News
Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane Partner Selected as President of The Wheeler School Board of Trustees
The Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island recently selected an alumna from the class of 1986 as President of its Board of Trustees. Alisia St. Florian is the first alumna to serve as President since 1982. Prior to becoming President, Mrs. St. Florian has been a member of the Wheeler Board for four years, chairing the Hamilton School Committee and serving as Vice President.
“I think of Wheeler as the place I grew up,” said St. Florian. “I am so proud to be serving as President of the Board of Trustees. This school and community has meant and continues to mean so much to me.”
The Wheeler school was founded in 1889 as the Mary C. Wheeler School in Providence, Rhode Island. Upon the death of Mary C. Wheeler in 1920, the Wheeler School Board of Trustees was formed. The Board of Trustees helps further The Wheeler School’s Mission “To Learn Our Powers and Be Answerable For Their Use” and support the vision and strategic plan of the school. St. Florian began her role as President on July 1, 2019.
St. Florian is a Partner at Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane, LLP, and is a member of the firm’s Special Education Law Group, representing school districts in all aspects of special education litigation, from administrative hearings at the Massachusetts Bureau of Special Education Appeals (BSEA) through to all levels of judicial appeal. In addition, St. Florian frequently presents workshops on issues regarding special education, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, state and federal student record regulations, bullying, and civil rights laws both to client groups and at state conferences including at the Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE).
St. Florian was a speaker at the LRP School Law Conference in West Palm Beach, FL in January 2018 and in Savannah, GA on January 2017, and is a frequent contributor to special education articles published by LRP. She has been appointed as a Hearing Officer for the Board of Bar Overseers for the 2019-2021 Term. In addition, St. Florian co-founded and has co-chaired the Massachusetts Bar Association Education Law Group. She is a past Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Bar Association Juvenile and Child Welfare Section Counsel.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ISSUES REVISED TITLE IX REGULATIONS
On April 19, 2024, the United States Department of Education (“DOE”) issued final regulations for Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (“Title IX”). Title IX prohibits discrimination based on sex in education programs or activities receiving federal financial assistance. The new regulations go into effect on August 1, 2024, so school districts are encouraged to review their policies and procedures and provide staff training on these new regulations as soon as possible. The final regulations continue to list specific elements that must be included in any policy, such as range of disciplinary actions, standards of evidence, and procedures. The DOE has provided template policies here: https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/resource-nondiscrimination-policies.pdf and Murphy, Hesse, Toomey & Lehane will be creating model policies and notice letters as well.
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