SPED 101 for Board Members

Presenters: KSB School Law Attorneys Tyler Coverdale & Sara Hento

Thursday, 10:30 to 11:20 a.m. in Rooms 11-12

This session offers school board members a high-level overview of how special education works in schools. Learn the legal foundations, the roles of staff and families, and what IEPs are (and aren’t). This session equips you with the language (FAPE! IEP! PPWN! FERPA!) to better understand an area of law schools deal with every day—without needing to become an expert.

Pain in the App, v. 3.0

Presenters: KSB School Law Attorneys Tyler Coverdale & Sara Hento

Thursday, 11:30 to 12:20 p.m. in Rooms 11-12

KSB is back for another year to discuss digital citizenship! Come join the KSB attorneys for the latest and greatest in legal and practical developments around social media, technology, cell phones and other key topics for administrators and board members

S.D. Open Meetings Laws and Practical Tips

Presenters: Kaufman Law Office Attorney Gerry Kaufman, Churchill, Manolis, Freeman & Burns Law Office, L.L.C. Attorney Rodney Freeman, Jr. and Lynn, Jackson, Schultz & Lebrun Law Office Attorney Sam Kerr

Thursday, 3:00 p.m. to 3:50 p.m. in Rooms 13-14

The 2025 SD Legislature amended the SD Open Meetings Law. Learn from three experienced school law attorneys about the current open meetings laws, the changes to the law which took effect on July 1, 2025, what the Open Meetings Commission has ruled in recent cases, and how to be in compliance with the law. This should be a “must-attend” session for all new and veteran school board members, superintendents and business managers.

Unilateral 45-Day Placements: A Deep Dive Session

Presenter: Ratwik, Roszak & Maloney, P.A. Shareholder Christian Shafer

Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 9:50 a.m. in Rooms 8-9-10

The unilateral 45-day placement is an often misunderstood tool school districts can use to respond to certain significant behaviors by IDEA eligible students. From determining whether a student’s conduct authorizes the school to implement a unilateral placement to the required procedure, this presentation will explore the legal ins and outs of the 45-day placement process. An experienced school attorney will guide attendees through recent legal updates, practical considerations, and nuances that may make the difference if a unilateral placement is challenged.