Conference  Program

7:30 - 8:40 AM	Check-in, Networking, and Continental Breakfast Get settled in for the day and connect with your colleagues.
8:40 AM	Welcome
8:45 - 10:15 AM	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 Sample policies and other FMLA leave-related documents will be provided upon request. Scott Macdonald is a seasoned labor/employment attorney and human resources management professional with over 30 years of experience providing employers with practical solutions designed to elevate their HR function into a true strategic part of the organization. He has over two decades of experience conducting training on Best Practices in FMLA leave Administration, Employee Handbook Development, Applicant Screening and Interviewing, Supervisor/Manager Competencies, HR Technology Software solutions, and other HR topics at national and state conferences as well as for employers in the public and private sectors across a wide array of industries. 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 is giving away 10 copies of Scott's FMLA Compliance Manual to attendees of the Spring Conference! Attachments: Presentation (pdf)
10:15 - 10:30 PM	Break
10:30 - 11:30 AM	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. Amy Boyle is a Founding Partner of MSB Employment Justice. She brings a personalized approach to each of her cases and prides herself on giving her clients a candid assessment of their case. While Amy handles all types of employment matters, she has a particular focus on representing women who have experienced sex discrimination, sexual harassment and assault, and retaliation at work and whistleblower clients who have reported illegal workplace practices or companies engaged in deceitful conduct. Her extensive understanding of whistleblower laws and consumer fraud has resulted in considerable success on behalf of her whistleblower clients. Nicole Truso counsels employers on a wide range of employment issues and advises clients in complex transactions. Nicole seeks to identify best practices and manage employment-related problems with a focus on practical solutions and responsiveness. Attachments: Presentation (pdf)
11:30 - 12:15 PM	Plated Lunch
12:00 - 12:50 PM	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!
12:30 - 12:45 PM	MASPA Business meeting Liz Windingstad, MASPA Board President
12:45 - 2:15 PM	We – are – family! (At work) 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. The session will be led by Dr. Kendra Asbury, Director of Human Resources at Hononegah Community High School in Rockton, Illinois. She has been a teacher, instructional coach, content coordinator, and union president before becoming an administrator. With a passion for inspiring others in the fields of education, leadership, and management, she looks for meaningful approaches to professional development. She is also the creator of Biscuits with the Boss (Women in Leadership) and Lead Like Lasso (Daring Leadership). Attachments: Presentation (pdf)
2:30 - 3:30 PM	Legal Update Alex Ivan, Associate Attorney, Kennedy & Graven Alex Ivan is an associate attorney 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.  Attachments: Rochester Presentation (pdf) Spring Lake Park Presentation (pdf)
3:30 PM	Conference Closing

MASPA has applied for BOSA and CLE credit for attendees of this event.