Megan Macy
Partner | Sacramento
mmacy@lozanosmith.com
Tel: 916.329.7433
Fax: 916.329.9050
Vcard
Bio
Overview
Megan Macy is the Managing Partner of Lozano Smith's Sacramento office, where she provides comprehensive general counsel to school districts and other educational agencies throughout California. As an active member of the firm's Labor and Employment, Facilities and Business, and Charter School practice groups, Ms. Macy distinguishes her work with a client-centered approach and an unwavering commitment to serving California's students and communities.Client-Centered Approach
At the heart of Ms. Macy's practice is an understanding of and dedication to each client's unique needs, always with a focus on the ultimate impact on students and communities. This includes:
- Developing strong, collaborative relationships with school administrators and governing boards to understand organizational culture and goals
- Crafting options to help clients develop solutions that address the unique needs of school communities
- Working alongside school administrators to develop excellent business practices and foster positive labor relations
- Maintaining high accessibility to support timely, informed decision-making
- Advocating in various forums on behalf of schools
Ms. Macy's comprehensive understanding of education and public agency law includes:
- Governance, including Brown Act compliance, effective board governance, conflicts of interest management, and Public Records Act adherence
- Employee/Employer Relations and Employment Law
- Facilities & Business, including procurement, development issues, real property transactions, CEQA, and Audit Appeals
- Charter School Law
Ms. Macy is a regular speaker for various educational organizations, including:
- California School Boards Association (CSBA)
- California School Business Officials Association (CASBO)
- Association of California School Administrators (ACSA)
- Coalition for Adequate School Housing (CASH)
- Council of School Attorneys (CCSA)
Education
- University of Oregon, J.D. (2003)
- Specialized training in Alternative Dispute Resolution
- Washington & Lee University, B.A., Public Policy and Religion (2000)
- Completed the Shepherd Program for the Interdisciplinary Study of Poverty
- University of Virginia, Darden School of Business, Partnership for Leaders in Education, Ignite Training (2024)
School Board Prevails Against PERB in For-Cause Dismissal of Union President
IMPORTANT UPDATEOn April 24, 2024, in Visalia Unified School District v. Public Employment Relations Board (2024) 98 Cal.App.5th 844, 851, reh'g denied (Jan. 31, 2024), review denied (Apr. 24, 2024), the California Supreme Court denied both a Petition for Review filed by CSEA and a request for depublication, also filed by CSEA. The result of the denials affirms important legal precedent that a school board's finding of good cause to terminate a permanent classified school employee for poor p...
Governor Newsom Signs Comprehensive Reforms for Charter Schools
October 2019Number 49In the largest overhaul of California's Charter Schools Act ("Act") since it was enacted in 1992, Governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 1505 and AB 1507 on October 3, 2019. The Act authorizes the establishment and operation of charter schools in California. The closely watched and hotly debated reforms impact most aspects of charter school authorization, including oversight, appeals, and renewals. Enactment of AB 1505 and AB 1507 follows months of negotiations and compromises f...
Shielding Student Data
Today’s parents face tough questions when it comes to their children’s use of technology: Is my child being tracked by malicious or harmful cookies? Could my child’s personal information become public? Could this technology expose my child to pornography or other harm? Parents are understandably cautious about their children using technology: Student privacy matters. Parents entrust schools with monitoring and controlling their children’s use of education tech...
Part-Time Playground Positions to Join Classified Service
November 2017 Number 76 School districts' part-time playground positions will join the classified service when Assembly Bill (AB) 670 becomes effective on January 1, 2018. Under the new law, part-time playground positions, including noon-duty aides, yard aides, noon-time assistants, and playground aides, will no longer be exempt from the classified service. The law will only apply to school districts that have not incorporated a merit system. AB 670 provides employees in part-time p...
ACSA Leadership - Flexible and personalized, nonclassroom-based education is on the rise
Lozano Smith attorneys Megan Macy and Erin Hamor publish article "Flexible and personalized, nonclassroom-based education is on the rise" in ACSA's Leadership magazine. Read the Article...
State Board of Education Adopts Waiver Policy for Unlawfully Located Nonclassroom-based Charter Schools
April 2017 Number 15 The State Board of Education (State Board) recently approved Policy No. 17-01 (Policy), which permits the board to issue temporary waivers to nonclassroom-based charter schools operating "resource centers" outside the geographical boundaries of their chartering school district. The State Board's decision comes on the heels of a closely watched charter school decision, Anderson Union High School District v. Shasta Secondary Home School (2016) 4 Cal.App.5th 262 (Ander...
Closely Watched Charter School Decision Becomes Binding Precedent
January 2017 Number 5 The Third District Court of Appeal’s decision in Anderson Union High School District v. Shasta Secondary Home School (2016) 4 Cal.App.5th 262 (Anderson) is now binding law in California. Following successful legal argument by Lozano Smith, the court, on October 17, 2016, confirmed that the geographic and site limitations of the Charter Schools Act (Act) are applicable to all charter schools, including “nonclassroom-based” programs. On January 18, ...
California Court Rules that Charter Schools Generally Cannot Locate Outside of Their Authorizing School District's Boundaries
October 2016 Number 79 In a case watched closely by the charter school community - including school districts, county offices of education and charter operators - California's Third District Court of Appeal has issued an opinion which holds that the geographic and site limitations of the Charter Schools Act (Ed. Code, § 47600 et seq.) are applicable to all charter schools, including "nonclassroom-based" programs. (Anderson Union High School District v. Shasta Secondary Home School (O...
FCC Issues Guidance on Schools' Use of Robocalls
September 2016 Number 61 Last month, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) confirmed that in limited circumstances, schools may make robocalls to their student community without violating the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). The FCC determined that schools could "lawfully make robocalls or send automated texts to student family wireless phones pursuant to an 'emergency purpose' exception or with prior express consent." The ruling provides much-needed guidance for schools...
Level 3 Developer Fees are Again Moving Forward after Latest Court Decision
August 2016 Number 55 A recent court decision has again opened the door for eligible school districts to impose 'Level 3' developer fees. As Lozano Smith previously reported, the State Allocation Board (SAB) took unprecedented action in May to authorize eligible school districts to collect Level 3 fees. SAB's determination that state funds are no longer available for new school construction, which triggers the Level 3 fees, was challenged in court by the California Building Industry Assoc...
Keeping Pace with Developments in Student Gender Identity Rights
In May 2016, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights (OCR) and U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) issued joint guidance regarding transgender student rights, sparking nationwide media coverage and a surge in lawsuits related to the guidance, as if it was the first time this issue had ever been breached on a local, state or federal level. To the contrary, and especially in California, the statutory framework regarding transgender student rights have been in place for several...
Level 3 Litigation Underway, Prohibiting Collection of Level 3 Fees
Lozano Smith Alert May 2016 As Lozano Smith reported yesterday, the State Allocation Board (SAB) took unprecedented action this week authorizing eligible school districts to collect 'Level 3' developer fees. The litigation that was threatened and that was mentioned in our client news brief has become a reality. On the same day that SAB approved Level 3 fees, the California Building Industry Association (CBIA) filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate in Sacramento County Superior Court. Ye...
State Allocation Board Authorizes Collection of "Level 3" Developer Fees for the First Time in California History
*** Update: May 27, 2016*** The litigation that was threatened and that was mentioned in the below client news brief has become a reality. Details here. May 2016 Number 33 The State Allocation Board (SAB) has taken the unprecedented step of determining that state funding is no longer available for apportionment for school facilities, triggering some school districts' eligibility to collect higher 'Level 3' fees for the first time ever. The Board's historic May 25 decision is alrea...
California Supreme Court Extends the Scope of Design Immunity
December 2015 Number 81 In a unanimous decision, the California Supreme Court recently issued a ruling that extends the scope of design immunity for public agencies. Hampton v. County of San Diego (Dec. 10, 2015, S213132) 2015 Cal.Lexis 9854 (Hampton) clarifies that a public agency need not necessarily show that an employee approving a public works project followed, or was even aware of, applicable design standards to claim immunity. However, such an inquiry is still relevant in deciding ...
New Statutes Affect Local Agency Public Works Projects
November 2015 Number 72 New legislation will impact public works projects for local public agencies, including cities, school districts, and counties. In light of these changes, public agencies will want to closely review their public works bidding and construction documents to ensure they are updated in accordance with these new laws. Liquidated Damages - Government Code section 53069.85 currently allows liquidated damage provisions in local agency public works contracts to compensa...
Lozano Smith's Megan Macy is featured as a panelist on CSBA's latest Legal Update Webcast
Lease-leasebacks and Conflict of Interest...
Supreme Court Denies Review of Lease-Leaseback Case
August 2015 Number 48 In a closely watched case, the California Supreme Court has denied petitions for review of the opinion in Davis v. Fresno Unified School District (June 1, 2015) case no. F068477 (5th App. Dist.). The Court has also denied requests for depublication of the case by the school district and various statewide organizations interested in the outcome. This means that a lawsuit will be allowed to proceed against a particular lease-leaseback arrangement that is similar to man...
Public Agencies May Not Withhold Retention Without A Dispute Regarding Contractor Performance
February 2015Number 10In light of a recent court of appeal decision, all public agencies are cautioned to examine carefully their retention practices at project closeout. The court in FTR International, Inc. v. Rio School Dist. (Jan. 27, 2015) 2015 Cal.App.Lexis 68, concluded that a dispute over the contract price does not entitle a public agency to withhold funds due to the prime contractor. In the event of a dispute, a public entity may only withhold funds from retention as security against...
Legislature Permits Alcoholic Beverages at Certain School Facilities When Students Are Not on Campus
November 2014 Number 87 The Legislature recently amended the law to permit the consumption of alcoholic beverages at facilities owned and operated by various educational agencies, including school districts and community college districts. This change provides additional latitude for educational agencies to make their facilities available to community groups and individuals for fundraising and other private events that could provide additional revenue. Permitting the consumption of alcoho...
Can School Districts Collect "Level 3" Developer Fees?
September 2014 Number 57 In June 2012, the Legislature suspended school districts' ability to levy "Level 3" developer fees. This suspension would be lifted if, by August 31, 2014, a statewide facilities bond was not placed on the ballot for the November 4th general election. As a statewide facilities bond was not placed on the ballot, the suspension on collecting Level 3 fees was lifted on September 1, 2014. Despite anticipation that a further extension of the suspension of Level 3 fees ...
Appellate Court Affirms a Public Agency's Right to Waive an Inconsequential Bid Defect
April 2014 Number 25 When is a defect in a low bidder's paperwork too significant for the public entity owner to waive? The Court of Appeal recently added another piece in the patchwork quilt of law addressing this seemingly simple, but sometimes difficult, question. The court concluded that a public agency may waive the omission of a single page of a bid package if exclusion of the page did not affect the bid amount or provide the bidder an advantage. In Bay Cities Paving & Gradin...
Important Changes in Labor Laws Related to Prevailing Wage Assessments and Actions, Payroll Records and Public Works Determinations
October 2013 Number 73 Recent changes to the Labor Code make wide-ranging adjustments to the procedures by which prevailing wage violations are investigated and enforced. Two bills recently signed by Governor Brown, Assembly Bill (AB) 1336 and Senate Bill (SB) 377, amend portions of the Labor Code associated with assessments and actions related to prevailing wages, the production of payroll records and public works project determinations. These changes extend and toll the time for the ...
REMINDER: School Districts Must Prequalify Contractors on Certain Projects Beginning 2014
September 2013 Number 55 Adding to the complexity of shepherding a project through public bidding, school districts will soon be required to prequalify bidders on many projects. Lozano Smith has prepared the tools to navigate the impact of this new law. More details and additional guidelines on prequalification rules will be discussed during Lozano Smith's free webinar on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. School districts with an average daily attendance of 2,500 or more award...
Court Allows Eminent Domain Action to Proceed Prior to Completion of CEQA Review
April 2013 Number 22 A recent court decision provides authority for public agencies to commence an eminent domain proceeding, in some circumstances, prior to completion of environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). In Golden Gate Land Holdings, LLC. v. East Bay Regional Park District (April 12, 2013) __ Cal.App.4th __ (2013 WL 1491547) ("Golden Gate Land Holdings"),the Court of Appeal for the First Appellate District held that a park district had improperl...
New Law Holds Charter Schools Accountable For Producing Results
October 2012 Number 54 Beginning January 1, 2013, the "academic achievement" of a charter school's students will be the most important factor chartering authorities must consider when renewing or revoking a charter. Senate Bill (SB) 1290 amends various provisions of the Education Code to require chartering authorities, including school districts and county offices of education, to place greater weight on the minimum academic achievement of the charter school's pupils, and their significant ...
School Districts Must Offer Surplus Property to Charter Schools Requesting Notification
July 2012 Number 41 New legislation that became effective on June 27, 2012, gives charter schools interested in surplus school district real property priority to buy or lease such property. Senate Bill (SB) 1016 requires school districts seeking to sell or lease surplus property to offer that property first to any charter school that has submitted a written request to be notified of surplus property offered for sale or lease by the school district. Such offers are required for any propert...
State Allocation Board Increases Developer Fees; 2012 Updates To Lozano Smith's Developer Fee Handbook Are Now Available
January 2012 Number 05 On January 25, 2012, the State Allocation Board (SAB) approved a substantial inflationary increase applicable to "Level 1" developer fees. Based on application of the Marshall & Swift Eight California Cities Index for construction costs, SAB adjusted the Level 1 fee to $3.20 per square foot for residential development and $.51 for commercial development. Pursuant to Government Code section 65995, the fee may be increased in every even year. Because there was no ...
New Charter Revocation Regulations Become Effective December 16, 2011
December 2011 Number 83 The State Board of Education (SBE) recently approved implementing regulations for Education Code section 47607, effective December 16, 2011, setting forth a detailed process for school districts and county offices of education authorizing charter schools ("Authorities") to follow when revoking a charter. Additionally, the regulations set forth an expedited process when there is a severe and imminent threat to the health or safety of pupils and detail the appeal pro...
An Attorney's Fee Clause In A Performance Bond Can Be Enforced Against A Project Owner
February 2011 Number 6 A recent case has highlighted the need for public agency owners to review the terms of any performance bond for a construction project to guard against the risk that a contractor or surety may be able to successfully pursue attorneys' fees for disputes implicating the bond - even where the underlying construction contract does not allow for attorneys' fees. In Mepco Services, Inc. v. Saddleback Valley Unified School District (2010) 189 Cal.App.4th 1027, the Court aw...
Significant Cases
- In the precedent setting case, Anderson Union High School District v. Shasta Secondary Home School (2016) 4 Cal.App.5th 262, Ms. Macy argued before the Third District Court of Appeal, and was part of the Lozano Smith team that prevailed when the Court confirmed that the geographic and site limitations of the Charter Schools Act (Ed. Code, § 47600 et seq.) are applicable to all charter schools, including “nonclassroom-based” programs.
- In New Jerusalem Elementary School District v. Academy of Arts & Sciences Charter School, San Joaquin County Superior Court Case No. STC-cv-UMC-2016-1072, Ms. Macy was part of the Lozano Smith team obtaining a $1.5 million settlement on behalf of New Jerusalem School District against a charter schools for recovery of funds allocated to two charter schools previously operated by the charter schools, which became dependent charter schools operated by the District. The settlement was reached after Lozano Smith successfully argued that such funds belonged and should follow the students to which the funding was allocated by the State.
- In an audit appeal by Orinda Union School District, the Education Audit Appeals Panel determined the District’s auditor erred in applying legal standards during an audit that were not applicable at the time the District’s questioned conduct occurred. As a result, the District retained over $635,000 in State Funding for its academic programs. (Appeal of 2009-10 Audit Finding 10-07 by Orinda Union School District, EAAP Case No. 11-13.)
- Successfully negotiating resolution of multi-party construction litigation stemming from contractor termination. (Air Systems, Inc., v. Campbell Union High School District.)
- Successfully negotiating resolution of facilities accessibility issues related to existing consent decree. (Spieler v. Mt. Diablo Unified School District.)