Dear Readers of The Extra Mile:

Thank you to all who tuned in to attend our virtual The Year in Review: Highlights and Lowlights of Illinois School Law. Your participation was phenomenal, and your astute questions put our Stump-the-Lawyer panelists to the test. We hope you enjoyed the seminar and found it a helpful resource as you navigate the increasingly complex labyrinth that is school law.

This month’s edition of The Extra Mile covers new legislation clarifying the Health Care Right of Conscience Act, ISBE's new emergency rules concerning schools' recognition status, a new OSHA emergency temporary standard, and insurance coverage for sex abuse claims against schools.

Governor Pritzker signs SB 1169 into Law, Clarifying the Health Care Right of Conscience Act

The amendment to the HCRCA clarifies that workplace measures intended to prevent the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19—including mask and vaccine/testing mandates—are not a violation of the Act. Read more

On October 28, 2021, ISBE issued emergency rules revising the public and nonpublic school recognition process. On the same day, ISBE changed the status of every school or district previously on its probationary/nonrecognized list (due to their failure to follow the mask mandate) to “Fully Recognized.” We understand ISBE considers it a “reset” and will continue its enforcement efforts under the newly published rules. Read more

OSHA Issues Emergency Temporary Standard on Vaccination and Testing 

On Friday, OSHA’s Emergency Temporary Standard on Vaccination and Testing became effective, though a federal appellate court issued a stay of the ETS over the weekend. Read more

An appellate court determined that a school’s insurance policy did not cover a complaint alleging that a staff member sexually abused a former student because the claims were similar to other claims made before the coverage date. Read more

Jeff Goelitz will present "Social Media and Employee Discipline" as part of a panel at the Illinois Public Sector Labor Relations Law Conference at Chicago-Kent Law School on December 2.

Steve Richart will present on FOIA as it pertains to educational support professionals in a breakout session at IASBO's 2021 SupportCon on December 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Schaumburg. Click here to register.