School & Education
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Practice Overview
Drummond Woodsum represents both public and private schools throughout Maine and New Hampshire. Our education attorneys and consultants provide advice and representation to schools and school boards in all areas of the law including student rights, policy analysis, collective bargaining, computer and technology, employment, employee benefits, freedom of access issues, special education and litigation. The group utilizes a team approach in representing its clients to ensure that someone with appropriate expertise is always available to respond to phone calls and to attend meetings and hearings whenever and wherever necessary.
School Employment
Drummond Woodsum attorneys represent school districts in both Maine and New Hampshire on all aspects of employment law. We advise schools on complex issues related to such federal laws as the Family Medical Leave Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Civil Rights Act of 1964, and their state counterparts. We help our school clients avoid liability through sound advice, the analysis and development of effective school policies, and seminars for school boards and administrators. We routinely assist clients with difficult employee termination and discrimination issues, and when matters cannot otherwise be resolved we represent schools in mediation, arbitration, court litigation, and administrative hearings before state and local agencies.
Employee Benefits
Drummond Woodsum provides a full range of services related to employee benefits for school employees. Our attorneys advise school clients with respect to deferred compensation plans, such as 403(b) plans, 457 plans, the Maine State Retirement System, and Section 218 Agreements. Our attorneys also have extensive experience advising clients with regard to Social Security and Medicare, health insurance, cafeteria plans, COBRA, HIPAA and disability plans.
Collective Bargaining
Drummond Woodsum represents school districts in both Maine and New Hampshire in all aspects of collective bargaining with unionized staff. Our attorneys and consultants act as chief negotiators at the bargaining table for clients or provide advice for clients when representation at the bargaining table is not necessary. We also represent our school clients in all statutory dispute resolution procedures, state labor relations board proceedings, and grievance arbitrations, in addition to providing advice on effective strategies to counter union organizational campaigns.
Special Education
Special education law is a tapestry of federal and state laws and regulations that were enacted to prohibit discrimination against children with special needs and to ensure that all children receive a free and appropriate public education. Drummond Woodsum attorneys and consultants have vast experience in navigating federal and state special education laws, advising schools on legal issues relating to the delivery of special education services to public school students, and representing schools in disputes that arise under state and federal special education laws. Our attorneys and consultants are also well-positioned to provide on-going case consultation services, including IEP Team facilitation, and to help school districts effectively manage difficult cases and, whenever possible, avoid costly litigation.
Disability Law
Drummond Woodsum attorneys advise many public and private sector clients on the scope of their duties toward students, employees and other persons with disabilities, including the provision of reasonable accommodations, building accessibility issues, and representation in legal disputes arising under the ADA, Section 504, state and federal special education laws, and state human rights acts.
Public Finance
Drummond Woodsum’s public finance law team serves as bond counsel and issuer’s counsel on behalf of municipalities, school districts, counties, and other governmental entities. We have extensive experience with many aspects of public finance law including tax exempt bonds, tax credit bonds, TRANs and lease purchase agreements. More generally, we advise our clients on a wide range of financial and business matters, including local budget authorization, tax assessment, education funding, reorganization, employee benefits, public bidding and procurement. We have extensive experience representing the public owner in all aspects of construction projects.
School Policy Analysis
Drummond Woodsum attorneys and consultants assist school districts with drafting and analyzing school board policies, administrative procedures, school rules and student and staff handbooks to ensure compliance with legal requirements and best practices.
School Computer & Technology Law
Drummond Woodsum advises school units on a wide variety of issues relating to computer technology and use of smart phones, cell phones and other devices, including acceptable use policies for students and employees, investigation of misuse of the internet by students and employees, and contracts with software and hardware vendors and internet service providers.
Higher Education Law
Drummond Woodsum attorneys serve as General Counsel and Special Counsel to colleges and universities throughout the United States. Representation includes providing legal counsel and trial services in the areas of faculty tenure, employment law, student discipline, employment discrimination, public accommodation discrimination, disability rights, First Amendment issues, real estate, finance, planned giving, torts and insurance, and risk management.
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School & Education
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August 15, 2024
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 57 Drummond Woodsum Attorneys
March 04, 2024
Justin Cary Continues His Work on AI
December 04, 2023
Drummond Woodsum Relocates Lebanon Office to Downtown Area
November 06, 2023
Drummond Woodsum Named Among Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers for 2024
April 17, 2023
Nick Blei Runs in the 127th Boston Marathon
February 02, 2023
Bill would extend eligibility for special education services in Maine
August 22, 2022
Forty Eight Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
January 06, 2022
Drummond Woodsum Announces New Shareholders and Senior Consultants
November 18, 2021
Drummond Woodsum Named Among Best Law Firms by Best Lawyers for 2022
November 15, 2021
Drummond Woodsum Grows to be the Second Largest Law Firm in Maine
September 10, 2021
Eight Attorneys Named to Best Lawyers 2022 “Lawyer of the Year”
August 19, 2021
Fifty Four Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers
July 15, 2021
Court Rules Masks Are Not Restraints
January 06, 2020
Drummond Woodsum Announces Four New Shareholders
November 11, 2019
New England Super Lawyers Recognizes 29 Drummond Woodsum Attorneys
October 09, 2019
New State Law Sharply Expands FMLA For New Hampshire Schools
October 01, 2019
Hot Topics in School Policy
January 01, 2019
The FAPE Standard Stays Put
January 01, 2019
Affordable Care Act Update
January 01, 2019
Legislature Considers Ban on E-Cigarette Possession at School
October 01, 2018
Time to Update Your Local Wellness Policy
October 01, 2018
The Janus Decision: the End of Agency and Fair Share Fees
October 01, 2018
New Law Requires Reports of Educator Investigations
October 01, 2018
Understanding ‘Work to Rule’
October 01, 2018
First Circuit Expands FAPE Obligation to Age 22
August 16, 2018
Best Lawyers in America Recognizes 33 Drummond Woodsum Attorneys
July 01, 2018
Guidance from DOE on Videos as Education Records
July 01, 2018
Hanging on Every Word: Google Vault and Draft Emails
July 01, 2018
After-Market Door Devices Can Risk Fire Safety
June 01, 2018
Managing the Public’s Use of School Unit Social Media
June 01, 2018
School Reorganization, Anyone? Regionalization Redux
June 01, 2018
Are You Negotiating Ed Policy?
June 01, 2018
DOE Steps Back from Apparent FAPE Expansion
June 01, 2018
Special Education Student Removal Litigation on the Rise
June 01, 2018
Responding to Student Threats and Imposing Discipline
December 12, 2017
Introducing Drummond Woodsum’s Newest Shareholders and Senior Consultant
September 06, 2016
Allen Kropp Joins Drummond Woodsum’s School Law and Higher Education Groups
July 25, 2015
Fate of Sandown Central Still Unclear
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