September 2024

Dear Extra Mile Readers:

Have you signed up yet for "The Year in Review," our annual school law seminar? Don't wait another day. We're hosting three locations around the state, and the Peoria location has only a few slots still available. Click your preferred location below to register now:

Collinsville (10/16)

Peoria (10/17)

Itasca (10/24)

Cook County School Districts May Now Withdraw from Township Trustees of Schools and Must Appoint Trustees by 10/8/24

The School Code has been amended to allow any Cook County school district to withdraw from the jurisdiction of the township trustees of schools. In addition, township school trustees will no longer be elected independently and will instead be appointed by school boards within their jurisdiction. Read more...

Steve Richart

Seventh Circuit Upholds Suspension of Corrections Sergeant Over Facebook Posts

An employee's suspension was upheld after the Seventh Circuit concluded that the employer's interests outweighed his free speech right to post xenophobic comments on Facebook. Read more...

Pam Simaga

Public Entity's Social Media Restrictions on Commenters Violated First Amendment

In a unique case successfully argued by the daughter of Hodges Loizzi alum Nancy Krent (congratulations Stephanie Krent!), a federal appellate court found that the government’s censorship of certain keywords on its social media feeds was a violation of the First Amendment. Read more...

Jeff Goelitz

Requests for Accommodations that are Based on “Some Aspect” of an Employee’s Religious Beliefs are Protected under Federal Law

The Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that an employee’s request for a religious accommodation may include secular considerations and still not lose its religious nature. Read more...

Vanessa Clohessy

Supreme Court Bribery Decision Will Not Affect State and Local Gift-Ban Laws

The U.S. Supreme Court recently held that a federal criminal bribery law regulating bribes received by state and local officials, did not also regulate gifts received by state and local officials. Nevertheless, existing state and local gift-ban laws remain unchanged. Read more...

Kerry Pipal

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

-In late July, ISBE released a Q&A document regarding last-minute teacher resignations.

-The OCR issued new guidance for implementing the 2024 Title IX regulations.

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

Latest figures: July 2024

The Extra Mile is intended solely to provide information to the school community. It is neither legal advice nor a substitute for legal counsel. It is intended as advertising but not as a solicitation of an attorney/client relationship.

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Itasca

847-670-9000

Peoria

309-671-9000

O’Fallon

618-622-0999