Apr
29
Thu
2021 Spring Law Conference
Apr 29 @ 9:00 am – Apr 30 @ 12:20 pm

NCSBA’s 2021 Spring Law Conference will be held April 29-30 via Zoom. This virtual conference is designed for board members, school administrators, and board attorneys. Take a look at our agenda.

The conference is $99 per day. Board members and school administrators who attend the full conference will receive 6 hours of continuing education credit. Attorneys will receive 6 hours of CLE credit. Important note: the conference will not be recorded.

How to Register

Conference registration is through the Envise membership portal. Any board members interested in attending should connect with their board assistant in order to avoid duplicate registrations.

  1. Click the registration button above.
  2. Log in using your Envise membership portal credentials.
  3. In the navigation menu, click Events>Register.
  4. Under Select a Contact, choose the attendee.
  5. Under Select an Event, choose “2021 Spring Law Conference.” Day 1 and Day 2 will appear under Session. Check the day(s) the individual plans to attend. Click Add Registration to Cart.
  6. If registering multiple people, repeat steps 4 and 5 for each attendee.
  7. Choose your payment type and click Continue. It may take a few moments to process.
  8. Review your shopping cart and click Checkout. Complete any necessary payment information.

If you need assistance, please contact Debbie Shinbara at dshinbara@ncsba.org or 919-747-6698 or Chelsea Sutton at csutton@ncsba.org or 919-747-6713.

May
11
Tue
Student Discipline Law Basics (Webinar)
May 11 @ 7:00 am – 11:59 pm

This webinar will provide an overview of the constitutional and state law requirements related to student discipline. Listeners will gain an understanding of what are short-term suspensions, long-term suspensions, 365-day suspensions, and expulsions, as well as the due process rights of students under North Caroline student discipline law.

Presented by: McKenna Osborn, Staff Attorney
One-Hour Webinar

Jun
8
Tue
Spring Webinars – Replay June 8-9
Jun 8 @ 7:00 am – Jun 9 @ 11:59 pm

Sign up today to access one or all of the recorded videos aired this spring. Videos are approximately one hour and cost $250 per school system. Access is available from 7 a.m. June 8th until 11:59 p.m. June 9th.

To register for each webinar, click the title of interest below and then click the green registration button.

  • Addressing Students’ Mental Health Needs
    This video will discuss how LEAs in North Carolina can address the mental health needs of students through compliance with the State Board of Education’s recently adopted SchoolBased Mental Health Initiative policy. 
  • NC Open Meetings Law
    Compliance with the Open Meetings Law provides for transparency and accountability and is vital to good school board governance. This webinar will provide an overview of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law as it applies to local school board members and official school board meetings. Topics will include types of meetings, notice requirements, open versus closed sessions, meeting minutes, public access and attendance, electronic and remote meetings, and other current and emerging issues related to legally compliant school board meetings.
  • Student Law Discipline Basics
    This webinar will provide an overview of the constitutional and state law requirements related to student discipline. Listeners will gain an understanding of what are short-term suspensions, long-term suspensions, 365-day suspensions, and expulsions, as well as the due process rights of students under North Caroline student discipline law.
  • The Reach of North Carolina’s Public Records Law
    Are communications sent via private electronic devices and accounts public records? Can board members be held personally liable for failing to comply with the public records law? What questions should board members ask to assess their district’s compliance with the law? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, make plans to attend this webinar for a primer on North Carolina’s public records law. 
  • Title IX and Board Policy: An Orientation Guide
    After the Department of Education issued new regulations on Title IX sexual harassment in May 2020, school systems across the country were left scrambling to put policies and procedures in place to implement the new requirements. This webinar explains why NCSBA issued six new policies on discrimination, harassment, and bullying in July 2020 and what’s included in those new policies. Most importantly, the webinar will give you a working knowledge of the two new Title IX sexual harassment policies and what happens next after your school system receives a report or complaint of sexual harassment. 
  • Understanding Your Legal Duties as Board Chair
    The chair of a local board of education is responsible for presiding over meetings of the board, but what other duties does the chair have? Join this webinar for an overview of how board meetings are to be organized, scheduling and calling meetings, setting agendas, permissible reasons for closed session, and other essential topics.

For questions, please contact Chadae Lewis, membership services assistant, at clewis@ncsba.org or 919-747-6675.

Jun
14
Mon
Summer Leadership Seminars and Policy Conference @ Courtyard Marriott Carolina Beach
Jun 14 @ 8:00 am – Jun 18 @ 12:30 pm

The 2021 NCSBA Summer Leadership Seminars and Policy Conference is back in person! The dates are June 14-18 at the Courtyard Marriott in Carolina Beach. Take a look at our Policy Conference draft agenda. Details regarding daily programming for the Summer Leadership Seminars is forthcoming.

Your health and well-being are our number one priority. On May 14, Governor Cooper announced that the state will remove its indoor mask mandate for most large group events, effective immediately. Additionally, the state will lift all mass gathering limits and social distancing requirements. In response to this announcement, NCSBA is pleased to expand the Summer Leadership/Policy Conference sessions to a maximum capacity of 90 attendees. With this in mind, the following protocols will be implemented for the daily seminars.

  • The room will be set in crescent rounds of six per table. Participants will not be socially distanced.
  • Unvaccinated participants are strongly encouraged to wear a mask.
  • Vaccinated individuals are encouraged but not required to wear a mask.
  • Hand sanitizer and masks will be available at the registration table.
  • If you start to feel sick or display COVID-19 symptoms, you will not be permitted to attend any conference activities or come within six feet of others. Please remain in your hotel room and notify Angela Hunter, ahunter@ncsba.org, during the Summer Leadership Seminars or Nancy Black,  nblack@ncsba.org, during the Policy Conference.

Registration
Conference pre-registration is required. The cost per day is $199 and includes materials, continental breakfast, and mid-morning break. Registrations are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Hotel
NCSBA has secured a limited block of rooms at the Courtyard Marriott at the rate of $229 per night plus tax. Reservations must be initiated through NCSBA if you would like to stay at the Courtyard Marriott. During the registration process, simply select the option for the day registration plus hotel stay.

Registered Participants
Any registered participant uncomfortable attending the meetings at full capacity may cancel conference registration for a full refund. Registration cancellations must be received on or before 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 20, by emailing Chadae Lewis at clewis@ncsba.org.

Individuals on the Waitlist
Members currently on the waitlist will be notified by email to determine if they still want to attend the conference as seats become available. Please note that currently there are more individuals on the waitlist than the room can accommodate.

Hotel Guidelines

Participants staying at the Courtyard Marriott receive one free parking space per guest room. Offsite participants or guest rooms that have more than one vehicle must park in public parking spaces. Note that fees apply for the public parking spaces.

The entire hotel, including balconies, is smoke free. Inquire at the front desk for the designated smoking areas. The hotel is not a pet-friendly property.

Additional resources 

For more information about this event, call us at 919-841-4040.

Jun
22
Tue
Spring Webinars – Replay June 22-23
Jun 22 @ 7:00 am – Jun 23 @ 11:59 pm

Sign up today to access one or all of the recorded videos aired this spring. Videos are approximately one hour and cost $250 per school system. Access is available from 7 a.m. June 22nd until 11:59 p.m. June 23rd.

To register for each webinar, click the title of interest below and then click the green registration button.

  • Addressing Students’ Mental Health Needs
    This video will discuss how LEAs in North Carolina can address the mental health needs of students through compliance with the State Board of Education’s recently adopted SchoolBased Mental Health Initiative policy.

  • NC Open Meetings Law
    Compliance with the Open Meetings Law provides for transparency and accountability and is vital to good school board governance. This webinar will provide an overview of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law as it applies to local school board members and official school board meetings. Topics will include types of meetings, notice requirements, open versus closed sessions, meeting minutes, public access and attendance, electronic and remote meetings, and other current and emerging issues related to legally compliant school board meetings.
  • Student Law Discipline Basics
    This webinar will provide an overview of the constitutional and state law requirements related to student discipline. Listeners will gain an understanding of what are short-term suspensions, long-term suspensions, 365-day suspensions, and expulsions, as well as the due process rights of students under North Caroline student discipline law.
  • The Reach of North Carolina’s Public Records Law
    Are communications sent via private electronic devices and accounts public records? Can board members be held personally liable for failing to comply with the public records law? What questions should board members ask to assess their district’s compliance with the law? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, make plans to attend this webinar for a primer on North Carolina’s public records law.

  • Title IX and Board Policy: An Orientation Guide
    After the Department of Education issued new regulations on Title IX sexual harassment in May 2020, school systems across the country were left scrambling to put policies and procedures in place to implement the new requirements. This webinar explains why NCSBA issued six new policies on discrimination, harassment, and bullying in July 2020 and what’s included in those new policies. Most importantly, the webinar will give you a working knowledge of the two new Title IX sexual harassment policies and what happens next after your school system receives a report or complaint of sexual harassment. 
  • Understanding Your Legal Duties as Board Chair
    The chair of a local board of education is responsible for presiding over meetings of the board, but what other duties does the chair have? Join this webinar for an overview of how board meetings are to be organized, scheduling and calling meetings, setting agendas, permissible reasons for closed session, and other essential topics.

For questions, please contact Chadae Lewis, membership services assistant, at clewis@ncsba.org or 919-747-6675.

Aug
17
Tue
Back to School Videos
Aug 17 – Aug 20 all-day

NCSBA’s back-to-school legal webinars are designed to help school system staff prepare for the new year by providing the latest information on issues that affect them. Each webinar is just $250 per school system, making it affordable and convenient to support your staff with excellent professional development.

  • Student Discipline Law: An Overview of State Policy and Procedural Rights (replay from May 2021), available August 17 and 19
    This webinar will provide an overview of the constitutional and state law requirements related to student discipline, focusing exclusively on discipline for on-campus misconduct. Listeners will gain an understanding of short-term suspensions, long-term suspensions, 365-day suspensions, and expulsions, as well as the due process rights of students under North Carolina student discipline law. Video runtime is 55 minutes. Use the links below to register for the desired date.

    Student Discipline Law – August 17
    Student Discipline Law – August 19

  • Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social Media:  A Guide for School Employees, available August 18 and 20
    Using stories ripped from the headlines, this webinar highlights the potential pitfalls associated with communicating on social media and provides guidelines for employees to assess their own online behavior.  The target audience is primarily teachers and other instructional employees, but school administrators and board members also can benefit from this essential information. Video runtime is approximately one hour. Use the links below to register for the desired date.

    Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social Media – August 18
    Avoiding the Pitfalls of Social Media – August 20

Jan
27
Thu
Students’ Religious Rights Webinar
Jan 27 @ 7:00 am – 11:59 pm

Does a student have a First Amendment right to pray at school? Can a student be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Do students have a right to organize extracurricular religious clubs? This webinar will answer these and other questions related to the extent of a student’s right to engage in religious speech and activity at school.

Presenter: Janine Murphy, Assistant Legal Counsel
Runtime: 1 hour

The registrant will receive email instructions for accessing the webinar and accompanying handouts. Please share this information with anyone in your school system who may benefit from the training. Participants will have unlimited access to the webinar between 7 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on January 27.

Feb
24
Thu
Sixty Minutes on Minutes Webinar
Feb 24 @ 7:00 am – 11:59 pm

What is the difference between “full and accurate” minutes required for regular meetings and closed sessions, and the “general account” required for closed sessions? What should be included in each? What other statutory requirements pertain to minutes? When are minutes “official” and when do they become public records? Get the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive review of the legal requirements related to minutes.

Presenter: Kathy Boyd, Senior Staff Attorney
Runtime: 1 hour

The registrant will receive email instructions for accessing the webinar and accompanying handouts. Please share this information with anyone in your school system who may benefit from the training. Participants will have unlimited access to the webinar between 7 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on February 24.

Mar
1
Tue
March Video Library @ Videos
Mar 1 – Mar 31 all-day

Our library of training videos for March is below. Each video is one hour. The cost is $250 per teaching hour and includes access for all board members and staff in your school district. Click the desired date below the title/description to register.

Legal: Public Records – $250
Are communications sent via private electronic devices and accounts public records? Can board members be held personally liable for failing to comply with the public records law? What questions should board members ask to assess their district’s compliance with the law? If you don’t know the answer to these questions, make plans to attend this webinar for a primer on North Carolina’s public records law.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: Common Liability Issues for School Boards – $250
Learn about the liability issues facing school boards.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: Understanding Your Legal Duties as Board Chair – $250
The chair of a local board of education is responsible for presiding over meetings of the board, but what other duties does the chair have? Join this webinar for an overview of how board meetings are to be organized, scheduling and calling meetings, setting agendas, permissible reasons for closed session, and other essential topics.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: NC Open Meetings Law for School Board Members– $250                     
Compliance with the Open Meetings Law provides for transparency and accountability and is vital to good school board governance. This webinar will provide an overview of the North Carolina Open Meetings Law as it applies to local school board members and official school board meetings. Topics will include types of meetings, notice requirements, open versus closed sessions, meeting minutes, public access and attendance, electronic and remote meetings, and other current and emerging issues related to legally compliant school board meetings.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: Students’ Religious Rights– $250                     
Does a student have a First Amendment right to pray at school? Can a student be required to recite the Pledge of Allegiance? Do students have a right to organize extracurricular religious clubs? This webinar will answer these and other questions related to the extent of a student’s right to engage in religious speech and activity at school.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: Sixty Minutes on Minutes– $250
What is the difference between “full and accurate” minutes required for regular meetings and closed sessions, and the “general account” required for closed sessions? What should be included in each? What other statutory requirements pertain to minutes? When are minutes “official” and when do they become public records? Get the answers to these questions and more in this comprehensive review of the legal requirements related to minutes.
Click here to purchase for March 7-9

Legal: Ethics for Local Board Members (Whole-Board Version) – $500, available March 28-30
In this two-hour webinar, we will discuss the ethical standards established by state law for school board members. The webinar will also include a discussion of state and federal laws related to conflicts of interest pertaining to making and administering contracts and possible legal consequences when these laws are violated. Finally, this webinar will review other well-established legal duties and responsibilities of school board members.
Click here to purchase for March 28-30

Finance: Understanding Basic School Budget Finance – $250
This webinar will help school board members better understand the revenue sources of K-12 school funding, how state funds are allotted to LEAs, and the budget process at the state and local level.
Click here to purchase for March 16-18

Finance: Pension Spiking and QEBA – $250
As a board, you are responsible for considering pension spiking and QEBA in your finance planning. Join this webinar to make sure you have a plan for the future of all your employees.
Click here to purchase for March 16-18

Finance: LEA & Charter School Funding – $250
North Carolina public school funding is discussed during this one-hour video where you will understand the relationship between LEAs and charter schools.
Click here to purchase for March 16-18

Governance: Governing the System Through Board Policy – $250
School boards are tasked with creating the vision, mission, and goals of a district and then adopting policies that help staff bring the vision to life. During this webinar, you will explore the board’s role in policy.
Click here to purchase for March 22-24

Governance: Your Role as a Legislative Advocate – $250
Explore your advocacy role at the state level during this one-hour video.
Click here to purchase for March 22-24

Mar
24
Thu
Student Search and Seizure Webinar
Mar 24 @ 7:00 am – 11:59 pm

In recent months, many school systems have experienced a worrisome increase in the number of firearms found on school grounds and school buses. Under what circumstances may school officials search a student’s person, personal belongings, or vehicle to locate firearms or other weapons? When may school officials conduct locker searches or use metal detectors? To what extent are school officials allowed to search a student suspected of possessing illegal drugs or other contraband? This webinar will discuss the Fourth Amendment standards that apply when searches are required in order to maintain a safe and orderly school environment.

Presenter: Janine Murphy, NCSBA Assistant Legal Counsel
Runtime: 1 hour

The registrant will receive email instructions for accessing the webinar and accompanying handouts. Please share this information with anyone in your school system who may benefit from the training. Participants will have unlimited access to the webinar between 7 a.m. and 11:59 p.m. on March 24.

North Carolina School Boards AssociationCalendar