This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.
OKLearn moreWe may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.
Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.
These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.
Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.
We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.
We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.
These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.
If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:
We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.
Google Webfont Settings:
Google Map Settings:
Google reCaptcha Settings:
Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:
The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:
You can read about our cookies and privacy settings in detail on our Privacy Policy Page.
Privacy Policy
Supreme Court Rules Public Schools Must Allow Parents to Opt Children Out of Curriculum Involving LGBTQ+ Books
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn June 27, 2025, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a decision in Mahmoud v. Taylor, No. 24-297 (2025) concerning curriculum opt outs. The case focused on a Maryland public school district’s decision to stop allowing families to opt children out of class time spent on texts featuring LGBTQ+ characters and stories. The policy change was […]
SJC Decision Clarifies the Law Regarding a Retiree’s Entitlement to Group Health Insurance. The Retiree Had Resigned From Employment And Elected Not to Continue on the Group Plan Under the “Deferred Retirement” Rules But Chose Instead to Apply at the Time of Actual Retirement
Posted: /in Events, News /by Heather McCarthyIn a decision issued on June 18, 2025 the Supreme Judicial Court has clarified a provision in the group health insurance law, G.L. chapter 32B. The relevant provision is G.L. c. 32B, § 9, which governs the group health insurance rights of retirees. In Cannata v. Town of Mashpee, No. SJC-13637 (June 18, 2025), the […]
Summer To-Dos for School Districts
Posted: /in Events, News /by Heather McCarthyAs our school districts prepare for the start of the 2025-2026 school year, the summer presents a great opportunity to review and revise district documents to comply with federal and state laws and regulations and to codify best practices going forward. Here are a few areas that typically warrant review: Student Handbooks and Educational Service […]
Supreme Judicial Court Effectively Reverses Appeals Court Decision That Had Addressed the Three-Stage Burden Shifting Test Applicable to Charges Alleging Retaliation for Union Activity Based on Circumstantial Evidence
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyThe Supreme Judicial Court has effectively reversed an Appeals Court decision regarding retaliation claims under G.L. chapter 150E that was issued literally one year earlier to the day. In City of Newton v. Commonwealth Employment Relations Board (“CERB”), 104 Mass.App.Ct. 203 (2024), the Appeals Court had reversed a decision by the CERB. That decision, in […]
Appeals Court Issues Decision Clarifying in Detail the Attorney-Client Privilege of Municipal Entities
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyIn a decision issued on March 28, 2025 a panel of the Massachusetts Appeals Court has analyzed in detail the attorney-client privilege of municipal entities. Kay v. Town of Concord, No. 23-P-1271 (2025), involved an appeal from a Superior Court judgment that the plaintiffs were not entitled to obtain unredacted emails involving communications between Town […]
COVID-era Public Meeting Flexibilities Expire on March 31, 2025
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyTemporary provisions pertaining to the Open Meeting Law that were first introduced during COVID are due to expire on March 31, 2025. These temporary provisions allowed public bodies to continue holding meetings remotely without a quorum of the public body physically present at a meeting location, and to provide “adequate, alternative” access to remote meetings. […]
VDH Announces New Elevation
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyValerio Dominello & Hillman, LLC is pleased to announce that effective January 1, 2025, Attorney Thomas Costello has become an Equity Member in the firm. Thomas H. Costello VDH recognizes the valuable contributions that Mr. Costello has made to our clients and to our firm. The bio for Mr. Costello is available on our website, […]
Massachusetts DPH Issues Advisory Regarding Administration of Medications by School Nurses During School Trips Outside Massachusetts
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyOn February 4, 2025 the Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued an advisory to all public and private schools regarding the administration of medicines by school nurses during the portion of any school-sponsored trip that occurs outside Massachusetts. The advisory states that 105 CMR 210.000, including the provisions regarding delegation, cannot be used by school […]
U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights to Enforce Title IX under 2020 Rule, Which Excludes Gender Identity Protections
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyThe Department of Education through its Office of Civil Rights (“OCR”) has announced in a “Dear Colleague” letter that Title IX will be enforced under the provisions of the 2020 Title IX rule rather than the more recent 2024 Title IX Rule. There are two catalysts for this announcement: a ruling by the Eastern District […]
Federal Court Overturns Recently Published Title IX Regulations
Posted: /in News /by Heather McCarthyEarlier this year, the U.S. Department of Education (“DOE”) released new Title IX regulations that went into effect in August 2024. Accordingly, many school committees revised their policies to comply with these new regulations. On January 9th, a Kentucky federal court issued a ruling holding that the recent Title IX regulations are unlawful and vacated […]