News from Thrun Law

When schools seek to purchase new equipment (e.g., buses, copiers, or tablets), vendors frequently offer financing packages in the form of a lease purchase agreement (LPA) or other type of financing lease with a third-party leasing company. Though seemingly straightforward, the terms contained in LPAs can be extremely detrimental to schools.

LPAs are different from “true” leases and rental agreements. In a true lease, the leasing company typically remains the equipment owner. With an...

As part of our service to retainer clients, Thrun Law Firm will conduct a series of 1-hour webinars this spring. The Tuesdays with Thrun webinar series will be offered at no charge to our retainer clients.

Webinars will be held on the following dates/times and will cover the following topics:

• Tuesday, April 22, 2025
  
  • 8:30 a.m. – 9:35 a.m.: Employee Accommodations
  • 9:45 a.m. – 10:50 a.m.: Responding to Unlawful...

Public Act 209 of 2024, effective April 2, 2025, adds Revised School Code Section 1300, which will require schools to allow a Native American individual to wear traditional regalia and bring traditional objects to ceremonies of honor. Notably, this law will apply to this school year’s graduation ceremonies.

“Traditional regalia” means any cultural, religious, or ceremonial clothing or wearable items representing a Native American’s tribal or ancestral traditions.

“Traditional...

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights statute that prohibits recipients of federal funds from discriminating against individuals with disabilities. In addition to an increase in complaints filed with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), we also are seeing an increase in parent requests for Section 504 hearings. Section 504 hearings require a neutral hearing officer and the presentation of testimony and other evidence. This month...