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The Michigan Employment Relations Commission recently ruled that a township violated Public Employment Relations Act (“PERA”) when it refused to bargain over the calculation method and total amount of the employee contributions related to its implementation of the “80/20” cost-sharing arrangement used to comply...
The Michigan Department of Education has announced the new threshold amount at which local schools, 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, mate...
In a memorandum dated July 10, 2014, the Michigan Department of Education (“MDE”) expressed concern that some schools are circumventing the certification requirements of sections 1246 and 1536 of the Revised School Code by hiring or contracting with “temporary” or “interim” school administrators.
Section 1246 of the Revised...
The Michigan Employment Relations Commission (“MERC”) recently adopted (in the absence of an appeal) an Administrative Law Judge’s (“ALJ”) ruling that a public employer’s refusal to bargain over the “impact” of implementing Public Act 54 of 2011 (“PA 54”) violated the Michigan Public Employment Relations Act (“PERA”). City of...
On July 24, 2014, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) issued revised guidance on budget transparency to include changes required by the fiscal year 2014-15 Education Omnibus Appropriation Bill (PA 196 of 2014). The guidance document is available at www.thrunlaw.com/links.
The 2014-2015 Education Omnibus Appropriation Bill made a number of amendments to various provisions of the State School...
As we reported in the March 27, 2014 edition of School Law Notes, Public Act 12 of 2014 (the “Act”) modified the frequency and recording requirements of Michigan school safety drills. The Act became effective on July 1, 2014.
Under these new requirements, by September 15 of each school year, the chief administrator (or designee) of a school building that operates any of grades kindergarten to 12 must provide a list of the school buildings’ scheduled drill days to the County...
On June 24, 2014, Governor Synder signed the State School Aid Budget (2014 PA 196), which increases funding for the state’s K-12 schools, community colleges, and universities.
For the 2014-2015 school year, all school districts will receive at least $7,251 for their foundation allowance, which includes a one-time equity...
As a new school year approaches and students begin participating in interscholastic athletics, it is important to emphasize that the Revised School Code prohibits the use of performance-enhancing substances by student-athletes and provides certain steps that school officials must take to discourage student athletes from using them.
Since 2006, Section 1318 of the Revised School Code has required school districts to “ensure that its policies concerning a pupil’s eligibility for...
Vendors may offer seemingly simple financing packages to assist school districts in acquiring buses, copiers, technology, or other school equipment. We recommend that our clients not use the financing packages presented by equipment vendors.
The financing package typically utilizes a lease purchase agreement (“LPA”), or other form of financing lease, with a third-party financing company. Under an LPA, a school district avoids creating a debt obligation by pledging general fund dollars...
As the school year comes to a close, many school officials must unfortunately consider program closures for the 2014-2015 school year. You are reminded that great care must be taken before eliminating a special education program, no matter how costly.
The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) recently investigated allegations that a Michigan school district’s closure of its program for students with emotional impairments violated Section 504 of the...