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Keefer Wood represents school districts and charter schools in the capacity of school solicitor and as special counsel, as well as individual school administrators, and the state associations of elementary and secondary school principals.  Services to school districts and administrators include representation at hearings before state administrative agencies such as the Department of Education, State Board of Education, Secretary of Education, Labor Relations Board, Public School Employees’ Retirement Board  and the Human Relations Commission and, when necessary, appeals to state and federal court. Our representation involves disputes regarding teacher certification, subsidy entitlements, demotion and dismissal of tenured employees, complaints of discriminatory personnel actions, charges of unfair labor practices, school construction reimbursement, and mandate waiver requests. 

As school solicitor and special counsel to school districts and charter schools, we provide training seminars and advice on the full range of activities in which public schools are involved, such as:

  Special Education
 
  • Advice regarding evaluations
 
  • Attendance at IEP meetings
 
  • Representation of school districts at due process hearings
 
  • Appeals to the Special Education Appeals Panel and subsequently to state or federal courts
  Student Discipline
 
  • Hearing officer or advisor to the Board, or may act in the capacity of prosecutor
 
  • Advice on discipline of special education students
 
  • Drafting of waivers of suspension/expulsion hearing
  Employee Discipline, Dismissal, Discharge or Layoffs
 
  • Hearing officer or advisor to the Board, or may act in the capacity of prosecutor
 
  • Advice on processing employee grievances
 
  • Representation and defense of arbitrations
  Labor and Employment
 
  • Review and revision of employment policies
 
  • Advice regarding employer obligations under federal and state law
  Student Rights and Obligations
 
  • Advice concerning scope of students’ free speech and free exercise rights
 
  • Guidance on issues involving search and seizure, weapons, drugs and alcohol, and student assistance programs
 
  • Advice and representation on School Code requirements such as residency, attendance, transportation, home schooling, and extracurricular activities
  School District Administration
 
  • Review of contracts, including bidding and construction project manuals
 
  • Preparation, review and revision of School Board policies
 
  • Representation in tax assessment appeals
 
  • Drafting of board resolution
 
  • Advice on school-affiliated charitable foundations
  Attorneys
  Donna S. Weldon
  Charles W. Rubendall, II
  Gary L. French
  Stephen L. Grose
  Elyse E. Rogers
  Ann McGee Carbon

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