Year: 2024

Public and private sector employers may receive requests for job-related accommodations from applicants or employees related to their disabilities. The Wisconsin Fair Employment Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) include protections for qualified individuals with disabilities, including that an employer may not refuse to reasonably accommodate an employee or job applicant’s disability unless…

The Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC) balloting period for school districts’ annual recertification elections opens at 12:00 PM CST on November 7, 2024, and closes at 12:00 PM CST on November 27, 2024.  The annual recertification election requirements arose out of Act 10.  Prior to Act 10, a representative for purposes of collective bargaining remained…

Social media is, depending on one’s perspective, a powerful messaging tool or a distraction full of unhelpful comments at best, and oftentimes outright nasty, vitriolic comments. Social media content designed to inform the public about the workings of their government can very easily be taken over by those more interested in pursuing their negative personal…

There are certain situations that occur in one’s life that cause an individual to seek the protections of the law to prevent acts of another party.  In these instances, Courts may grant injunctions against the aggrieving party, enjoining that party from partaking in a certain type of action.  These types of actions are known as…

Student discipline issues can be challenging for school districts, even at the start of a new school year.  When issuing discipline, districts must adhere to prescriptive procedural requirements in state and federal laws, to ensure students receive due process.  As the Department of Public Instruction continues to scrutinize district disciplinary actions, it is important for…

A number of Wisconsin school districts are preparing for referendum elections as part of the November 2024 general election.  Inasmuch as school districts have significant interest in the outcome of their referendum election, we are regularly asked to weigh in as to what extent school districts, school board members, school district administrators, and school district…

On May 30, 2024, a Wisconsin Court of Appeals granted a petition for appeal in Johnson v. MacCudden, a Milwaukee County case involving claims of defamation against Scarlett Johnson, a self-proclaimed local parents’ rights activist and member of Moms for Liberty.  Ms. Johnson allegedly posted various statements criticizing her local school district and an individual,…

When the United States Congress passes laws, it regularly delegates authority to federal agencies to enforce and administer the law’s provisions.  For example, the Department of Education enforces Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Department of Labor enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act and the Environmental Protection Agency enforces the Clean Air…

In preparation for the 2024-2025 school year, school districts and private schools should confirm they are meeting their statutory obligations related to school safety plans.  Generally, school safety plans provide a shared understanding among school personnel, school leadership, parents, and law enforcement during times of crisis.  School safety plans contain directions for interested parties during…

In a decision issued on July 2, 2024, the U.S. District Court for the District of Kansas (“Court”) enjoined the U.S. Department of Education/Department of Justice (“Department”) from “implementing, enacting, enforcing, or taking any action to enforce the new Title IX regulations against Kansas, Alaska, Utah, Wyoming, KR’s school, the schools attended by the members…