On January 15, 2013, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri granted a motion to dismiss filed by MGO attorneys Ernie Trakas and Betsey Helfrich on behalf of firm client Phelps County Bank (“PCB”). The case, Steelman v. Phelps Co. Bank,...
Published by MoASBO, February 2013 Imagine the following scenario: a student makes a claim that he has been sexually harassed by another student in your district. Per Board of Education policy, you follow grievance procedures and after investigating, determine that...
Published by MARE, May 2012 The right of parents to review their children’s educational records is an important right protected by Missouri and federal law. However, sometimes disputes arise regarding who is considered a “parent” that holds this right. This article...
We are excited to announce Tom Mickes and Betsey Helfrich will be presenting at the NSBA Council of School Attorneys' 2012 School Law Practice Seminar. They will be speaking on the Children's Internet Protection Act and other First Amendment concerns. The seminar is...
Published by MoASBO, December 2011 Under Missouri’s Sunshine Law, a vote by a Board of Education to hire, fire, discipline, or promote an employee must be made available to the public within seventy-two hours after the closed meeting in which such action occurred. ...
Published by MoASBO, September 2011 In May 2011, the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District upheld the Carthage R-IX Board of Education’s decision to terminate the District’s Director of its Parents as Teachers Program for immoral conduct. In the case of Homa...
Tom Mickes and Betsey Helfrich successfully represented the Carthage R-IX School District in an appeal of a teacher termination proceeding before the Missouri Court of Appeals, Southern District. After a hearing before the District’s Board of Education, the Board...
After a hearing before the School District’s Board of Education, the Board of a Mid-Missouri School District terminated three tenured teachers for immoral conduct. The teachers appealed the matter to circuit court and concurrently filed suit in the United States...
Natalie Hoernschemeyer and Betsey Helfrich of the firm’s education department successfully represented a Missouri school district before the Missouri Court of Appeals. After a hearing before the district’s Board of Education, the Board terminated three tenured...
Published by MOASBO, October 2010 Release of Personally Identifiable Student Information in the Face of an Emergency The chance of a man-made or natural emergency occurring at your school is slight. However, it is imperative to take steps now to be prepared to respond...
