueth Keeney Law Firm assisted in updating the “Illinois Council of School Attorneys’ Guide to Illinois Statutes Affecting Schools, which serves as a handy reference to those Illinois statures that are not in The School Code but but are occasionally involved in the resolution of issues faced by school districts. It references statutes in force as of Jan. 1, 2013. The guide was prepared by an ICSA committee as part of the
read more
Merry Rhoades
Laura E. Hemmer
Robert L. Jackstadt
Elizabeth J. Mooney