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It is a heavy time for Michigan public education. The COVID-19 pandemic and a strained political environment have made this school year beyond challenging. The recent tragedy in Oxford seems almost unbearable. Like you, our hearts ache for the Oxford victims and their families and for the entire Oxford community, including its teachers and staff, students, administrators, and board of education.
We know that the challenges of this year, now compounded by renewed school safety concerns...
In last month’s edition of School Law Notes, we discussed the importance of annually filing the Municipal Finance Qualifying Statement form with the Michigan Department of Treasury by December 31. A successful Qualifying Statement submission gives a school “qualified status” for the upcoming year. Obtaining qualified status...
Robert M. Thrun (1931 – 2021)
We at Thrun Law Firm are saddened to inform our clients that on December 2, 2021, Robert (“Bob”) M. Thrun, 90, passed away at his winter home in Estero, Florida.
For 68 years, Bob was married to Marjorie, 89, who preceded him in death in August 2021. Together, they raised one son, Richard, and two daughters, Susan (who died in 2019), and Karen. Four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren also survive.
Born on May 30, 1931...
If your school has outstanding bonds, it likely entered into a “continuing disclosure agreement” when the bonds were issued. That agreement requires the school to submit certain “continuing disclosure” documents and information annually to the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board’s Electronic Municipal Market Access System (EMMA),...
Each year, we receive questions about what schools may do to celebrate the holidays. Those celebrations - whether musical performances, decorative displays, or curricular activities - often involve religious content that implicates the First Amendment’s Establishment Clause. Under the Establishment Clause, the...
Public schools across Michigan find themselves in an unfamiliar budgetary situation – more short-term revenue than usual due to the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Funds and unexpectedly robust state revenues. Labor unions will quickly recognize this circumstance, and will likely propose significant wage increases during contract negotiations and wage reopeners. School negotiators must be prepared to oppose costly legacy increases that the district may not be able...
If a school wants to borrow money, obtaining “qualified status” each year from the Michigan Department of Treasury is critical. Before issuing most types of debt, a school must either have: (1) qualified status; or (2) Treasury’s prior approval. This article provides a brief overview of the two processes and describes the steps a school must take to ensure it obtains qualified status.
Obtaining Treasury’s prior approval is the more costly and time-consuming option. This process often...
This month’s Back to Basics article addresses the legal parameters of student searches. When conducting a student search, school officials must understand and evaluate the Fourth Amendment issues that may be implicated.
The Fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures” from the State, including public schools. Generally, students have a reasonable...
On September 30, 2021, MDE released the 2021-22 Pupil Accounting Manual (PAM). The new PAM is available at:
https://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/_____2021_22_Pupil_Accounting_Manual_735936_7.pdf
This article highlights changes to the PAM in three specific areas.
Virtual Learning
State School Aid Act (SSAA) Sections 6 and 21f and PAM Section 5-O-D apply...