On Oct. 23, 2025, the NJSBA and New Jersey Association of School Attorneys (NJASA) co-sponsored the 55th Annual School Law Forum, and nearly two hundred school law attorneys, administrators, board members, and charter school trustees were in attendance! Presentations were offered on the following topics:

  • From the Courts and the Capitol: Key School Law and Legislative Updates
  • The United States Supreme Court’s Mahmoud v. Taylor Decision and its Impact on New Jersey Public Schools
  • Signatures, Slogans, Slates & Signs: A Primer on New Jersey School Board Elections
  • What Can They Say? What Can They Read?  What Can They Write? New Voices and the Freedom to Read
  • Current Trends and Turning Points in Labor Negotiations
  • Send-Receive and Regionalization: Overview and Updates
  • HIB Investigations and the Board: Oversight, Not Overstep
  • The Role of the Board Attorney: Balancing Ethical Duties and Client Expectations

The success of the 55th Annual School Law Forum was due to the efforts of our incredible presenters: John Burns, Esq., senior legislative and policy counsel, NJSBA; Caitlin Pletcher, Esq. legal counsel, NJSBA; Matthew J. Giacobbe, Esq., Cleary Giacobbe Alfieri Jacobs, LLC; Dr. Matthew Mingle, superintendent, Warren Township Schools; Jonathan M. Busch, Esq., The Busch Law Group; Adam S. Weiss, Esq., The Busch Law Group; William S. Donio, Esq., Cooper Levenson; Joseph L. Roselle, Esq., Schenck, Price, Smith & King; Amy Houck-Elco, Esq., Cooper Levenson; Aron G. Mandel, Esq., The Busch Law Group; David L. Disler, Esq., Porzio, Bromberg & Newman; Patrick F. Carrigg, Esq., Lenox Law Firm; Kasi Marie Gifford, Esq., Cooper Levenson; Michael Kaelber, Esq.; David B. Rubin, Esq., The Busch Law Group, LLC; and Vito A. Gagliardi, Esq., Porzio Bromberg & Newman, P.C.

Finally, as part of the 55th Annual School Law Forum, and in recognition of their accomplishments and service to the New Jersey school law community, boards of education, the students of New Jersey, and the NJASA, William S. Donio, Esq. (Cooper Levenson)and Paul H. Green, Esq. (Schenck, Price, Smith & King) received the Russell Weiss, Jr. Esq., Distinguished Service Award!  Congratulations to Wil and to Paul for their well-deserved recognition of service!

For further information about these matters, please contact the NJSBA Legal Department at (609) 278-5279, or your board attorney for specific legal advice.

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