Giveaways and Gifts Both state and federal law impose strict prohibitions on public officials accepting and offering gifts—the idea being to dissuade the public corruption that has become so rampant in our society.   How Can School Boards Remove Unsuitable Books from School Libraries? If you have not yet had a book challenge, just wait. In school year 2006-2007, 67 districts had some sort of challenge to library books or teaching materials.2 Common reasons for challenging library books include profanity, violence, sexual content, and religious viewpoint.   Open Forum: How open, and what is it for We have written several articles over the years about the Texas Open Meetings Act, but we continue to see problems arising from the section of the meeting called “open forum” or “public comment,” or whatever nomenclature is selected by the local districts for giving the public the opportunity to speak during a board meeting. This article focuses on what is required and what is prohibited during public comment parts of board meetings.   Schools Beware: Dinah’s probably going to be blowing her horn more often now! Brace yourself. At the end of November, the Texas Supreme Court ruled that a mere change in an employee’s schedule can constitute retaliation and an illegal adverse employment action under the Texas Whistleblower Act. School districts have long understood that employees who report to an appropriate law enforcement authority what they in good faith believe to be a violation of law by the district or a district employee are protected against retaliation.   Skeletons in the Closet and It’s Not Yet Halloween! The new section 22.0835 of the Texas Education Code strengthens the prior sec. 22.083 by requiring that districts conduct criminal background checks for volunteers or those who indicate, in writing, an intent to serve as a volunteer with the district, school, or shared services arrangement.   The Fifth Circuit Draws a Line in the Sand for Terroristic Threats For years school administrators and parents have steamed when reading about courts overturning school administrators’ efforts to maintain a safe environment by punishing students that threaten the safety of others at school. A California trial judge held that a fifteen-year old who told a counselor that she was so angry she “could just shoot someone,” or “[i]f you don't give me this schedule change, I'm going to shoot you,” was not to be suspended for three days because her comments were protected free speech.