MASPA 2025 Spring Conference

When
05/02/2025
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Location
DoubleTree Bloomington
Spaces left
0

Registration

Business Member - Basic – $70.00
Existing Business Members are welcome to
participate in any part of the conference agenda. Fee covers lunch and conference expenses. Waived if you have an exhibit table.
Business Member - Premium
Premium Business Members receive three complimentary registrations to participate in any part of the conference agenda.
Business Member - Standard
Standard Business Members receive one complimentary registration and may include two additional guests to participate in any part of the conference agenda.
Drop-in School Member – $120.00
Drop-in attendance to the conference. Fee pays for feed/beverage, facility, and administration costs.
Dues-Paying School Member – $70.00
Attendance to the conference for Dues-Paying MASPA members. Discounted fee pays for feed/beverage, facility, and administration costs.
Full School Member
Attendance for full MASPA members.

Registration is closed

View the full Conference Program for session times, bios and descriptions

Photo of Scott MacDonald The Family and Medical Leave Act: Legal Update and Best Practices in Leave Administration
Scott Macdonald, Managing Director, Macdonald & Associates, HR Management Consulting

This session reviews recent caselaw involving the FMLA, and provides attendees with useful, practical tips and tools for managing the entire FMLA leave process, including:

FMLA eligibility
Employee notice requirements
Training administrators and supervisors about their respective roles
Definitions of a “Serious Health Condition”
The medical certification process
Calculating and Tracking FMLA leave
Interaction of FMLA with the ADA and Workers’ Compensation
Return-to-work issues

In October 2020, Scott published his book, Family and Medical Leave Act Compliance Manual, A Practical Guide to FMLA Leave Administration for School Districts, a must-have reference guide to FMLA leave management for school systems nationwide.

MASPA will be giving away 10 copies of Scott's FMLA Manual to attendees!

Photo of Amy Boyle
Photo of Nicole Truso

The New Paid Family and Medical Leave Law in Minnesota
Amy E. Boyle, Partner, MSB Employment Justice LLP
Nicole A. Truso, Partner, Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP

One of the many new laws to come out of the 2023 legislative session is the paid family and medical leave law. Beginning in 2026, all employers and employees in the state will contribute to the program, and employees will become eligible to receive benefits under the new law. Join Amy Boyle and Nicole Truso for a closer look at the finer points of this consequential new law.

Photo of Puppies Puppy Pause

In a room full of chatter, of laughter, and paws,
We invite you to join us for the "Puppy Pause."
When the sessions grow heavy, your brain starts to stew,
Take a break, meet some puppies, and maybe folks too!

We - are - family! (At work)
Dr. Kendra Asbury. Director of Human Resources, Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, Illinois

When leaders say their school or district is like a big family, is that good or bad? Participants will use Bowen's Family Systems Theory to better understand the relationships of their employees at work. How can this theory help leaders troubleshoot the interpersonal dynamics that make us want to sing or cry? Participants will learn about the theory and its application through “case studies” and conversations and leave with a plan to improve themselves and help their employees.

What Could Possibly Go Wrong? Recent Cases with Which Human Resource Specialists Should Be Familiar
Alex Ivan, Shareholder, Kennedy & Graven

As governmental entities, public school districts are granted certain immunities from liability in lawsuits pursued against them. But when and how those protections apply often depend, in no insignificant part, on how employees are hired and supervised. This session will review some recent cases from Minnesota where the application of immunity – a total shield to any legal liability – turned on the steps that were taken (or not taken) by the governmental entity with respect to its employees. Participants will discuss practical risk-management strategies and procedures to improve the likelihood of viable immunity defenses in lawsuits premised on alleged employee misconduct.

Alex Ivan is a Shareholder with Kennedy & Graven whose practice is concentrated in civil litigation and education law, with particular emphasis on special education law. Alex earned his B.A. from Baylor University and his M.Ed. and J.D. degrees from Arizona State University. Before joining Kennedy & Graven, he practiced in Arizona with a firm representing over 40 public school districts throughout that state. Alex is committed to providing public school districts and charters sound advice on the various legal issues they face, such as employment-related matters, special education disputes, data privacy concerns, discrimination charges, and more.

Thanks to Our Conference Partners

Contact us

MASPA \ State Negotiators
PO BOX 4485
Saint Paul MN 55104

(651) 343-2608

[email protected]

MASPA is a nonprofit organization under IRC 501(c)(6) - FEIN: 26-2135974
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