Safeguarding Our Schools: A Panel Discussion

Presentation Description

It’s not if you get sued; it’s when you’ll get sued. Do you have policies and handbooks up to date? Have you talked through crisis management? When do you call a lawyer?

In our changing world, it’s critical to position our schools for success while minimizing potential lawsuits. This panel discussion includes a lawyer, a former early childhood director and adjunct instructor of MLC’s graduate school, and a former elementary principal and current director of our Lutheran Schools. It’s intended for all levels of children’s ministries, from infant through high school. The target audience is board members, lay and called leaders, and pastors.

Topics to be discussed include: handbooks, policies, harassment, discrimination, expulsions, and more.

Panelists

Christopher Lambrecht is a life-long WELS member and attorney from Elm Grove, Wis. He has a passion for assisting WELS school to help them avoid litigation and minimize exposure.

Rachel Burgess is an MLC graduate of 2002(B.S.) and 2011(M.S.) Starting as a 16-year-old preschool aide in Houston, Tex., she has 20+ years of service in preschools and childcare centers in four states (Texas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin). She currently teaches six early childhood continuing education courses for MLC, including the Educational Administration Graduate Studies course EDU5324 Legal and Ethical Issues in Early Childhood.

Dave Gartner currently serves as the principal at West Lutheran High School in the Twin Cities. He’s had experience with lawyers, trainings, and compliance issues and has developed a strong understanding of ingredients all schools need to have in place.

Jim Rademan spent three decades as a principal in the Lutheran elementary school and now serves as director of WELS Lutheran Schools. He’s seen a wide range of examples of schools and their readiness for challenge or litigation.