In This Issue:

Illinois School Districts’ Tort Liability for Student-on-Student Violence: Columbine Revisited
In the wake of the tragedy at Columbine, principals, administrators, school board members and parents around the state have questioned how they can make their local schools safer to attend.

Hearsay Ruling Complicates Disciplinary Hearings
Educators promoting zero tolerance disciplinary policies should be aware of Colquitt v. Rich Township High School District No. 227, 298 Ill. App. 3d 856, 699 N.E.2d 1109 (1st Dist. 1998).

School Districts’ Early Retirement Policy Violates Age Discrimination and Employment Act (“ADEA”)
Solon v. Gary Community Sch. Corp., 180 F.3d 844 (7th Cir. 1999). A school district has no duty to offer early retirement incentives to its employees. However, once it elects to do so, those benefits must be made available on non-discriminatory terms just like any other fringe benefit.

New School Law Group Member
Have you met Kathryn Vander Broek, the newest member of the Chicago school law group? Kathy is an attorney and a licensed clinical social worker who most recently worked with the Circuit Court of Cook County Juvenile Justice and Child Protection Resource Section.

Rockford Public School District
We are pleased to announce that Tony Ficarelli as chief spokesperson and Ellen Lynch, Board of Education attorney, were successful in negotiating and completing negotiations with the Rockford Education Association on behalf of the Rockford Public School District, the second largest school district in the state of Illinois.

Millennium Reminder
Pursuant to Public Act 90-688, School Districts must have in place by January 1, 2000, a written investment policy with detail and complexity appropriate to the nature, purpose and amount of the funds invested and structured to pay obligations as they come due.

This newsletter has been prepared by Hinshaw & Culbertson LLP to provide information on recent legal developments of interest to our readers. It is not intended to provide legal advice for a specific situation or to create an attorney-client relationship.