COVID-19 | Barton Gilman

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #26 – Charter School Reopenings on the East Coast & West Coast

September 30, 2020 by Glenn

Amid COVID-19, kids across the country are going back to school. Today, Matt Plain shares how charter schools here on the East Coast are facing this challenge. We are also joined by Mackenzie “Mac” Woods from Osborn Maledon in Arizona…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #24 – COVID-19 Impact on Family Law

September 16, 2020 by Glenn

COVID-19 has impacted so many aspects of our lives, but none more important than our families. In this episode, Rui Alves talks about the compounding effect COVID-19 has had on families that have separated, divorced or sharing child custody. Barton…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #23 – COVID-19 Reopening Liability Risks for MA Charter Schools

September 9, 2020 by Glenn

With schools venturing into uncharted territory as they prepare to reopen for the new year, Tim Groves joins the program to discuss liability risks for charter schools in Massachusetts. Barton Gilman, LLP · Legal Lowdown Podcast –…

COVID-19 Employer Update: New Guidance Concerning Leave for School Closures Under the FFCRA

September 4, 2020 by Greg Vanden-Eykel

With schools in the region re-opening over the next few weeks, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) Wage and Hour Division (WHD) has provided timely new guidance in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) Questions and Answers compilation related…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #22 – Employee Return to Work Requests for MA Schools

September 2, 2020 by Glenn

While return to work requests from employees working at schools is not new, the element of a global pandemic adds new urgency and confusion to the situation. In this episode, Matt Plain takes a closer look at this…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #21 – Adult Children And COVID – 19

August 19, 2020 by Glenn

As colleges and universities prepare to open amid the COVID-19 pandemic, parents of attending students might be surprised to learn that they do not have the same access to information about their children as they did before they turned 18…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #19 – COVID-19’s Impact on Extended School Year Services

August 10, 2020 by Glenn

Many students and their families rely on extended school year services. In this episode, Matt Plain discusses how COVID-19 has impacted these services already, what impact it will have on the upcoming school year, and guidance for how schools and…

COVID-19: Avoid punitive approach to school discipline during the pandemic

August 5, 2020 by Jaime A. Fernand

New York education attorney, Jaime A. Fernand, was interviewed by the Special Ed Connection on how to approach to student discipline during COVID-19. The full article can be found here: Special Ed Connection Article August 2020 Jaime A. Fernand is…

Education Update: New Executive Order on Special Education in New York

June 8, 2020 by Paul T. O'Neill

On Friday, June 5, Governor Cuomo issued Executive Order 202.37 (the “Order”), which addresses special education during the summer of 2020. The Order states: “Notwithstanding any prior Executive Order to the contrary, special education services and instruction required under Federal,…

COVID-19 Planning Tool for Schools/Districts

May 28, 2020 by Paul T. O'Neill

Designed by Paul T. O’Neill – In consultation with many schools, Paul T. O’Neill has developed a rubric for programs to use in planning for the summer and coming school year despite the chaos and uncertainty of the COVID-19 crisis….

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Special Education Services During COVID-19 School Building Closures

May 4, 2020 by Rita E. Nerney, Matthew R. Plain and Paul T. O'Neill

On April 27, 2020, U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos announced that she was declining to waive any significant aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (“IDEA”) during the current pandemic. She stated that “learning must continue for all students…

Paul T. O’Neill opinion piece in NJ Star Ledger on special education contracts

April 29, 2020 by Jackie

Paul T. O’Neill has written and opinion piece for the New Jersey Star Ledger. The article, “Outrageous NJ school contracts make parents promise not to sue,” reports that some New Jersey schools are requiring parents of students with disabilities to…

Legal Lowdown Podcast – Episode #15: COVID-19 Governance Considerations for New York Charter Schools

April 24, 2020 by Glenn

In this episode of the “Legal Lowdown Podcast,” Paul O’Neill provides guidance to boards of New York Charter Schools on what they need to know and do regarding extended COVID-19 closures and preparing for an uncertain return. Barton…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): New Requirements to be Implemented Concerning Notification of COVID-19 Cases Among Nursing Home Residents and Staff

April 23, 2020 by Greg Vanden-Eykel and Sheri L. Pizzi

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to provide additional guidance related to the notification of suspected and/or confirmed COVID-19 cases among nursing home residents and staff. The updated guidance…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Online Education and Dealing with Student Discipline in Massachusetts

April 23, 2020 by Matthew R. Plain and Rita E. Nerney

Schools serve children academically, as well as on a social-emotional level, and school personnel work to provide positive school environments where children can learn and thrive. One of the ways schools ensure their environments remain positive and supportive for all…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Rhode Island Student Discipline During Online Education

April 23, 2020 by Matthew R. Plain and Rita E. Nerney

In order to ensure students are advised and aware of expected behavior guidelines, schools must implement a Student Code of Conduct, detailing the expectations that schools have determined are necessary to maintain a successful school environment, operation, and culture. These…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): R.I. DOH Guidance for when COVID-Positive Healthcare Workers can Return to Work

April 23, 2020 by Sheri L. Pizzi and Greg Vanden-Eykel

The Rhode Island Department of Health has provided a decision algorithm to help healthcare providers and facilities assess when a healthcare worker who has tested positive for COVID-19, can return to direct patient care. The algorithm was made available late…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Massachusetts Provides Liability Protections for Health Care Professionals and Facilities During COVID-19

April 20, 2020 by Sheri L. Pizzi and Greg Vanden-Eykel

On April 17, 2020, Governor Baker signed into law the “Bill to Provide Liability Protections for Health Care Workers and Facilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Under the new law, certain health care professionals and health care facilities may be immune…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Estate Planning Essentials During COVID-19

April 14, 2020 by W. Parish Lentz

I hope this finds you and your family safe and healthy. In recent weeks, I’ve received many texts, emails and calls regarding estate planning in light of the COVID-19 crisis: elder clients concerned about contracting the illness, parents with teenage…

Coronavirus (COVID-19): Dealing With Student Discipline During COVID-19 Closures

April 14, 2020 by Jaime A. Fernand

Creating a positive school environment, where children can learn and thrive, is a goal of all schools. One of the ways many charter schools do this is by creating student rules of expected behavior, commonly referred to as a Student…