A significant percentage of the firm’s work with school districts relates to personnel. The firm regularly provides advice and assistance to the administration and governing boards on a myriad of personnel matters relating to teachers, other certificated employees and classified personnel. For example, the firm:
- Develops and/or revises policies and administrative regulations relating to employees, including related exhibits and forms.
- Develops and/or revises contracts of employment.
- Provides advice and assistance regarding meet and confer negotiations and employee grievances.
- Prepares preliminary notices of inadequacy of classroom performance and other non-renewal or dismissal documents.
- Represents school district administration in all phases of discipline and dismissal proceedings.
- Provides advice regarding early retirement issues.
- Represents school districts in evaluating and handling of employee claims under the Americans With Disabilities Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Fair Labor Standards Act, COBRA and other Federal laws.
- Represents school districts in investigating, evaluating, advising, defending, and litigating claims by employees alleging unlawful discrimination; Prepares responses to employee complaints alleging discrimination and represented school districts in EEOC and State Civil Rights Division proceedings.
- Represents school district in negotiating settlements or litigating employment disputes.
- Develops comprehensive inventory of topics which should be included in certificated and classified employee handbooks, including text to be included in handbooks.
- Develops a process to encourage classified employees to obtain certification so they may become teachers in the district.
- Develops applications, background investigation procedures and forms to identify, discourage and eliminate unqualified or unacceptable classified or certified applicants.
- Provides advice and assistance to school districts undergoing major reorganization.