Mark W. Thompson

Mark Thompson primarily represents public school districts and Boards of Education in the areas of general education law, governance matters including the Brown Act and Public Records Act, certificated and classified employee discipline and reductions in force, harassment and discrimination complaints, grievances, collective bargaining and contract administration. He represents districts before PERB, OCR, DFEH, EEOC, and OAH, and in state and federal courts. He also advises on copyright, trademark, licensing and other intellectual property matters.

• Del M. Grace v. Beaumont Unified School District (2013) 216 Cal.App.4th 1325.  Probationary teacher challenged non-reelection on the basis that she did not receive notice by personal service or certified mail prior to March 15. Court held the absence of personal service or proof of service by certified mail prior to March 15 was not required where she received actual notice before the deadline.
• Edwards v. Lake Elsinore Unified School District (2014) 230 Cal.App.4th 1532. Former permanent teacher returned within 39 months as a substitute and worked an entire school year in place of a teacher on medical leave.  In the following year, she was given a regular teaching position and was granted permanent status and retroactive seniority due to the “tacking” rule in Education Code Section 44918 and the restoration of permanence rule of Section 44931. Teacher claimed she was also entitled to a retroactive pay increase to that of a regular teacher in the substitute year. Court held the substitute classification was proper and tacking under Section 44918 does not entitle the employee to a retroactive pay increase.

Practice Areas