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    WNY Law Conference
         August 6, 2025

WNY Law Conference - Power Point Presentations

Keynote Presentation: VENETIAN ROOM

Time: 8:55-9:40am

Presenter: Jeff Mongelli, NYSSBA General Counsel

Topic: Hot Topics Overview

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Cracker Barrel Conversation:

Time: 9:45-10:30am

 

A roundtable dialogue around various legal topics with education impacts from a state-side and local perspective.

Facilitator: Karl Kristoff, General Counsel, Orleans-Niagara BOCES

 

NYSSBA General Counsel: Jeff Mongelli, Esq.

 

NYSED Asst. Commissioner: Dan Morton-Bentley, Esq.

 

E-NSSA President/Superintendent - Grand Island CSD: Dr. Brian Graham

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Session 1: 

Time: 10:35-11:30am BELLA ROOM

Presenters:  Melissa Kester, Esq., (Orleans-Niagara BOCES) and Jen Schwarzott, Esq., & Kim Wolfe-Price (Bond, Shoeneck King, PLLC)

Topic: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Programming and the Federal Government Office of Civil Rights: Updates on the Status of Issues Impacting Schools Including DASA.

 

Time: 10:35-11:30am VICTORIAN ROOM

Presenters: Andrew Freedman, Esq., (Hodgson Russ, LLP) and Nate Kuzma, Esq., (Lippes Mathias, LLP)

Topic: Guidelines and Pitfalls in Provision of Services to Non-Public School Students

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Time: 10:35-11:30am AMORE ROOM

Presenters: Ryan Smith, Esq., (Webster Szanyi, LLP) and Ashley Chambers, Esq., (Erie 1 BOCES)

Topic: Board Governance, Pitfalls and Ex-Officio Membership

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Session 2:

Time: 12:35-1:30pm AMORE ROOM

Presenters: Jeff Weiss, Esq. (Bond Shoeneck King, PLLC) Ryan Everhart, Esq., (Hodgson Russ, LLP)

Topic: Special Education Update

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Time: 12:35-1:30pm VICTORIAN ROOM

Presenters: Brian Liebenow, Esq., (Erie 2 CC BOCES) & Marnie Smith, Esq., (Webster Szanyi, LLP)

Topic: Student Discipline and Commissioner's Decisions

 

Time: 1:35-2:30pm AMORE ROOM

Presenters: Brian Hartmann, Esq., (Erie 2 CC BOCES) and a team of professionals engaging in a role play and issue discussion around collective bargaining. The role play will include Melanie Beardsley, Esq., (Webster Szanyi, LLP), Andrew Mark, Esq., (Bond Shoeneck King, PLLC), and Karl Kristoff, Esq., (Orleans-Niagara BOCES).

Topic: Collective Bargaining - Issues, Pitfalls and Process

 

Session 3:

Time: 1:35-2:30pm VICTORIAN ROOM

Presenters: Brendan Kelleher, Esq., (Lippes Mathis, LLP) & Lindsay Menasco, Esq., (Hodgson Russ, LLP)

Topic: Navigating Employee Accommodation Requests under the ADA, Education Law 913 and Civil Service Law 71-73

 

Time: 1:35-2:30pm AMORE ROOM

Presenters: Tracie Lopardi, Esq., (Bond Shoeneck King, PLLC) & Brian Doyle, Esq. (Erie 1 BOCES) 

Topic: Best Practices for Section 75 and Employee Discipline and Arrest.

 

Time: 1:35-2:30pm BELLA ROOM

Presenters: Gregory MacDonald, Esq., (Bond Shoeneck King, PLLC) & Jeff Swiatek, Esq. (Hodgson Russ, LLP)

Topic: The "Nuts and Bolts" of School Construction

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355 Harlem Road
West Seneca, NY 14224
Phone: 716.821.7297  Fax: 716.821.7296
© Erie County Association of School Boards 2020
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