ACSA’s Personnel Institute
Staying Legal
Presented By Jon Pearl & Marie Nakamura
Staying Legal is fast-paced DWK-attorney led professional development focused on human resources and labor relations legal issues. Pearl and Nakamura are 100% focused on practical lessons about education, labor and employment law to help you manage and maintain high-functioning human resources (HR) and labor relations departments for your district or county office. We don’t lecture or bore you with slides about legal esoterica. Together we learn, strategize, problem solve, laugh, and interact. We use curated HR and labor relations materials (summarizing court decisions, PERB decisions, laws, regulations, policies, and recent developments) to impart real-world lessons and pertinent knowledge about legal requirements and best practices for HR and labor relations professionals. Who knew the law could be so much fun?
Key Takeaways:
• Receive practical lessons, strategies and insights on often-complex legal issues to make your HR/labor relations department function at a higher level
• Learn, strategize, problem solve and interact with fellow human resources practitioners and leading attorneys
• Get up to date on the latest and greatest labor and employment court decisions, PERB decisions, laws and best practices
Best Practices on CalSTRS/CalPERS, Employment Agreements, CBAs and Related Brown Act Issues
Thursday September 17, 2026 9:15am – 10:45amPDT
Presented By Ellen Wu & Jenell Van Bindsbergen
Changing laws and regulations have altered CalSTRS’ and CalPERS’ views on reportable compensation, salary schedules, and spiking. CalPERS and CalSTRS have strictly applied the law and regulations when reviewing contract language in employment agreements, collective bargaining agreements and salary schedules. This session will provide guidance on the requirements, offer tips and pointers, and provide best practices to help you avoid audit findings of misreported compensation.
Key Takeaways:
• More knowledge about CalSTRS and CalPERS requirements, audits and consequences for districts;
• Learn how to comply with such requirements in employment agreements and collective bargaining agreements; and
• Learn how to help the governing board comply with related Brown Act requirements.
Where the Wild Leaves Roam
Friday September 18, 2026 9:30am – 11:00am
Presented By Jenell Van Bindsbergen & Leilani Battiste
Maybe you’re new to educational leaves, or maybe you have been working with leaves your entire career. Whatever your experience, have you ever had that moment when you ask yourself “What leaves does this employee get?” Local Educational Agencies are required to apply Federal, State and Educational Leaves. In addition to the leave laws like PDL, FMLA and CFRA, agencies must also consider leaves under accommodation laws such as ADA and PWFA. Sometimes it’s straight forward but more often than not it feels like you are in a wild environment where some wild vine or weird creature is going to grab or snag you and pull you under. Don’t be afraid we are here to help you with those wild leave questions. Join us for an interactive discussion where we explore the different kinds of employee leave and how to coordinate them based upon real life scenarios.
Key Takeaways:
• Identify the appropriate leaves and interconnection of paid and unpaid leaves and other accommodation laws with each other
• Learn how certain leaves are inter-related and strategies for navigating and coordinating employee leaves
• Other helpful written resources