Personnel and Human Resources
We recognize that employment decisions in education are high-stakes, highly regulated, time-sensitive, and frequently subject to public and media scrutiny. Our attorneys provide school districts with comprehensive, practical, and legally defensible solutions that ensure compliance with federal and state law, as well as local requirements governed by board policy, employee handbooks, and collective bargaining agreements. We advise districts on a full spectrum of employment laws and regulations, including Ohio Revised Code provisions governing school employment, the Ohio Civil Rights Act and Titles VI, VII, and IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA), and public sector due process and constitutional considerations. We also represent districts before state and federal enforcement agencies, including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and the State Employment Relations Board (SERB).
Our team provides proactive guidance and risk management by reviewing district human resources practices, identifying potential legal and operational vulnerabilities, recommending improvements, and helping districts stay ahead of evolving laws and regulations impacting education. From pre-hiring through separation, we advise boards and administrators on all aspects of the employee lifecycle. This includes lawful, defensible hiring, staffing, and onboarding practices – such as job postings, position descriptions, interview and selection procedures, background checks, licensure compliance, employment contracts, offers of employment, and onboarding documentation – designed to attract and retain high-quality personnel while minimizing legal exposure.
We support districts in contract administration, performance management, and employee evaluations, including teacher, administrator, and support staff contracts and limited and continuing contract decisions. Our attorneys ensure that all actions comply with Ohio law, board policy, and applicable collective bargaining agreements, while providing board-level guidance and behind-the-scenes strategy to ensure decisions are informed, consistent, and legally defensible.
When sensitive personnel matters arise, we guide districts through discipline, performance improvement, and termination processes, including progressive discipline strategies, performance improvement plans, employee misconduct investigations, suspensions, terminations, resignations, and separation or settlement agreements. We assist in preparing legally required notices, documentation, and decision records, and advise on appeals and related processes. Additionally, we provide professional training for administrators and staff to promote lawful, equitable, and effective HR practices, helping districts manage human capital proactively, mitigate risk, and maintain operational stability while safeguarding public trust.