Early this year, the Illinois Appellate Court issued an opinion responding to challenges asserted under the Open Meetings Act (OMA) and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). The Appellate Court held that the Village of Oak Brook improperly asserted the […]
As we detailed in a prior alert, Section 10-20.21 of the School Code was amended to increase the competitive bidding threshold from $25,000 to $35,000. The amendments went into effect January 1, 2024. Therefore, school districts are now required to […]
US DOL Issues Final Rule on Independent Contractors
On January 9, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor announced a new final rule revising the test for whether workers are considered to be employees versus independent contractors for purposes of the Fair Labor Standards Act. The rule was published […]
2023 Legislative Update: Summary of Changes in School Law
As we approach the new year, Franczek is pleased to recap the new legislation applicable to K-12 schools that passed in 2023. Below you will find our compilation of this year’s legislative changes. A PDF version of the 2023 School […]
Chicago May Delay New Paid Leave Mandate
In November 2023, the Chicago City Council passed the Chicago Paid Leave and Paid Sick and Safe Leave Ordinance, dramatically expanding the city’s existing paid sick leave ordinance to require employers to provide an additional 40 hours of paid leave, […]
Franczek Attorney Jennifer Dunn Named Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law by Crain’s Chicago
Franczek P.C. is pleased to announce that partner Jennifer Dunn has been recognized as a Notable Leader in Employment and Labor Law by Crain’s Chicago Business. Crain’s is honoring 40 Employment and Labor attorneys for their demonstrated legal skills; dedication to their clients; and […]
OCR Releases “Dear Colleague Letter” on School Responsibilities to Address Title VI Discrimination and Harassment
On November 7, 2023, the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) released a “Dear Colleague Letter” (DCL) that reminds schools of their Title VI obligations to provide all students with a learning environment free from discrimination. The DCL […]
Franczek’s Bullying Response Toolkit Now Available
As a follow up to our recent on-line training on amendments to the Illinois bullying prevention statute, “Responding to Bullying: New and Old Requirements for Legally Compliant Responses”, we have created a set of forms to assist public and non-public […]