Minimizing legal risks to its clients is an important focus of the attorneys of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan, & Jackstadt P.C.   Indeed, Tueth Keeney is proud of its commitment to advising and educating school administrators on the complex and ever-changing legal issues facing public schools. In the spirit of that commitment, Tueth Keeney's Illinois office has announced the dates for its 2009 upcoming back-to-school legal seminars.

The 2009 seminars will take place on August 10th in Carbondale, Illinois at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Conference Center, and on August 11th in Springfield, Illinois at the Northfield Inn & Suites. Each seminar will be a half-day program, starting at 8 AM with registration and a light breakfast. The seminar presentations will run from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and will include two break-out sessions. A complimentary lunch will be served from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. As always, Tueth Keeney seminars are free of charge for clients and friends of the firm.

Some of the topics to be highlighted at this year's back-to-school seminars include: How to Effectively Evaluate Employees; The Practical Implications of Revoking Consent for Special Education Services; Joint Agreements - Preparing for Funding Losses in Today's Economic Climate; Labor & Employment Implications of Funding Cuts to Joint Agreements; Complying with FERPA & ISSRA; 2009 Legislative Changes for the Building Principa;, and Complying with the New FOIA Statute.

For more information regarding the seminars, and for registration information, please see the Seminars section of the Tueth Keeney website: www.tuethkeeney.com.

Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt P.C. is proud to be one of the state's largest Illinois education law practices. The firm has one of the most experienced groups of attorneys in Central and Southern Illinois dedicated to serving public schools. We regularly represent nearly 150 public school districts, including many districts in Central and Southern Illinois. Our Firm is also regularly appointed by insurers of educational institutions to represent districts in complex or difficult cases involving school or civil rights laws.

Robert Jackstadt is a founding Shareholder of the Firm of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan & Jackstadt P.C. Prior to founding the Firm, Rob was a partner at Blackwell Sanders Peper Martin in its St. Louis office. Rob serves on the Firm's Management Committee. Rob is a former member of the Edwardsville School Board, a former trustee and planning commission member for the Village of Glen Carbon and is currently the Mayor of the Village of Glen Carbon- a part time position.

Rob practices in the areas of commercial, construction and education litigation. Rob has tried to a conclusion many jury and non-jury cases in federal and state courts located in Illinois and Missouri. Rob’s trial experience includes litigation involving tax increment financing (“TIF”) districts, equipment leases, condemnation, construction, performance and payment bonds, non-competition agreements, securities and mechanic’s liens. Rob has negotiated many construction contracts, including architect agreements, construction manager agreements, and general contractor agreements.

Merry C. Rhoades focuses her practice on general counsel services with an emphasis on special education law and student-related issues, school district reorganization matters and tax and finance matters. Because of her more than 20 years experience in representing Illinois public school districts, she has key insights regarding the day-to-day operation of the school district. She has extensive experience in special education administrative hearings, civil rights litigation, state and federal court litigation at the trial and appellate levels, and state administrative hearings.

Merry is an active member of several school related organizations. She is a member of the Illinois Council of School Attorneys Executive Committee and currently serves as its 1st Vice Chairperson and she is a service member to the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA). She serves as an Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) PRESS advisory committee member.  Merry has been asked to speak for such organizations as the Illinois Alliance of Administrators of Special Education (IAASE), the Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA), the Illinois Principal's Association (IPA) and the Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) on numerous school related issues.

D. Shane Jones practices in the areas of labor and employment law, education law, and litigation in both Missouri and Illinois. He routinely advises and represents employers in wage and hour matters, in the design and review of employee handbooks, and disciplining and terminating employees. Shane has also successfully defended employers against discrimination claims, First Amendment claims, Due Process claims, and other constitutional issues, in both state and federal courts.

Shane also practices in the area of collective bargaining and labor relations. He is experienced in crafting proposals and counter-proposals, and in effectively presenting the employer’s position at the collective bargaining table. He has directly negotiated, or participated significantly behind the scenes, in the negotiation of more than fifty collective bargaining agreements under the National Labor Relations Act, the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Act, and in the "meet and confer" process under the Missouri Public Sector Labor Law.  Shane has been a Tueth Keeney shareholder since January, 2003.

Anwar M. Johnson practices primarily in the areas of education, litigation, labor and employment law. He has experience handling a variety of civil litigation matters, representing clients in state and federal courts in both Missouri and Illinois. During law school, Anwar served as President of the Black Law Student's Association and was Associate Managing Editor of the Global Studies Law Review.

Daniel J. Rhoads practices primarily in the area of education law and also works in litigation. Dan has experience trying cases in the associate circuit courts. In his first year as a licensed attorney, Dan tried six cases on the record, including one jury trial. In law school, Dan participated in the trial practicum and in moot court competitions. Dan argued before Chief Justice John Roberts, among other distinguished jurists, in the finals of Washington University's Moot Court tournament in 2007. At graduation, Dan was inducted into the Order of Barristers.