Brian R. Bare

Recent Changes in COVID-19 Updates for September 2021

The past thirty days have seen five executive orders, two sets of emergency rules and regulations, and four new or revised guidance documents regarding COVID-19 and schools in Illinois.  This article provides an overview of these rapid developments. On August 26, 2021, Governor J.B. Pritzker announced that COVID-19 vaccination requirements would be extended to school [...]

By | September 23rd, 2021|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News|
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Masking Again Required in All Illinois Schools

At his press conference this afternoon, August 4, 2021, Governor Pritzker announced that masks will now be universally required for anyone in PreK-12 Illinois schools and day cares.  Face coverings will be required for all indoor sports and recreational activities.  Athletes and coaches will not be required to wear face masks for outdoor sports.  He [...]

By | August 4th, 2021|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News, Litigation Law News|
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Developing COVID-19 Guidance for Fall 2021

As the spring semester drew to a close and summer began, parents, board members, and educators across Illinois began asking what school operations would look like in the fall.  Even now, as summer is halfway over, we are only beginning to receive updated guidance from the state and federal agencies. In the morning on Friday, [...]

By , | July 12th, 2021|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News, Litigation Law News|
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Governor Limits In-Person Attendance at Public Meetings to 10-Person Maximum

On April 24, 2020, Whitt Law posted “Planning for the Future Series: Open Meetings During the COVID-19 Pandemic,” wherein we discussed Governor J.B. Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-07, specifically as it relates to Section 2.01 and Section 7 of the Open Meetings Act (the “Act”).  Subsequently, on June 15, 2020, Governor Pritzker signed into law Public [...]

By | November 16th, 2020|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News, Litigation Law News, Property Tax Law News|
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Planning for the Future Series: Practical Considerations for Reopening

Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Gubernatorial Disaster Proclamation, and subsequent Executive Orders, much of the focus for school districts has been on effective remote learning and providing other necessary support services to students. However, on May 5, 2020, Governor Pritzker released “Restore Illinois,” a five-phased plan that will reopen the state, guided [...]

By , | June 16th, 2020|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News|
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Planning for the Future Series: Staffing Considerations (Part Two)

In the last several weeks formerly routine staffing considerations have now become much more complex for school districts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This post is Part 2 in a two-part series intended to provide some insight into addressing staffing considerations for licensed employees, both teachers and administrators. As we noted in Part [...]

By , | May 21st, 2020|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News|
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Planning for the Future Series: Staffing Considerations (Part One)

Staffing Considerations Amid COVID-19 Disaster Proclamations, Executive Orders, and “Stay at Home” Orders In the last several weeks formerly routine staffing considerations have now become much more complex for school districts as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. This post is Part One of Two intended to provide some insight into addressing staffing considerations in [...]

By , | May 11th, 2020|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News|
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Governor Pritzker’s Executive Order 2020-32 – What School Districts Need to Know

On April 30, 2020, the Governor issued another executive order (2020-32) that, in part, opened up school buildings to allow for the pickup of student belongings. Executive Order 2020-32 can be read here. It also contains a number of other requirements and expands the type of businesses that can reopen for work, although schools have always been [...]

By | May 1st, 2020|Covid-19 Resources, Education Law News|
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Supreme Court Eliminates Fair Share Fees in Janus v. AFSCME

Today, the United States Supreme Court issued a decision in Janus v. AFSCME.  In this highly anticipated decision, the Supreme Court held that forcing nonmembers to pay “fair share” agency fees to a public sector labor union violates the First Amendment, overturning its own prior holding in Abood v. Detroit Board of Education. 431 U.S. [...]

By , | June 27th, 2018|Education Law News, Litigation Law News|
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