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)
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)
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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