News from Thrun Law

As this academic year winds down, many school boards are in the process of hiring a new superintendent. We remind boards that they must comply with the Open Meetings Act (OMA) when evaluating, interviewing, and selecting a new superintendent.

The OMA’s intent is to facilitate public access to official governmental decision-making and to promote transparency in government. To further that interest, the OMA requires that all school board meetings be open to the public, except for...

The Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled that a participant in a conversation does not violate Michigan’s eavesdropping statute by recording the conversation without the consent of the other parties. Fisher v Perron, Docket No. 21-1184 (CA 6, 2022). This decision, especially in light of the Michigan Supreme Court’s refusal to review this issue in a different case, reaffirms that Michigan is a one-party consent state for recordings.

In this case, Mr. Fisher alleged...

The U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled that a college board of trustees did not violate a board member’s free speech rights by censuring him and temporarily barring him from board officer positions. Houston Community College System v Wilson, Docket No. 20-804 (March 24, 2022).

David Wilson was an elected official on the Houston Community College System’s Board of Trustees. He was not, however, popular with his fellow trustees. Wilson frequently disagreed with them,...

Prom season is fast approaching – along with myriad related legal issues. Student conduct at prom can be both novel and unpre­dictable, offering few clear-cut rules. This article nevertheless provides some best practices to assist school officials in navigating common issues that may be associated with the big day.

Attendance

Attending prom is not a constitutional right. Prom attendance is a privilege, subject to revocation should a student fail to...