EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE

Our Address has Changed:  WSPA  -  PO BOX 14459  -  Tumwater, WA  98511 (Please make sure to get this information to your business dept.)

Greetings,

Preparations are being made for the upcoming 15th Annual School Law Conference at the Double Tree Hilton at South Center, October 10-11 (be sure to save the date, more information will be forthcoming). A list of topics that have been generated so far are below and I am asking for member input if there is something that is not on the list you would like us to present about. If you have any additional ideas, please email me at admin@wspa.net. 

We are also in the process of preparing for our Annual Bargaining Workshop in January, our Annual Conference in February (Region 4, date and location to be announced soon), Career Fair Spokane (March 14), and Career Fair Tacoma (March 28).

Potential Law Conference topics generated so far...

• Kennedy Vs Bremerton Supreme Court Decision (Freedom of Expression) 
• Current Claims Overview
• Panel for those who do bargaining- bargaining for more leave vs. compensation resulting in staffing crisis and potential gaps in student supervision 
• Panel on Title IX Where Are We Today- address that it is still too early to know but touch on it (Floeting case). Preventing sexual abuse and best practices, Conduct and introduction happening off campus (district liability), Where to find Title IX coordinator training 
• Guns on campus + 3D printing of guns 
• Student Suicide and suicide idealization and school district obligations 
• Special ED updates on residential placements 
• Issues of sexual harassment and HIB training for middle school students 
• Supreme Court weakened ability of schools to control or discipline for student speech/conduct off campus or on social media (Mahanoy cheerleader case) yet public expects schools to be more proactive re threat assessment 
• Supreme Court upheld school board’s censure of their own board member for speech they deemed disruptive/unhelpful 
• Supreme Court U-turn: School prayer (Kennedy v. Bremerton SD football coach) 
• Supreme Court U-turn: Public funding of religious schools (S. Ct. required Maine to extend tuition assistance to church-run schools if extended to other private schools). Anticipate next step for “school choice” advocates--an effort to seek public funding of religious charter schools. 
• School Based Health Care Centers - this year the state legislature added funding for SBHCs 
• Special ED : Recovery Services and/or Isolation and Restraint 
• Types of restricted speech by schools 
• Hostile Work Environment Claims 
• Personnel Issues: Leaves, Accommodations, COVID lingering issues 
• Advanced Misconduct Investigations 
• Parenting Plans, Guardianships, and Protective Orders

Funny for the week: My friend asked me why I whispered in the house. I said, "I was afraid Mark Zuckerberg was listening!", She laughed, I laughed, Alexa laughed, Google Assistant laughed, and Siri laughed.

As always, thank you for everything you do.  You are appreciated!  I hope you have an enjoyable Summer with family and/or friends.

Darrell Heisler

WSPA Executive Director