Education Law Conference
Issues covered include: Employment, bullying, harassment, social media, dismissal, sick leave, medical certificates, medical incapacity, mental health, governance, school board, Teaching Council, natural justice, New Zealand School Trustees Association, Education Act
Description
Employment issues continue to cause problems within schools and if left unmanaged they can affect productivity and the quality of education. To address these issues and more we’ve compiled the most important employment law issues affecting schools right now so you can gain robust knowledge and practical skills that you can immediately apply in your role. The afternoon session explores human rights implications, examines the effect of the Education Act on school leaders and the board of trustees
Attend and earn 7 CPD hours
This conference was recorded in NZ on 12 March 2019
Session 1
Protecting Your Employees and School
Chair: Jonathon Tredray, Principal, Northcross Intermediate School; Vice President, New Zealand Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools
9.00am to 10.00am: Employment Law Update: What Schools Need to Know
- Bullying allegations and best practise
- An overview of employment relations legislation
- Recent cases involving the issues of bullying and harassment
Presented by Fiona McMillan, Partner, Lane Neave
10.00am to 11.00am: Update on Social Media and Employment Obligations
- What can be said on social media by teachers?
- What should not be said on social media by teachers?
- The grey areas in-between
Presented by Anthony Russell, Principal, SBM Legal
11.00am to 11.15am Morning Tea
11.15am to 12.15pm: Tackling The Latest Dismissal and Disadvantage Cases
- Update on the latest guidance from the Employment Court on compensation that may impact your school
- Latest case law on dismissal and disadvantage claims in the education sector
Presented by Shan Wilson, Partner, Simpson Grierson
12.15pm to 1.15pm: Employee Health: The Importance of Getting it Right
- Managing intermittent & long term sick leave
- Medical certificates & employee health: When can you require more information?
- Medical incapacity & medical retirement of an employee: When is it an option?
- Managing & supporting employees with mental health issues
Presented by Gretchen Stone, Partner, Harrison Stone
Session 2
Managing Governance, Compliance and the School Board
Chair: Jonathon Tredray, Principal, Northcross Intermediate School; Vice President, New Zealand Association of Intermediate and Middle Schools
1.45pm to 2.45pm: INSIGHTS FROM THE TEACHING COUNCIL: Update from the Teaching Council
- How soon is too soon? Relationships between teachers and former students
- Cultural competence: the commitment to Ti Tiriti by teachers and the Professional Body
Presented by Julia McCook-Weir, In-House Counsel, Teaching Council of Aotearoa New Zealand
2.45pm to 3.45pm: Buzz-Cuts and Board Decisions: Human Rights and Natural Justice in Schools
- Where and how does the Bill of Rights Act and the Convention on the Rights of the Child apply in your school?
- What is ‘natural justice’, who is it owed to and how do you fulfil it?
- Tips on how to minimise legal risk from these avenues when setting your policies and during your decision-making
Presented by Sally McKechnie, Partner, Simpson Grierson
3.45pm to 4.00pm Afternoon Tea
4.00pm to 5.00pm: INSIGHTS FROM THE NEW ZEALAND SCHOOL TRUSTEES ASSOCIATION: School Governance: Impact of Key Changes to the Education Act
The session will give you an update on key changes in the Education Act and their impact on the role of school leaders and boards of trustees
- Charters, strategic plans and annual implementation plans
- NELPs: National Education and Learning Priorities
- Governance and management of schools: section 76 & the future of school governance
- The new statutory interventions
- Alternative constitutions for combined boards
Presented by Patrick Ikiua, Regional Manager and Chris France, Senior Governance Advisor, New Zealand School Trustees Association Te Whakarōputanga Kaitiaki Kura o Aotearoa