This webinar will define crowdfunding, highlight the growing usage of crowdfunding by school employees, and address the positives of and issues surrounding crowdfunding in schools. It will also examine different approaches LEAs have taken to address crowdfunding, as well as explain the policy NCSBA has drafted to regulate crowdfunding in schools and the issues that were considered in developing the policy.
Presented by: Justice Warren, Staff Attorney, NCSBA
This webinar will address a variety of issues involving political speech and related activities in the schools. Do students have a right to express their political opinions on their clothing, to distribute political literature, or to comment on their political beliefs at school? Do employees have a right to engage in political speech while on the job, especially in the classroom? When may school facilities be used by outside groups for election or political purposes? The webinar will also address a state law that forbids school boards from using public funds to endorse or oppose a referendum, election, or a particular candidate for elective office.
Presented by: Janine Murphy, Assistant Legal Counsel, NCSBA
NCSBA event registration has transitioned to a new system. Please contact us if you need assistance.
Most cases of sexual abuse of students by school employees are preceded by a form of “sexual grooming.” Sexual grooming often is only evident after the fact and can be quite subtle and similar to innocent behavior, which can make it difficult for school administrators to identify. On the other hand, no school employee wants his or her innocent attempts at establishing a sound and trusting relationship with students to be viewed as grooming for sexual misconduct. This webinar will discuss how to resolve this dilemma by ensuring employees and administrators understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate boundary invasions and the importance of observing and enforcing professional boundaries.
Presented by: Kathy Boyd, Senior Staff Attorney, NCSBA
NCSBA event registration has transitioned to a new system. Please contact us if you need assistance.
This webinar will help school board members better understand the revenue sources of K-12 school funding, how state funds are allotted to LEAs, and the budget process at the state and local level.
Presenter: Richard Bostic, Assistant Director of Governmental Relations, NCSBA
NCSBA event registration has transitioned to a new system. Please contact us if you need assistance.
This webinar will discuss how North Carolina law and local board policies apply to students’ use of tobacco, vaporizers, and various cannabidiol (“CBD”) products, as well as the accompanying risk of developing a substance use disorder.
Presented by: Sam Thorp, Staff Attorney, NCSBA
These previously recorded webinars are perfect for board members, administrators, and staff. They will be available Tuesday, April 28, through Friday, May 1, at 5 p.m.
You may register for one or all of the webinars. Each webinar is $250 per school system, and board member credit is $10 per person. If you are a board member and are interested in these webinars, please connect with your board assistant in order to avoid duplicate registrations.
Boundary Invasions and Sexual Grooming: What Every School Employee Must Know About Avoiding Inappropriate Staff-Student Relationships
Most cases of sexual abuse of students by school employees are preceded by a form of “sexual grooming.” Sexual grooming often is only evident after the fact and can be quite subtle and similar to innocent behavior, which can make it difficult for school administrators to identify. On the other hand, no school employee wants his or her innocent attempts at establishing a sound and trusting relationship with students to be viewed as grooming for sexual misconduct. This webinar will discuss how to resolve this dilemma by ensuring employees and administrators understand the difference between appropriate and inappropriate boundary invasions and the importance of observing and enforcing professional boundaries.
Religion in the Schools: Curriculum, Holiday Celebrations, and Students’ Right to the Free Exercise of Religion
At times school systems are sued when parents or others object to classroom assignments or school programs that address religious topics or ideas. This webinar will examine court cases that illustrate the types of situations that have stirred controversy in the past. It will also provide general guidance as to what is generally acceptable, what is not, and when to seek guidance from legal counsel.
Bullying and Sexual Harassment of Students: The Classroom Teacher’s Role in Prevention and Response
Classroom teachers play a pivotal role in preventing and responding to bullying and sexual harassment of students. Often overlooked is the teacher’s role in preventing sexual misconduct between employees and students. After a brief refresher on student-on-student bullying and sexual harassment, this webinar will focus on the teacher’s role in protecting students from sexual misconduct by adults in the school environment, including the warning signs of boundary invasions and other grooming behaviors that may progress to sexual misconduct.
Everyone Knew He Was a Troubled Kid: Limits on the Release of Student Information to Law Enforcement and Other Third Parties
School personnel are under increasing pressure to proactively share information about students with law enforcement officials, mental health providers, and others in the hope of preventing the next school shooting or similar tragedy. This webinar examines the limits FERPA places on the release of student information to law enforcement and other third parties and provides general guidance as to what information can be shared, with whom, and under what circumstances.
If you are a board member and are interested in this webinar, please connect with your board assistant in order to avoid duplicate registrations.
This webinar will examine the state laws that govern the role local school boards play in financial oversight. It will also discuss warning signs and strategies to prevent the misuse of funds, as well as how to address issues should they arise and possible consequences for not taking action.
Presented by: Allison Schafer, Legal Counsel/Director of Policy, NCSBA
These previously recorded webinars are perfect for board members, administrators, and staff. They will be available Tuesday, May 19, through Friday, May 22, at 5 p.m.
You may register for one or all of the webinars. Each webinar is $250 per school system, and board member credit is $10 per person. If you are a board member and are interested in these webinars, please connect with your board assistant in order to avoid duplicate registrations.
School Violence Prevention: Establishing an Effective Student Threat Assessment Process
Threat assessment is a proven method of early intervention that can help prevent acts of violence in school environments. This presentation will discuss evidence-based and/or evidence-informed methods for establishing an effective student threat assessment process.
Student Free Speech: Legal Review and Emerging Issues
This webinar will discuss the basic legal framework for students’ First Amendment free speech rights applicable in North Carolina’s public schools, including case law based on U.S. Supreme Court and Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals decisions. This webinar, designed for teachers and school administrators, will also discuss emerging issues related to student free speech, including student protests and student discipline when student conduct involves free speech or expression.
Challenges to the Educational Program and Instructional Materials
This webinar will explore the current federal and state legal patchwork governing challenges to the educational program and instructional materials by parents and other stakeholders. The webinar will include a discussion of recent developments and trends, an in-depth analysis of current federal and state law and policy, and an overview of NCSBA’s policy tools for navigating curriculum and textbook challenges. Additionally, the webinar will cover several policy and other recommendations for handling such challenges within your school system.
Legally Compliant School Board Meetings — Most relevant for school board members and senior administrators
Refresh your memory or learn anew about the law surrounding the conduct of school boards meetings. Topics will include the Open Meetings Law, public comment requirements, common parliamentary procedure issues, and other legal matters that can trip you up if you aren’t careful. Get your questions answered, and learn things that may surprise you.
This session will include a discussion of the May 8, 2020, revisions to Policy 2302, Remote Participation at Board Meetings, and legal issues related to conducting legally compliant school board meetings when the board meeting is fully remote, including public access to the meeting, public comment, quorum, voting, quasi-judicial hearings, and closed session.
Allison Schafer, Legal Counsel/Director of Policy, NCSBA
Registration Information:
Your registration fee includes access to a recorded version of the webinar. Registration pricing is per person.
Training Platform:
NCSBA’s live webinars will be done through Zoom. Be sure you are using the latest version of Zoom. You can click here to download Zoom 5.0.
This session will include discussion of three new policies that have been issued by NCSBA Legal/Policy attorneys in the past year.
- Policy 2127, Board Member Technology Use, and Policy 3228/7323, Use of Personal Technology to Conduct School Business, address issues related to responsible, legally compliant use of personal and school system technology devices when conducting school system business.
- Policy 7503, Teleworking, provides a basic policy for local school boards to use to authorize teleworking and to structure the circumstances in which school employees will be allowed to
Janine Murphy, Assistant Legal Counsel, NCSBA
McKenna Osborn, Staff Attorney, NCSBA
Registration Information:
Your registration fee includes access to a recorded version of the webinar. Registration pricing is per person.
Training Platform:
NCSBA’s live webinars will be done through Zoom. Be sure you are using the latest version of Zoom. You can click here to download Zoom 5.0.