Reviews problems involved in disciplining disabled students with behavior problems as a result of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The case of "Honig V. Doe" has reached the Supreme Court but may be declared moot. Urges school administrators to warn parents of disabled students that the police will be called if students…

Two new American Bar Association rules can help school executives determine whether to use the board's attorney or hire their own private attorney. Various situations are cited to show the advisability of choosing one over the other. (KS)

Eighteen suggestions for reducing or even preventing grievance arbitration costs are detailed under negotiating the contract, administering the contract, and preparing for arbitration categories. (KS)

Offers administrative directives, including visitor identification and student release policies and a specific release procedure, for preventing and dealing with problems related to child snatching by spouses or former spouses. (KS)

School fundraising will remain popular, despite the risk of lawsuits. The Indiana courts advise certain actions to avoid potentially hazardous situations. These include inspecting places and situations presenting significant hazards, making plans to meet anticipated dangers, and assigning competent supervisors. Superintendents can ensure greater…

Medically fragile children do not always require special education services. However, teachers need specialized training before they can teach kids accompanied by life support equipment. Boston's Project School Care advises administrators to consider four sets of procedures: administrative guidelines, plans for providing health care services and…

A recent United States Supreme Court ruling requires that school staff with contagious diseases be treated like other handicapped employees who may be "otherwise qualified" to continue work under reasonable accommodation. Compulsory education laws are facing court challenges in several states, as parents seek more flexibility in…

A survey form mailed to a random sample of 1,000 superintendents nationwide aimed at determining how much litigation schools are involved in, the nature of those actions, and the results. Negligence is the most common basis for lawsuits followed by employment issues. Three charts summarize the findings. (MLF)

The privacy aspect of e-mail is a touchy subject. "Erased" computer files can easily be restored with simple software. Some public agencies are required to retain backup files on computer data and information. E-mail might also be subject to freedom-of-information access, depending how a "record" or "document" is defined. Also, e-mail exchanges…

Summarizes a variety of religious issues before United States courts, including two religion-in-the-schools cases in New Jersey and Georgia and two New York cases involving public assistance of private schools. Discusses a wrongful death lawsuit in Connecticut concerning a teenage suicide. (MLH)

Summarizes several U.S. Supreme Court actions, including decisions to review a North Dakota case concerning fees for rural bus students and a Florida case involving differential contributions and benefits for male and female employees. The Court refused to hear certain cases involving school consolidation (Kansas City), mainstreaming of retarded…

Reviews four recent court decisions affecting school law. A Circuit Court of Appeals ruling upheld Norfolk Schools' decision to abolish busing and reinstate neighborhood schools. The United States Supreme Court dismissed appeals to lower court decisions involving a minimum grade prerequisite, a teacher's privacy rights, and an "adult"…

An Idaho Supreme Court decision involving a "wrongful death" by suicide signals a warning to educators who overlook their students' personal problems. The court decided that the teacher had no "assumed duty" to warn parents, but emphasized all school employees' duty to "exercise reasonable care and act reasonably in the…

The United States Supreme Court upheld a California state law requiring employers to allow a pregnant woman up to four months of unpaid maternity leave if she claims pregnancy as a disability. A bill before Congress addresses parental leave and job protection for parents caring for a new baby or a sick child. (MLH)

Legal and practical considerations are discussed concerning whether school systems should participate in the nationwide class action suit against asbestos manufactureres or file suit on their own. Other topics discussed include grooming rules in sports, unnecessary litigation, and immunity from civil rights lawsuits for school officials. (TE)