2019-Summer-Law-Conference-Program

It is our pleasure to have you join us for what we hope will become a new tradition for the development of school leaders in Wyoming – the Education Law, Policy, and Leadership Conferenc

E DUCATION L AW , P OLICY , AND

August 8 – 9, 2019

University of Wyoming Gateway Center

& College of Law

sponsored by:

U NIVERSITY OF W YOMING C OLLEGE OF E DUCATION ,

U NIVERSITY OF W YOMING C OLLEGE OF L AW ,

W YOMING S CHOOL B OARDS A SSOCIATION ,

W YOMING A SSOCIATION OF S CHOOL A DMINISTRATORS ,

& W YOMING A SSOCIATION OF S ECONDARY S CHOOL P RINCIPALS

We must never lose sight of the fact that the law has a moral foundation, and we must never fail to ask ourselves not only what the law is, but what the law should be

-Anthony Kennedy

Dear 2019 Summer Law Conference Attendee:

W elcome! It is our pleasure to have you join us for what we hope will become a new tradition for the development of school leaders in Wyoming – the Education Law, Policy, and Leadership Conference The idea of this conference is to build upon the traditions of the past and to provide school board members, superintendents, principals and other school leaders with an opportunity to learn together about the legal environment within which our schools operate, current issues in education policy, and foundations for effective

educational leadership This conference embodies the collaborative nature of education in Wyoming A number of education groups have coordinated efforts in order to bring this conference to you We hope that you will enjoy the sessions and that you have the

opportunity to build connections with other education leaders from across the state We are also excited to renew and strengthen partnerships between the K-12 education

community and the University of Wyoming We would like to offer a special “thank you”

to all of our speakers and session presenters We look forward to learning together and to continued collaboration to make Wyoming an education leader among states Enjoy the conference!

EDUCATION LAW, POLICY, & LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE

Thursday, August 8th – Marian H Rochelle Gateway Center

7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast and Registration – UW Gateway Center

8:30 – 12:00 General Session – UW Gateway Center Salons A&B

Welcome from the University of Wyoming

Dean Ray Reutzel Dean Klint Alexander College of Education College of Law

Legal Update: A Review of Recent Developments in Education Law Francisco M Negrón, Jr – National School Boards Association

Things are changing in Washington DC From the November elections to new appointments on the U.S Supreme Court, we can expect the next couple of years to be interesting times in the nation’s capital What does this mean for public education? This session will explore what to expect from federal education policy makers It will provide an update on federal legal issues It will also look at how the Supreme Court has changed and what we might expect from the Court when addressing issues related

to public education Several recent decisions of the Court have started to define where the new Court might go The National School Board Association’s Chief Legal Officer will provide an update on current developments in the law and how NSBA is

approaching its advocacy in the federal courts NSBA files more amicus briefs in the federal courts than all other education associations combined Their brief was

referenced in the recent US Census case regarding the citizenship question

Education Policy in the 21 st Century: Where Do We Go from Here?

Governor Bob Wise (WV)

Bob Wise has spent his career advancing education opportunities for our nation’s students He recently completed 14 years as president of the Alliance for Excellent Education, a Washington, DC–based national nonprofit that has become a national leader in advocating the policies and practices necessary for secondary school students

to be ready for postsecondary education and careers After serving twenty-four years as governor, member of the U.S House of Representatives, and state legislator, Gov Wise has become a prominent speaker and advisor on education issues and trends He has advised the U.S Department of Education, White House, and key state and federal policymakers As governor and U.S congressman, he focused on improving financial aid for college and early childhood development Gov Wise authored Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and Our Nation He will address contemporary issues in education policy and leadership, providing a perspective of future trends in education policy

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch – UW Gateway Center

1:00 – 4:00 Breakout Sessions – Attendees may choose their own breakout sessions

Gateway Salon A

Gateway Salons BC

Gateway Salon D

1:00 – 1:50 Education Law Updates

Since the Session

Scott Kolpitcke

Office for Civil Rights:

Issues and Updates

Kelley Pearson

Initiatives from Birth to Third Grade

Becca Steinhoff

2:00 – 2:50 Education Law Updates

Since the Session

Scott Kolpitcke

Cooperation in Purchasing

Brian Harmsen

Education Finance and

the Law

Tim Bush

3:00 – 3:50 Perkins V: Career &

Technical Education

Michelle Aldrich

Office for Civil Rights:

Issues and Updates

Kelley Pearson

Education Finance and

the Law

Tim Bush

1:00 – 1:50 ♦ Education Law Updates Since the Session

Presenter: Scott Kolpitcke, Copenhaver, Kath, Kitchen & Kolpitcke, LLC

What happened in the 2019 legislative session that your district should be paying attention to? From public records to procurement and more, this session explores recent

developments in the law that are important for school districts to be aware of

♦ Office for Civil Rights: Issues and Updates

Presenter: Kelley Pearson, Hickey & Evans, LLP

What’s new with the U.S Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR)? It is the mission of OCR to ensure equal access to education What does that look like under the current administration and what issues are districts dealing with today?

♦ Initiatives from Birth to Third Grade: A Policymaker’s Guide

Presenter: Becca Steinhoff, John P Ellbogen Foundation & Wyoming Kids First

Research shows that early childhood education has significant positive effects on student learning What can we do to develop early childhood development programs that have an impact on student outcomes beyond the preschool years?

2:00 – 2:50 ♦ Education Law Updates Since the Session

Presenter: Scott Kolpitcke, Copenhaver, Kath, Kitchen & Kolpitcke, LLC

What happened in the 2019 legislative session that your district should be paying attention to? From public records to procurement and more, this session explores recent

developments in the law that are important for school districts to be aware of

♦ Cooperation in Purchasing: Leveraging Someone Else’s Work

Presenter: Brian Harmsen, Laramie County School District #1

With so much attention on government efficiency and shared services, interest in cooperative purchasing is high Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for something to be created How can you take advantage of cooperatives and interagency cooperation today?

♦ Education Finance and the Law

Presenter: Tim Bush, Hickey & Evans, LLP

After decades of litigation, the Wyoming Supreme Court established the Constitutional method for funding education in our state Where are we today between the framework set

by the Court and the action taken by the Legislature? What choices do we have?

3:00 – 3:50 ♦ Perkins V: Career and Technical Education

Presenter: Dr Michelle Aldrich, Wyoming Department of Education

Wondering how the new Perkins V may affect your district funding? What will happen after the Perkins V transitional year ends? Discover how a few simple changes could keep your programs eligible for funding! Learn about resources to assist your district

♦ Office for Civil Rights: Issues and Updates

Presenter: Kelley Pearson, Hickey & Evans, LLP

What’s new with the U.S Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR)? It is the mission of OCR to ensure equal access to education What does that look like under the current administration and what issues are districts dealing with today?

♦ Education Finance and the Law

Presenter: Tim Bush, Hickey & Evans, LLP

After decades of litigation, the Wyoming Supreme Court established the Constitutional method for funding education in our state Where are we today between the framework set

by the Court and the action taken by the Legislature? What choices do we have?

5:30 – 6:30 Networking Reception – UW Gateway Center Legacy Hall and Atrium

Hosted by George K Baum & Company and Gallagher

George K Baum & Company is a national Investment Banking Firm providing bond underwriting, financial advisory and public policy services to local governments, housing agencies and authorities, colleges, universities, and independent, public K-12 and charter schools throughout the United States We are also the Distribution Agent for the Wyoming Government Investment Fund, a cash management program for Wyoming local governments.

Gallagher is a global insurance brokerage and risk management services firm that provides a broad array of services Gallagher partners with the Wyoming School Boards Association Insurance trust and the School Risk Retention Program to provide services to Wyoming school districts Gallagher is a proud partner for education in Wyoming

Friday, August 9th – University of Wyoming College of Law

7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast – UW College of Law

8:30 – 9:30 Breakout Sessions – Attendees may choose their own breakout sessions

College of Law Room TBA

College of Law Room TBA

College of Law Room TBA

8:30 – 9:20 District Leadership

Teams: Is It Working?

Rod Kessler

Educational Leadership in

Wyoming

Kevin Mitchell

Legislative Update from the Interim

Ken Decaria

♦ School Boards and District Leadership Teams: Is it working?

Presenter: Rod Kessler, Wyoming School Boards Association

What would your community say about your District Leadership Team? How do you know

if your team is effective and making a difference? We will look at some best practices, review a few case studies and discuss how to be our best as a Leadership Team

♦ Educational Leadership in Wyoming

Presenter: Kevin Mitchell, Wyoming Association of School Administrators

This session explores best practices in educational leadership in Wyoming What can educational leaders do to make a difference in their schools and districts? Come listen to what is working and share your best practices

♦ Legislative Update from the Interim

Presenter: Ken Decaria, Wyoming School Boards Association

This session examines the issues that the Joint Education Committee and other legislative committees are looking at this interim

9:30 – 10:15 Case Study – Small Group Discussions

Participants will stay in the same room as their morning breakout and will review

the case study fact pattern The group will discuss the questions that arise from the

case and what one should do under such circumstances

10:30 – 12:00 Mock Trial – UW College of Law Moot Courtroom

Participants will observe a mock trial over the case study fact pattern discussed in the previous session Sometimes you think you might know how things will play out in the courtroom and sometimes you can be surprised After the trial,

participants will discuss the case and how things played out

12:00 Conference Adjourns

Speaker Biographies Aldrich, Michelle: Dr Michelle Aldrich is currently the Wyoming State Director of Career & Technical

Education and Perkins Funding She spent eight years teaching the family resource management strand at the University of Wyoming as adjunct faculty She has been teaching nutrition at two Wyoming community colleges over the last 26 years in nutrition and education Dr Aldrich most recently was a Family & Consumer Science Teacher at Triumph High School in Cheyenne for 15 years, which is the oldest and largest alternative high school in Wyoming with 250 students in grades 9-12

Bush, Richard “Tim”: Mr Bush is an attorney from Cheyenne, practicing with the firm of Hickey &

Evans, LLC since 1990 Mr Bush was an attorney in the Campbell cases and has been recognized as a

leading education attorney in Wyoming Mr Bush completed his bachelor’s degree at Black Hills State College and earned his law degree from the University of Wyoming Upon graduation from law school in

1989, he served as a Law Clerk for the Wyoming Supreme Court His practice area focuses primarily on civil litigation and education law

Decaria, Ken: Mr Decaria is the Director of Government Relations for the Wyoming School Boards

Association Prior to this role, Ken served in a similar capacity for the Wyoming Education Association

Mr Decaria is a former state legislator, serving in both the Wyoming House of Representatives and Senate from Uinta County Mr Decaria was a classroom teacher in Evanston and as a life-long educator has always worked to put the needs of students first

Harmsen, Brian: Mr Harmsen has been a Wyoming resident since 1979, graduating from Sundance High

School in 1982 and the University of Wyoming in 1986 He spent the next 24 years in the United States Army, serving in a variety of leadership roles in the United States, Asia, Central America, and Southwest Asia, ultimately retiring as a Colonel in 2010 He immediately transitioned into his present position as the Program Administrator for Business Services for Laramie County School District Number One, where he provides guidance and oversight of a dedicated procurement team, a central warehouse, production print shop, and postal distribution services He is a life member of the University of Wyoming Alumni Association, The US Field Artillery Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, member of the National

Institute of Governmental Purchasing, and a graduate of Leadership Cheyenne

Kessler, Rod: Mr Kessler is presently serving as the Director of Leadership Development for the Wyoming

School Boards Association After one year of transitioning to this position Rod has stated, “This past year

I have worked with some of the very best school board members and district administrators in the country!” Rod has spent nearly 40 years in public education He was a classroom and special education teacher in South Dakota In Wyoming he served as a school counselor, principal, special education director and superintendent He also spent time as an interim superintendent after retirement in Wyoming Rod is a practicing grandpa with two new granddaughters who challenge his leadership skills daily

Kolpitcke, Scott: Mr Kolpitcke is a partner in the Powell, Wyoming firm of Copenhaver, Kath, Kitchen

& Kolpitcke, LLC He earned his law degree from the University of Wyoming in 1996 Scott has regularly represented and advised school districts in Wyoming for more than twenty years He has argued cases in Wyoming District Courts, the Wind River Tribal Court, the Wyoming Supreme Court, and in administrative proceedings on behalf of school districts, and other local government agencies in Wyoming His experience

in administrative proceedings includes hearings and investigations before the Wyoming Workers’ Compensation Division, the Unemployment Division, the Wyoming Department of Workforce Services, Office of Administrative Hearings, Equal Employment Opportunity Division, and the U.S Office for Civil Rights

Mitchell, Kevin: Mr Mitchell is the Executive Director for the Wyoming Association for School

Administrators Prior to serving in this capacity, Kevin was the Superintendent in Powell, WY for Park County School District #1 Mr Mitchell also served as a superintendent in Big Horn County School District

#1 Kevin is an advocate for education and frequently reminds decision-makers to put kids first

Negrón, Francisco M.: Mr Negrón is the Chief Legal Officer of the National School Boards Association

A proud product of our public schools, Negrón is a leading national advocate for public schools, directing NSBA’s nationally recognized Legal Advocacy Program, which files more amicus briefs in the United States Supreme Court and in federal and state appellate courts across the country each year than all national education associations combined Negrón also leads the 3,000-member Council of School Attorneys, the national network of lawyers representing K-12 public schools He received his Juris Doctorate from the Florida State University College of Law and also holds a bachelor’s degree in international studies from the University of West Florida He is also a member of the Bars of the United States Supreme Court, the District

of Columbia, Florida, and all federal circuit courts of appeals Mr Negrón regularly appears in national media outlets as a spokesperson for public schools

Pearson, Kelley: O’Kelley H Pearson joined Hickey & Evans in 2007 as an Associate and became a

Partner in 2011 She graduated from the University of Wyoming College of Law with honors in 2007 and was admitted into the Bar in 2007 Most recently, O’Kelley taught Legal Writing as an adjunct professor at the College of Law She represents a wide range of clients, including K-12 and higher education boards and institutions, regulated utilities, municipalities, and diverse business entities Ms Pearson has appeared before state and federal courts in Wyoming, as well as the Public Service Commission, the Industrial Siting Commission, and the Office of Administrative Hearings Prior to law school, O’Kelley worked in the education field for fifteen years in Pinedale, including working as a Title I paraprofessional for Sublette County School District #1 and BOCES Director for Western Wyoming Community College and the school district

Steinhoff, Becca: Becca is the Executive Director of the John P Ellbogen Foundation and Wyoming Kids

First She supports the Board by asking thoughtful questions, making meaningful contributions, and strengthening impact Becca has a deep sense of belonging to Wyoming and feels privileged to do work that empowers Wyomingites to lead healthy lives in thriving communities by beginning the narrative before children are even born Ms Steinhoff received a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Business and Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Wyoming, and a Master of Public Administration degree from The George Washington University She graduated from Leadership Wyoming

in 2014 Becca gives time to many community and statewide Boards and initiatives, but most enjoys spending time with her husband, Nat, daughter, Lydia, and family and friends She delights in time spent outdoors or in the kitchen and loves to adventure in both places

Wise, Bob: Former West Virginia Gov Bob Wise has spent his career advancing education opportunities

for our nation’s students After serving twenty-four years as governor, member of the U.S House of Representatives, and state legislator, he has become a prominent speaker and advisor on education issues

and trends Gov Wise recently completed 14 years as president of the Alliance for Excellent Education He

recently launched a science of adolescent learning initiative to guide education policy and practice decisions He works closely with education leaders for evidence-based systems change to meet each student’s needs He has advised the U.S Department of Education, White House, and key state and federal

policymakers Gov Wise authored Raising the Grade: How High School Reform Can Save Our Youth and

Our Nation He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Duke University, a Juris Doctor degree from Tulane

University, and a black belt in Tae Kwon Do

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