In 2005, the Michigan Legislature amended the Revised School Code by adding Section 1230d. Section 1230d mandates that applicants, employees, and those contracted to work “regularly and continuously” in a public or private school must report to the school district on a form provided by the Michigan Department of Education if charged with a crime...
The Michigan Department of Education recently announced the new threshold amount at which local school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies must competitively bid (1) labor and materials for construction projects under Revised School Code Section 1267; and (2) the purchase of supplies, materials, and equipment under Revised School Code Section 623a (intermediate school districts) and Section 1274 (local school districts and public school academies). For...
We are pleased to announce that Katherine Wolf Broaddus and Timothy Gardner, Jr. have joined Thrun Law Firm.
Katherine Broaddus joins us after having practiced for seven years at a Farmington Hills law firm that represents school districts, intermediate school districts, and public school academies. Ms. Broaddus will concentrate her practice in the areas of general school law, special education law, and labor and employment law.
Ms. Broaddus received her undergraduate degrees...
In support of President Obama’s ConnectED initiative, the Federal Communications Commission (“FCC”) recently proposed a top-to-bottom revision of the Universal Service Fund program, commonly known as “E-Rate”. FCC 13-100 (July 19, 2013). The FCC’s proposal includes:
On Sunday, October 20, 2013, the tradition continues when Thrun Law Firm will participate for the fourth year in a row in the Detroit Free Press Marathon events.
This year Team Thrun has fielded three Marathon Relay teams and one solo marathon racer:
Team Thrun Marathon Relay Team #1...
With tight budgets, school districts are likely to consider privatization of noninstructional support services and contracts with third parties for administrators. The decision to use contracted service arrangements raises numerous legal issues, not the least of which involves employee misclassification, which may result in serious consequences. In the past, this firm has cautioned its retainer clients that contracted services agreements with third-party vendors are not a panacea and should...
Clients seeking to finance the purchase of equipment are advised that the time required to complete all the necessary legal documents may be quite lengthy. School districts may only finance the purchase of equipment through statutorily-defined avenues. Two common ways to finance equipment purchases are through either an installment purchase agreement (“IPA”) or a lease purchase agreement (“LPA”).
Installment purchase agreements are authorized by Act 99 of 1933, whereas lease purchase...
Must a student be expelled for assaulting a staff member? When is an expelled student eligible for reinstatement? What special rules apply for students with disabilities? How much “process” is due a student before a suspension or expulsion?
Before disciplining a student, school officials must understand the interplay between constitutional due process requirements; federal law, including the Gun-Free Schools Act, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and Section 504 of the...
On May 13, 2013, we sent to our retainer clients an e-blast about the Michigan Department of Treasury’s position on “cash-inlieu” of health insurance payments under Public Act 152 of 2011. At that time, Treasury opined in a published “Frequently Asked Questions” document that public employers had to include “cash-inlieu”...
We are pleased to announce that we will be opening a West Michigan office this June. While renovations are currently underway, Thrun Law Firm’s West Michigan office will be conveniently located in Grand Rapids at the intersection of Leonard and E. Beltline, just north of I-96, northeast of I-196, and east of US 131.
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