2026 WINTER VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM
Download the program here
Thank you to our Generous Sponsors
Complete Agenda for Monday, February 2 (with Zoom Links)
8:00 - 8:30 AM
Opening Remarks
Debbie Simons, Casey Alderson, Marsha Benjamin Moyer
8:30 - 10:00 AM
Session A
Negotiation Skills That Protect Relationships and Get Results in 2026
Brian Hungerford
Hungerford Law Firm
Elevate your district’s bargaining effectiveness with a focused, practical 4-hour session. This workshop blends real-world scenarios with practical negotiation strategies to help participants reach lasting agreements while protecting relationships and stakeholder needs.
Immediate impact: Concrete skills you can use in contract negotiations, workplace discussions, and stakeholder dialogues starting on day one.
Oregon-specific insights: Strategies tailored to Oregon’s public education landscape, collective bargaining dynamics, and legal/ethical boundaries.
Balanced outcomes: Techniques to reach fair, sustainable agreements that respect licensed & classified employees, administrators, and the community-at-large.
Risk-aware decision‑making: Proactive planning for contingencies, impasses, and potential escalation.
Session B
Managing FMLA, PLO, OFLA, and ADA: Practical Leave Tracking
Vanessa G. Nelson, CLRL
Expert Human Resources LLC
This interactive, four-hour deep‑dive session equips HR professionals across all levels with practical understanding of the day-to-day operation of leave management relevant to all HR professionals. This session will go beyond theory and will focus on real‑world applications, broken into four modules:
Module 1: The Leave Law Landscape
Overview of federal FMLA requirements.
Overview of Oregon‑specific leave laws (Oregon Family Leave Act (OFLA), Paid Leave Oregon, Oregon paid sick leave)
Employer coverage and employee eligibility differences.
Common misconceptions and compliance traps.
Module 2: How the Laws Work Together
Concurrent vs. sequential leave.
When Paid Leave Oregon overlaps with job‑protected leave.
Coordinating FMLA + OFLA + Paid Leave Oregon.
Pregnancy‑related leave scenarios.
Military and family leave considerations.
Module 3: Leave Tracking & Documentation
Single point of intake for leave requests.
HR’s role vs. supervisor vs. employee.
Tracking leave in hours vs. days.
Managing intermittent and reduced schedule leave.
Payroll alignment and documentation requirements.
Required notices and timelines.
Module 4: Abuse Prevention, ADA & Risk Reduction
Identifying leave abuse red flags.
Using recertification and clarification appropriately.
Avoiding retaliation claims.
When leave exhaustion triggers ADA obligations.
Engaging in the interactive process.
Avoiding automatic termination mistakes.
10:00 – 10:30 am
BREAK— Stand, Stretch or Click for Comic Relief:
10:30 AM – Noon
Session A— Continued
Negotiation Skills That Protect Relationships and Get Results in 2026
Brian Hungerford
Hungerford Law Firm
Session B— Continued
Managing FMLA, PLO, OFLA, and ADA: Practical Leave Tracking
Vanessa G. Nelson, CLRL
Expert Human Resources LLC
12:45 – 1:45 PM
Session A— Continued
Negotiation Skills That Protect Relationships and Get Results in 2026
Brian Hungerford
Hungerford Law Firm
Session B— Continued
Managing FMLA, PLO, OFLA, and ADA: Practical Leave Tracking
Vanessa G. Nelson, CLRL
Expert Human Resources LLC
1:45 – 2:00 pm
BREAK— Stand, Stretch or Click for Comic Relief:
2:00 – 4:00 PM
Session A
Employee Speech Rights in Schools
Haley Percell
Chief Legal Officer and Deputy Executive Director, OSBA
It has been another challenging school year with social media frenzies and immigration enforcement actions disrupting school operations with community complaints and leading to student walkouts and protests. We will discuss the limits of employee speech rights in connection with matters of public concern like immigration enforcement, employee participation in student protests and other political activity while on the job, employees displaying flags and signs in school buildings, and social media use while off duty. We will discuss when a school can and whether they should discipline staff for speech related disruptions to the school.
Session B
Unlocking Retention-Bridging the Benefits Education Gap
Scott Florsheim
American Fidelity
This presentation will help you understand the importance of effective benefits education and how important it is for overall employee well-being. We will also cover important topics such as the history of benefits, compliance, taxation, Section 125, retirement, and employee wellness.
Complete Agenda for Tuesday, February 3 (with Zoom Links)
8:00 – 8:15 AM
Opening Remarks
Marsha Benjamin Moyer
8:15 – 10:15 AM
Session A
Anatomy of a Strike
Michael Porter and Cristela Delgado-Daniel
Miller Nash L.L.P.
While still relatively rare—both within and outside of education—strike activity has been on the rise in recent years. This session will dissect the anatomy of a strike, examining its vital organs, pressure points, and life cycle. From the first signs of movement at the bargaining table to the final stages of resolution, participants will explore strategic approaches at each phase, learn how to diagnose and respond to union unfair labor practices, and identify ways to strengthen the district’s defenses to avoid unfair labor practice exposure.
Session B
Legal Speed Dating: Issues Spotting and Avoiding Liability
Jackie Gharapour Wernz
ECR Solutions
Need a crash course in identifying legal red flags before they turn into lawsuits? This fast-paced, interactive session uses a “speed dating” format to walk participants through a variety of real-world school scenarios—from student discipline to employee leave requests to bullying reports. Each scenario is designed to help you quickly spot potential legal issues under federal laws.
10:15 – 10:30 AM
BREAK— Stand, Stretch or Click for Comic Relief:
10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Implementing Layoff for All Employee Groups
Rebekah Jacobson, Garrett Hemann Robertson, and
Debbie Simons, Interim Executive Director of OSPA
Rebekah Jacobson, attorney at Garrett Hemann Robertson, and Debbie Simons, Interim Executive Director of OSPA, will discuss the nuts and bolts of preparing for and implementing a layoffs for all employee groups. This will include practical considerations for the application of the relatively new provisions requiring districts to consider cultural and linguistic expertise, along with seniority, competence and merit, before, during and after a layoff.