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Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Attorney Interviews with WGBH on Massachusetts Data Privacy Laws
Felicia Vasudevan, an attorney with Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, was interviewed alongside two other attorneys on the topic of student data privacy laws. The article, which was published in September, was titled “Massachusetts Student Data Privacy Laws Need an Update Say Legislators, Educators Pushing New Bill”. Ms. Vasudevan points out that student data privacy is extremely broad under the current laws, and stresses that this bill will give school districts the backing they need for why they’re requesting these data privacy protections. The article also says, “Attorney Felicia Vasudevan says the provision actually gives students and schools the power to hold companies to a higher standard. ‘If we’re thinking about ways to incentivize and make sure that vendors are adhering to these obligations, it adds teeth,’ Vasudevan said.”
Attorney Vasudevan was chosen to be interviewed by WBGH as a result of her participation on an expert panel alongside State Representatives Kate Lipper-Garabedian and Jeff Roy. The panel, titled “Legislative Briefing on H127, An Act Relative to Student and Educator Data Privacy”, discussed how crucial it is that Massachusetts update their laws to acknowledge the digitalization of student and educator data. During the session, they point out that over the last decade, 43 states have already updated their laws to reflect this and how the COVID-19 pandemic made this step even more necessary for students and educators. Throughout the panel, the experts go into detail on what student privacy laws currently are, and what the bill could do to keep everyone safe.
Ms. Vasudevan is an attorney in the firm’s Education Law and Special Education Law Groups, working in regular and special education issues. She represents school districts in all aspects of special education litigation, from administrative hearings at the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) through all levels of judicial appeal. She represents school districts in matters of student discipline, civil rights issues, collective bargaining, public procurement, and employment issues. Ms. Vasudevan presents workshops to both client groups and at state conferences such as the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE). These workshops are on a variety of relevant education issues such as conducting investigations, evaluations, special education, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, state and federal student record regulations, bullying, and civil rights laws. Ms. Vasudevan received her Bachelor’s Degree from Stanford University, with a major in Public Policy and her Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School. Prior to law school, she taught high school mathematics for two years in San Jose, California, as part of Teach for America, and trained the incoming Teach for America Corps Members at Teach for America’s Summer Institute.
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP Partner Prevails in U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit
Attorney Felicia Vasudevan, a partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, received a favorable decision on behalf of her client, Marshfield Public Schools. The Plaintiff appealed the district court’s judgement that upheld a decision of the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals (“BSEA”). However, as the notice was filed more than 30 days after entry, the First Circuit ultimately dismissed the appeal for being untimely. The Plaintiff also appealed the district court’s order, denying her motion to vacate. Read More
New Features of Public Participation at School Committee Meetings
Following our Alert from March 16, 2023, Civility is Dead – The Supreme Court Rules Municipal Control of Public Speak Limited to Reasonable Time/Place/Manner Restrictions, which discussed the holding to the Supreme Judicial Court’s decision in Barron v. Kolenda and the Town of Southborough (SJC-13284), we promised to bring you more detailed guidance on developing a Public Speak policy for your public body or municipality. The Barron case involved a constitutional challenge to the Town of Southborough’s public comment policy, which attempted to impose a code of civility on members of the public who participated in public comment before public bodies. In Barron, the court interpreted the state constitution to mean that public bodies may request, but not require, that public commentators be respectful and courteous. Instead, a public body may set restrictions on reasonable time, place, and manner comments to ensure that the meeting retains an orderly and peaceable manner.

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