Overview

Gail Zurek is an Associate in Lozano Smith’s Fresno office. Ms. Zurek specializes in public agency law, providing comprehensive legal guidance to school districts, cities, counties, and special districts.

Experience

Ms. Zurek advises public agency clients on a wide range of labor and employment matters, including collective bargaining, employee discipline, disability accommodations, and compliance with state and federal laws. She has participated in negotiations for both classified and certificated employees, drafting memoranda of understanding, tentative agreements, and Sunshine proposals. She regularly supports clients through complex personnel matters, including preparing dismissal charges and guiding districts through complaint processes, such as responses to Civil Rights Department and Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaints, and coordinating with outside investigators when appropriate. Ms. Zurek also assists districts by drafting superintendent and executive contracts and amendments for board approval.

Ms. Zurek provides guidance on governance and municipal law, assisting both school district and municipal clients with Brown Act compliance, including hybrid meetings and teleconferencing requirements, as well as conflicts of interest at the board and senior management levels. She regularly supports clients with contracts, resolutions, ordinance revisions, and governance structures, including Brown Act guidance during both open and closed session meetings.

In addition, Ms. Zurek advises clients on facilities-related issues, including working with school bond committees and drafting facility use agreements. Ms. Zurek also has experience advising on charter school matters, such as preparing board-facing memoranda on legal compliance and policy implications.

Ms. Zurek is a seasoned presenter, delivering trainings and legal updates on topics such as school consolidation processes, Brown Act compliance, ethical considerations, immigration enforcement, artificial intelligence in public agencies, and CPRA-related issues.

Education

Ms. Zurek earned her Juris Doctor from San Joaquin College of Law, where she received the Witkin Award for Contracts and Legal Methods (writing), and her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California Lutheran University.

Follow up on SB 707: Local Educational Agencies Are Not Subject to Certain New Brown Act Meeting Requirements

By: Harold Freiman, Gail Zurek- 06/24/2026

A Supreme Split on Religion-Based Charter Schools

By: Erin Hamor, Edward Sklar, Gail Zurek- 05/30/2025

E107 Public Service and Political Activity: Understanding the Boundaries

By: Scott Cross, Gail Zurek- 09/15/2026

Public employees and officials have the right to participate in political activity, but important restrictions apply when personal advocacy intersects with public employment and agency resources. In this episode, host Michelle Cannon connects with Lozano Smith attorneys Scott Cross and Gail Zurek to discuss how public employees and officials can distinguish between permissible private political activity and conduct performed in an official capacity. The conversation explores campaign activity during work and personal time, the use of agency facilities and resources, political forums and campaign materials, and the rules governing uniforms, agency logos, and equipment. The discussion also examines how public agencies may provide neutral information about ballot measures without engaging in advocacy, along with restrictions involving campaign solicitations, political benefits, and the Levine Act.

E95 From Resume to Red Flag: District Responsibilities Under AB 2534

By: Dulcinea Grantham, Gail Zurek- 06/20/2025

When it comes to hiring certificated staff, the process is now more complex and challenging. In this episode, host Aly Bivins connects with Lozano Smith attorneys Dulcinea Grantham and Gail Zurek to unpack the key provisions and implications of Assembly Bill (AB) 2534, focusing on legal obligations for Local Education Agencies related to certificated employees and egregious misconduct. Packed with FAQs, explanations of key obligations, and steps for practical compliance, this episode is essential listening for HR teams, administrators, and anyone involved in the certificated hiring process.