Legal Lunch Room

Student Discipline

KingSpry Law — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

From off campus conduct and social media posts, to disruption in the classroom and safety issues, student discipline is rarely simple. On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we talk with Wilson Area School District Superintendent Dr. Harrison Bailey, Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Dr. Cosmas Curry and KingSpry education attorney Alyssa Hicks about their perspectives regarding student discipline.

Designed to give a voice to the education community, the Legal Lunch Room is a podcast that looks at the laws that affect Pennsylvania school boards, administrators, teachers and students. The show is a production of the KingSpry Education Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice. For more information about KingSpry, please visit our website at www.kingspry.com.

Our host is Jonathan M. Huerta, Esquire. Steel Pixel Studios are our audio engineers. Our theme music is by Don Loughney, Katherine Riess is our producer, and this episode was researched by Lauren Harrison.

Please help our show by leaving a rating wherever you listen to podcasts. Have a question or suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Promo: Student Discipline

KingSpry Law — Thu, 12 Mar 2026 00:01:00 -0400

From off campus conduct and social media posts, to disruption in the classroom and safety issues, student discipline is rarely simple. On our next episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we talk with Wilson Area School District Superintendent Dr. Harrison Bailey, Stroudsburg Area School District Superintendent Dr. Cosmas Curry and KingSpry education attorney Alyssa Hicks about best practices for student discipline. We hope you’ll tune in.

Legal Lunch Room is a production of the KingSpry Education Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice. For more information about KingSpry, please visit our website at www.kingspry.com

Bus Business

KingSpry Law — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 00:01:00 -0500

Those big yellow school buses may seem like a simple part of the school day, but behind the scenes, school transportation is full of big questions about safety, fairness, and the law. On our next episode of the Legal Lunch Room, Jackie Bartek, Assistant to the Executive Director for Student Services from Colonial IU20, Barbara Hufnagle, Pocono Mountain School District East Transportation liasion and education attorney Shorav Kaushik join us for a deep dive into the issues that shape how we get our students to and from school. We hope you’ll tune in.

Legal Lunch Room is a production of the KingSpry Education Law Practice Group. It is meant to be strictly informational and does not constitute legal advice. Should you have any questions about topics covered on the show, please consult with your local legal counsel. You can also visit our website at www.kingspry.com to find more education law information and resources.

Legal Lunch Room is hosted by education attorney Jonathan Huerta. Kathy Riess is our producer. Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney and research for this episode was by Lauren Harrison. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: Bus Business

KingSpry Law — Wed, 14 Jan 2026 00:01:00 -0500

Those big yellow school buses may seem like a simple part of the school day, but behind the scenes, school transportation is full of big questions about safety, fairness, and the law. On our next episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we dive into the issues that shape how we get our students to and from school. We hope you’ll tune in.

How Supers Make the Tough Calls

KingSpry Law — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0500

Deciding whether or not to cancel school for a snow day is a lot more complicated than most of us might think. On this episode, we welcome superintendents Dr. Braden Hendershot (Bangor Area School District) and Dr. Matthew Link (Northern Lehigh School District) along with education attorney Paige Gross to talk about “How Supers Make the Tough Calls.”

Legal Lunch Room is a production of the KingSpry Education Law Practice Group. It is meant to be informational and does not constitute legal advice. Should you have any questions about the topics covered on the show, please consult with your local legal counsel. You can also visit our website at www.kingspry.com to find more education law information and resources.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney and research for this episode is by Lauren Harrison. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com. Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: How Supers Make the Tough Calls

KingSpry Law — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 00:01:00 -0500

Back to School: Roundtable Discussion of Top Cases

KingSpry Law — Wed, 29 Oct 2025 00:01:00 -0400

To kick off season three, we have invited members of the KingSpry education law team to discuss five of the top cases currently affecting our education community, back-to-school style. From real estate taxes and sunshine law, to graduation requirements and free speech, we are going to touch base on some big issues and their impact!

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: Back to School: Roundtable Discussion of Top Cases

KingSpry Law — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 00:01:00 -0400

School Athletics

KingSpry Law — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:01:00 -0500

From concussion protocols and eligibility disputes to booster clubs and naming rights, school sports are not just about touchdowns and trophies – they are a minefield of legal issues that can impact students, families and schools alike. On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we explore the legal obligations schools have when it comes to student athletics. To coach us through these issues, we’re joined by education attorney Alyssa Hicks and Tom Duffy, Superintendent of Dallas School District. We hope you’ll tune in.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: School Athletics

KingSpry Law — Thu, 06 Feb 2025 00:01:00 -0500

From concussion protocols and eligibility disputes to booster clubs and naming rights, school sports are not just about touchdowns and trophies – they are a minefield of legal issues that can impact students, families and schools alike. On our next episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we’ll explore the legal obligations schools have when it comes to student athletics. We hope you’ll tune in.

Title IX 2024

KingSpry Law — Wed, 20 Nov 2024 00:01:00 -0500

Since its inception in 1972, Title IX has been a cornerstone of protection against sex-based discrimination in federally-funded educational institutions. On this episode, we welcome members of the KingSpry Investigations and Compliance Services Team, Brian Taylor and Taisha Tolliver-Duran, to explore the basics of Title IX, what changes under the latest update to the regulations, and how this evolving law is shaping rights, responsibilities and procedures within our education system. We hope you’ll tune in.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: Title IX 2024

KingSpry Law — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 09:26:04 -0500

Since its inception in 1972, Title IX has been a cornerstone of protection against sex-based discrimination in federally-funded educational institutions. On this episode, we welcome members of the KingSpry Investigations and Compliance Services Team,Brian Taylor and Taisha Tolliver-Duran, to explore the basics of Title IX, what changes occur under the latest update to the regulations, and how this evolving law is shaping rights, responsibilities and procedures within our education system. We hope you’ll tune in.

What It Means to Serve On a School Board, Part Two

KingSpry Law — Wed, 16 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Effective governance is the backbone of any school district, guiding everything from policy-making to community engagement. Whether you’re a board member, educator, or interested community member, understanding the intricacies of school board governance is essential for fostering an environment where students can thrive.

In Part Two of this special conversation, we’ll be talking about the Sunshine Law, transparency, and good advice for new board members with our special guests, Michael Faccinetto of the Bethlehem Area School District, Carol Facchiano of the Parkland School District and KingSpry’s Managing Partner, Jessica Moyer, who serves as solicitor for many of our school district clients. We hope you’ll tune in.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com. Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: What It Means to Serve On a School Board, Part Two

KingSpry Law — Mon, 14 Oct 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Whether you’re a board member, educator, or interested community member, understanding the intricacies of school board governance is essential for fostering an environment where students can thrive.

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we’ll be continuing our conversation with special guests, Michael Faccinetto – school board president of the Bethlehem Area School District, Carol Facchiano - school board president of the Parkland School District and KingSpry’s Managing Partner, Jessica Moyer, who serves as solicitor for many of our school district clients. We hope you’ll tune in.

What It Means to Serve On a School Board, Part One

KingSpry Law — Wed, 18 Sep 2024 00:01:00 -0400

In Part One of this special conversation, we’ll be talking about the roles and responsibilities of school board members with our special guests, Michael Faccinetto of the Bethlehem Area School District, Carol Facchiano of the Parkland School District and KingSpry’s Managing Partner, Jessica Moyer, who serves as solicitor for many of our school district clients. We hope you’ll tune in.

Promo: What It Means to Serve On a School Board, Part One

KingSpry Law — Tue, 17 Sep 2024 09:03:19 -0400

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we’ll be talking about the role and responsibilities of school board members with our special guests, Michael Faccinetto of the Bethlehem Area School District, Carol Facchiano of the Parkland School District and KingSpry’s Managing Partner, Jessica Moyer, who serves as solicitor for many of our school district clients. We hope you’ll tune in.

What’s Happening in Harrisburg: Recap of the Legislative Roundtable with State Representatives Peter Schweyer and Jesse Topper

KingSpry Law — Wed, 05 Jun 2024 00:01:00 -0400

In March, we had the rare opportunity to hear first-hand what’s happening in Harrisburg from the co-chairs of the Pennsylvania House Education Committee, State Representatives Peter Schweyer and Jesse Topper. Over lunch, the two gentlemen shared thoughts and answered questions from our local superintendents and school board presidents. On this special edition of the Legal Lunch Room, we will recap the issues discussed at the event and look at how these two men from opposite sides of the Commonwealth come together to work for Pennsylvania schools. We hope you’ll tune in!

For more information on our special guests and their work with the House Education Committee, please visit https://www.pahouse.com/Schweyer/About/Biography and https://reptopper.com/about.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Additional audio engineering for this episode was by Don Loughney, with research by Jessica Moyer and Kathy Riess. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Be sure to subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: What’s Happening in Harrisburg: Recap of the Legislative Roundtable with State Representatives Peter Schweyer and Jesse Topper

KingSpry Law — Thu, 30 May 2024 00:01:00 -0400

On March 22nd, KingSpry’s Education Law Practice Group welcomed the co-chairs of Pennsylvania’s House Education Committee, State Representative Peter Schweyer and State Representative Jesse Topper, for a legislative roundtable with our local school superintendents and board presidents.

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, we’ll be recapping that conversation with KingSpry Education Chair Kristine Roddick. We hope you’ll tune in.

The Transformative Role of A.I. Within Education

KingSpry Law — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Artificial Intelligence, or AI, is a hot topic for almost every industry these days, including education. What happens when students and teachers want to bring new technology into the classroom? What are the inherent risks with any new technology? Will AI change teaching and learning forever? On our next episode, we dive into the transformative role of artificial intelligence within educational institutions. We hope you’ll tune in!

Be sure to Subscribe to the Legal Lunch ROOM wherever you get your podcasts.

Legal Lunch Room is a production of the KingSpry Education Law Practice Group. It is meant to be strictly informational and does not constitute legal advice. Should you have any questions about topics covered on the show, please consult with your local legal counsel. You can also visit our website at www.kingspry.com to find more education law information and resources.

Our audio engineers are Steel Pixel Studios. Our theme music is by Don Loughney and our research assistant for this episode was Morgan Inman. Have a suggestion for a future episode? Write to us at legallunchroom@kingspry.com.

Promo: The Transformative Role of A.I. Within Education

KingSpry Law — Fri, 22 Mar 2024 00:01:00 -0400

Be sure to Subscribe to the Legal Lunch ROOM wherever you get your podcasts.

Religious Garb for Teachers

KingSpry Law — Wed, 28 Feb 2024 00:01:00 -0500

On November 6, Pennsylvania passed Act 26 of 2023, repealing a section of its Public School Code related to religious attire for teachers and sparking questions about the intersection of personal beliefs and the public learning environment. Employment attorney Liz Kelly and Easton Area School District Superintendent Tracy Piazza will be with us to discuss this new law and its implications for our schools. We hope you will tune in! Be sure to Subscribe to the Legal Lunch ROOM wherever you get your podcasts.

Promo: Religious Garb for Teachers

KingSpry Law — Tue, 20 Feb 2024 13:26:17 -0500

Legal Lunch Room returns in February with a look at Pennsylvania Act 26 of 2023, which repealed a section of its Public School Code related to religious attire for teachers and sparking questions about the intersection of personal beliefs and the public learning environment. Employment attorney Liz Kelly and Easton Area School District Superintendent Tracy Piazza will be with us to discuss this new law and its implications for our schools. We hope you will tune in! Be sure to Subscribe to the Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Best Practices for Special Education Discipline

KingSpry Law — Wed, 25 Oct 2023 11:13:13 -0400

How is disciplining a special education student different? What is involved in the process? Do you need to keep providing services if the student is suspended or expelled? On this episode, Special Education attorneys Rebecca Young and Alyssa Hicks, as well as Salisbury Township School District Director of Special Education Tracey Jacobi will be with us to discuss the intricacies of disciplining special education students.

Promo: Best Practices for Special Education Discipline

KingSpry Law — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 20:24:30 -0400

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, Special Education attorneys Rebecca Young and Alyssa Hicks, as well as Salisbury Township School District Director of Special Education Tracey Jacobi will be with us to discuss the intricacies of disciplining special education students. How is disciplining a special education student different? What is involved in the process? Do you need to keep providing services if the student is suspended or expelled? It should be an informative conversation. We hope you will tune in! be sure to Subscribe to Legal Lunch Room wherever you get your podcasts.

Media Relations for Schools

KingSpry Law — Wed, 30 Aug 2023 03:00:00 -0400

As school leaders strive for transparency, effective communication becomes paramount. But it’s certainly not without challenges. From handling controversial topics to managing social media platforms, to establishing a positive relationship with traditional media outlets, school officials face numerous complexities when it comes to dealing with the media. On this episode of Legal Lunch Room, we’ll be diving into the world of media relations and its impact on schools.

Promo: Media Relations for Schools

KingSpry Law — Wed, 23 Aug 2023 10:40:13 -0400

How Does Family Law Impact the School Community?

KingSpry Law — Wed, 29 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, attorneys Jessica Moyer and Paige Gross of the KingSpry Law Firm, and Jennifer Holman, Superintendent of the Northwestern Lehigh School District, join hosts Jonathan Huerta and Rich Campbell to discuss what happens when schools get caught in the middle of a custody battle. From transportation, residency, and communication, to staff training and court orders, this episode covers what school leaders can do when these issues arise to protect their students and school community.

Promo: How Does Family Law Impact the School Community?

KingSpry Law — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 03:00:00 -0400

Outsourcing School Employees in the Wake of COVID

KingSpry Law — Wed, 15 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500

Since the pandemic, most employers, including school districts, are having a hard time finding workers for open positions. As a result, many school districts are turning to private staffing companies. Historically, schools have used outsourced candidates for noninstructional positions such as bus drivers, food workers, and janitorial workers. However, more and more school districts are using outsourced teachers, including substitute teachers and special education teachers, to educate students. On this episode of the legal lunch room, we take a look at the pros and cons of outsourcing in schools and offer some guidance to school officials looking to take that route.

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, attorneys Avery Smith and Jody Mooney join hosts Rich Campbell and Jonathan Huerta to discuss the effect of outsourcing school employees in the wake of COVID. Also joining us is Tony Pidgeon, Director of HR for Southern Lehigh School District, to discuss some of the practical concerns with school staffing.

Promo: Outsourcing School Employees in the Wake of COVID

KingSpry Law — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 03:00:00 -0500

On our next episode of Legal Lunch Room, employment attorneys Avery Smith and Jody Mooney will be with us to discuss personnel shortages for school districts in the wake of covid-19. What happens if you need temporary workers for a position that is usually part of a bargaining unit? Also joining us will be Anthony Pidgeon, Director of Human Resources for Southern Lehigh School District, to discuss some of the practical concerns with school staffing.

Student Speech and Social Media

KingSpry Law — Wed, 11 Jan 2023 03:00:00 -0500

On this episode of the Legal Lunch Room, school attorneys John Freund and Paige Gross join hosts Rich Campbell and Jonathan Huerta to discuss the effect of social media on student speech, in and out of the classroom, and Dr. Joseph Roy, Superintendent of the Bethlehem Area School District in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania shares some of the ways social media can either disrupt or bring together a school community.

Promo: Student Speech and Social Media

KingSpry Law — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 12:50:28 -0500

On our next episode of the Legal Lunch Room, hosts Rich Campbell and Jonathan Huerta welcome school attorneys John Freund and Paige Gross to discuss the effect of social media on student speech. Also on the program, Bethlehem Superintendent Dr Joseph Roy explains how to encourage positive social media use in a school environment. We hope you’ll tune in.

Promo: Legal Lunch Room

KingSpry Law — Wed, 04 Jan 2023 12:38:38 -0500