School Law
*2023 Legislative Update Seminar*

The School Law team of Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C. invites administrators to this informative seminar regarding recent legislative changes impacting your district.
 
Speakers will be attorneys Paul Dakopolos, Rebekah Jacobson, Elizabeth Polay, and Elliot Field addressing topics such as significant changes for employees working with special education students, child abuse investigations related to restraints, and abbreviated school day procedures.

Tuesday, August 15, 2023
8:15 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. Hosted Continental Breakfast
8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Conference
Location: Salem Chamber of Commerce
1110 Commercial Street NE
Salem, Oregon

Please RSVP by August 7, 2023 by calling (503) 587-8237. This seminar is free of charge. 

Can’t attend in person? Join us virtually via the Zoom link below!
Zoom Link

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What You Need to Know
*2023 Special Education Legal Update*

The School Law team of Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C. invites special education administrators to this informative seminar regarding recent legal changes impacting special education services provided in your district.
 
Speakers will be attorneys Elizabeth L. Polay and Elliot Field addressing topics such as: recent state and federal special education case law, and new Oregon laws related to special education.

Wednesday, August 16, 2023
9:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Hosted Continental Breakfast
9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Conference Room 1
Location: Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C.
4895 Skyline Road South
Salem, Oregon

These webinars are free of charge. We have a limited number of seats, so please RSVP ASAP or by August 7, 2023: call our office at (503) 581-1501.

Can’t attend in person? Join us virtually via the Zoom link below!
Zoom Link

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Download Legislative Update

Join GHR’s Elizabeth Polay at the 40th Annual Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law, where she will present two sessions on October 9-11, 2023 in Vancouver, Washington.

• Extreme Behaviors and Placement in the Least Restrictive Environment: Precedent, Process, and Practical Tips.”
• Successful IEP Meetings: Lessons from Both Sides of the Table.

For detailed information about her sessions or to register for the event, visit Registration Information & Fees | Pacific Northwest Institute on Special Education and the Law (uw.edu)

Hot Topics Series
*Labor and Employment*

Attorney Rebekah Jacobson, alongside our team of School Law attorneys, hold monthly webinars to address hot topics surrounding Labor and Employment. In addition to providing you with the information you need to comply with current employment laws, you’ll have a platform to ask questions and have group discussions on these important issues. We encourage participants to submit questions and discussion topics in advance of each session.

Save the following dates:
Sept. 21, 2023
Oct. 19, 2023
Nov. 16, 2023
Jan. 18, 2024
Feb. 15, 2024
March 21, 2024
April 18, 2024
May 16, 2024
June 20, 2024

How to Join Us:
Our Labor and Employment webinars are held the third Thursday of each month from 2pm – 2:45pm. There will not be a December session. We use a reoccurring zoom link and will email the link out with our invitation 1-week prior to each session. You can RSVP to each webinar by calling 503-587-8237. You can also join by following the Zoom link below.

Labor & Employment Zoom Link

These webinars are free of charge. If there are any questions regarding the upcoming schedule, please call our office at (503) 581-1501.

Download Promo Poster

Ask Me Anything Webinar Series
*Special Education Edition*

Attorney Elizabeth Polay holds monthly webinars to address hot topics surrounding current Special Education issues. In addition to providing you with the information you need to comply with current state laws, you’ll have a platform to ask questions and have group discussions on these important issues. We encourage participants to submit questions and discussion topics in advance of each session.

Save the following dates:
Sept. 28, 2023
Oct. 26, 2023
Nov. 09, 2023
Dec. 14, 2023
Jan. 11, 2024
Feb. 08, 2024
March 14, 2024
April 11, 2024
May 09, 2024
June 13, 2024

How to Join Us:
Our AMA Special Education webinars are held the second Thursday of each month from 2pm – 2:45pm. The September and October sessions will be held the fourth Thursday. We use a reoccurring zoom link and will email the link out with our invitation 1-week prior to each
session. You can RSVP to each webinar by calling 503-587-8237. You can also join by following the Zoom link below.

Ask Me Anything: Special Education Edition Zoom Link

Unable to attend?
Keep an eye out for our follow-up email after the session for a link to the recording.

These webinars are free of charge. If there are any questions regarding the upcoming schedule, please call our office at (503) 581-1501.

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Ask Me Anything: Session 101

Presented By
The School Law Team of Garrett Hemann Robertson P.C.

Elizabeth L. Polay invites administrators to this informative webinar on buzz-worthy issues surrounding Special Education. Please join us for this first session as we kick off the series!

Thursday, September 8, 2022, at 2pm

Elizabeth intends for this webinar to include a round-table discussion where Districts are welcome to contribute to the conversation. You may provide any questions in advance by calling 503-581-1501.

RSVP by September 6, 2022, call 503-581-1501.

This webinar is free of charge.

Unable to attend? Keep an eye out for a follow-up email after the session for a link to the recording.

Ask Me Anything Webinar Series
*Special Education Edition*

Elizabeth L. Polay invites administrators to a series of informative webinars regarding Special Education. The webinars will be held the 2nd Thursday of every* month from 2:00pm – 2:45pm.

Save the following dates:
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Thursday, October 13 ,2022
Thursday, November 10, 2022
Thursday, December 1, 2022*
Thursday, January 12, 2023
Thursday, February 9, 2023
Thursday, March 9, 2023
Thursday, April 20, 2023*
Thursday, May 11, 2023
Thursday, June 8, 2023

*The April and December sessions will be held on alternate Thursday’s due to scheduling conflicts.

Elizabeth Polay will address buzz-worthy topics surrounding Special Education. These webinars will be round-table style and Districts are invited to contribute to the conversation. Questions and discussion topics are welcome in advance and can be submitted to Jessaka Keen.

We welcome you to invite others who may benefit from this series by forwarding this email. We will email the invitation for each session one week in advance.

Unable to attend?
Keep an eye out for our follow-up email after the session for a link to the recording.

These webinars are free of charge. If there are any questions regarding the upcoming schedule, please call our office at (503) 581-1501.

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SALEM, OREGON – Ryan Hunt, prominent Family Law, and Estate Planning attorney, was presented with the ABA Military Pro Bono Project Outstanding Services Award by the ABA Standing Committee on Legal Assistance for Military Personnel (LAMP) for extraordinary pro bono service. The award is presented to an individual attorney, law firm, or law departments. An individual attorney who has provided exceptional service and accepted or completed three or more cases with 50 or more pro bono hours is eligible for the award.

“This award is a true honor” Mr. Hunt said, “and I am proud to serve and assist our active duty service members.”

Mr. Hunt is a partner at Garrett Hemann Robertson PC in Salem, Oregon, has served on the Oregon State Bar Board of Governors, and was awarded the Oregon Super Lawyers’ Rising Star award nearly seven years in a row. Mr. Hunt graduated from University of Oregon Law School in 2002, and has been a member of the Oregon Board of Governors since 2020.

Kim Hoyt, leading Oregon civil trial attorney, was selected Oregon Chapter President of the American Board of Trial Advocates, and began her term of office on January 1, 2021.

ABOTA is an invitation-only national association of 7,600 experienced trial lawyers and judges dedicated to the preservation and promotion of the Seventh Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, which guarantees the right to civil jury trials. ABOTA’s primary goal is to educate the American public about the history and value of the right to trial by jury and is dedicated to elevating the standards of skill, integrity, honor and courtesy in the legal profession.

“I am honored to serve as President of the Oregon Chapter of ABOTA,” Ms. Hoyt said, “and I look forward to working with our members to advocate for effective representation for all litigants and the efficient administration of justice.”

Ms. Hoyt is a senior litigation partner at Garrett Hemann & Robertson P.C. in Salem, Oregon, where she served as Managing Partner from February 2015 to December 2020. She is widely considered one of the best litigators in Oregon and a seasoned trial lawyer with a deft touch and a deep reservoir of experience, compassion, and the ability to see all sides of a difficult situation. Prior to becoming an attorney, she studied at Willamette University College of Law. She graduated in 1991. After passing the bar exam, she was admitted to legal practice in 1991.

Garrett Hemann & Robertson P.C. is a law firm in Salem, Oregon comprised of litigation powerhouses, public law experts, savvy legal advisors to businesses, leaders in family law dedicated to the delivering legal expertise by focusing from the client’s point of view.

By Rebekah R. Jacobson, Kelly D. Noor, and Elizabeth L. Polay

The 2019 Oregon Legislature passed several bills which affect school districts, ESDs, and charter schools effecting changes on topics such as reporting requirements, pay equity, retirement reporting, PERS, collective bargaining, workplace harassment, sexual conduct, special education terminology, suicide prevention plans, student restraints, voluntary foster care placements, mental health absences, instructional materials, and the student success act. We summarized the major legislation changes and technical bills which affect school districts here.

The 2019 Oregon Legislature passed several bills. Read the full article for an explanation of the Legislature’s changes.