Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – April 27, 2024
AGENDA
Board of Directors Meeting
April 27, 2024 – 9:00am – 3:00pm
9:00am | Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Approve Minutes Donna Gleaves |
9:15am | Governance Committee Report • Reappoint Board Members Paula McMahon |
9:30am | PAIMI Advisory Council Report • Shodair Facility Tour Cassie Dellwo, Advisory Council Chair |
9:45am | Finance / Audit Committee Report Elden Reddig and Katherine Murfitt, Director of Finance and Administration |
10:15am | Fundraising / Long-Range Planning Committee Report Jackie Mohler |
10:30am | Legislative Committee Report Joel Peden |
10:40am | Executive Committee Report Donna Gleaves |
11:00am | Program Update Michelle Weltman and Tal Goldin, Director of Advocacy |
12:00pm | Lunch |
1:00pm | Executive Director Report • Grievance Report • Personnel Updates David Carlson, Executive Director |
1:15pm | Annual Review of Strategic Plan • Board Training |
2:15pm | Executive Session • Executive Director Evaluation Plan |
2:45pm | Public Comments / Announcements / Planning for Next Meeting |
3:00pm | Adjourn |
Nonprofits Bring Suit to Block Destructive School Voucher Bill
Nonprofits Bring Suit to Block Destructive School Voucher Bill
This afternoon, Disability Rights Montana filed a lawsuit to block a destructive and misleading “disability education savings account” program that was created under the guise of helping students with disabilities. Our analysis shows this program will illegally hurt students with disabilities. We explained this to the legislature, but they did not heed our warning. We have been left with no other option than to use the courts to stop its implementation.
“This bill does not help Montanans with disabilities,” said Tal Goldin, Director of Advocacy at and attorney for Disability Rights Montana. “Instead, it reduces public school resources while offering no assurance that students with disabilities who leave the public schools will receive appropriate educational services that meet their needs. It’s a lose-lose situation.”
As the designated statewide Protection and Advocacy system for Montana, Disability Rights Montana appears in this case as an organizational plaintiff, suing on behalf of all students with disabilities across the state. We are joined by our co-plaintiff partner, the Montana Quality Education Coalition. They are one of the largest education advocacy organizations in the state. Their coalition includes more than 100 school districts and six educational organizations representing innumerable teachers, trustees, and administrators from across the state in urban and rural areas, large and small schools, and from the east to the west. In addition to being a plaintiff, Disability Rights Montana attorneys, Tal Goldin, our Director of Advocacy, and Michelle Weltman, our Supervising Attorney for Education, are representing us in the case along with additional co-counseling attorneys from Upper Seven Law.
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – January 27, 2024
AGENDA
Board of Directors Meeting
January 27, 2024 – 9:00am – 3:00pm
9:00am | Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Annual Confidentiality Agreement and Conflict of Interest Disclosure Approve Minutes Donna Gleaves |
9:15am | Governance Committee Report • Elect officers and committee chairs • Ratify PAC chair • Reappoint Board Members • Review Member Composition of BOD (Art V Sec. 3) Paula McMahon |
9:45am | PAIMI Advisory Council Report Cassie Dellwo, Advisory Council Chair |
10:00am | Finance / Audit Committee Report Elden Reddig and Katherine Murfitt, Director of Finance and Administration |
10:30am | Fundraising / Long-Range Planning Committee Report Jackie Mohler |
10:45am | Legislative Committee Report Joel Peden |
11:00am | Executive Committee Report Donna Gleaves |
11:15am | Program Update Mike Lahr and Joani Boudreau and Tal Goldin, Advocacy Director |
11:45am | Executive Session • Risk Assessment |
12:00pm | Lunch |
1:00pm | Executive Director Report • Grievance Report • Personnel Updates David Carlson, Executive Director |
1:30pm | Review Board responsibilities regarding priorities and objectives and public comment (42 USC §15043(a)(2)(C)-(D); 42 CFR 51.24) • Board Training • Generate Priority and Objective Community Input Ideas |
2:45pm | Public Comments / Announcements / Planning for Next Meeting |
3:00pm | Adjourn |
Press Release: DRM selects Tal Goldin as inaugural Director of Advocacy
Disability Rights Montana (DRM) selects Tal Goldin as inaugural Director of Advocacy
HELENA, MT – Disability Rights Montana is excited to announce the selection of Tal Goldin as its inaugural Director of Advocacy, leading DRM’s day-to-day programmatic work.
Tal has spent the majority of his nearly 15-year career as a Montana lawyer advocating for the rights of people with disabilities, people living in poverty, victims of crimes, and other marginalized populations. Tal has led teams focusing on education, employment, benefits, and independent living at DRM since 2015 and successfully prosecuted a wide range of litigation in state and federal courts, including landmark work vindicating the rights of K-12 students with disabilities. He previously served as the first Director of Advocacy at Montana Legal Services Association and practiced with private firms in Missoula and Dillon, MT.
Tal taught Special Education Law at the University of Montana, Phyllis J. Washington College of Education and Human Sciences, served as an adjunct professor at the University of Montana School of Law, and has presented throughout Montana and nationally on the civil rights of people with disabilities. He is a member of the national board of directors of the Council of Parent Attorneys and Advocates (COPAA), the nation’s leading organization advocating for the civil rights of K-12 students with disabilities, and serves on COPAA’s amicus committee. He is a 2013 fellow of the New Leader’s Council and a member of the Order of Barristers, the American Association for Justice, and the Montana Trial Lawyers’ Association. Tal is admitted to practice law before Montana and Washington state courts, the United States District Court for the District of Montana, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.
Tal received his B.F.A., cum laude, from the State University of New York, Purchase College and his Juris Doctorate from the University of Montana School of Law, where he twice served on the Jessup International Law Moot Court team.
Bernie Franks-Ongoy, DRM’s retiring Executive Director, said, “Tal is a remarkable leader and advocate for Montanans with Disabilities who will continue to serve our community, leading the programmatic operations of our organization as a wonderful partner to our incoming Executive Director.”
Board of Directors Meeting Agenda – September 30, 2023
AGENDA
Board of Directors Meeting
September 30, 2023 – 9:00am – 3:00pm
9:00am | Call to Order Notice of Meeting Conflict of Interest Check Approval of Minutes Donna Gleaves |
9:15am | Introductions |
9:45am | Executive Committee Report Donna Gleaves |
10:00am | PAIMI Advisory Council Report Cassie Dellwo, Advisory Council Chair |
10:15am | Finance / Audit Committee Report • FY24 Budget • Budget Development Training Katherine Murfitt and Elden Reddig |
11:45am | Governance Committee Report Paula McMahon |
12:00pm | Lunch |
1:00pm | Fundraising / Long-Range Planning Committee Report Jackie Mohler |
1:15pm | Legislative Committee Report Joel Peden |
1:30pm | FY24 Priorities and Objectives Bernadette Franks-Ongoy and Tal Goldin |
2:15pm | Executive Director Report • Grievance Report • Recap of the years. Remarks to the Board. Bernie Franks-Ongoy |
2:45pm | Public Comment / Announcements / Planning for Next Meeting |
300:pm | Adjourn |
Press Release: Disability Rights Montana (DRM) selects new Executive Director, expresses gratitude to retiring Executive Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, September 1, 2023
Contact: Katherine Murfitt
Position: Director of Administration and Finance
Organization: Disability Rights Montana
Email: Katherine@DisabilityRightsMT.org
Phone: (406) 441-4822
Disability Rights Montana (DRM) selects new Executive Director, expresses gratitude to retiring Executive Director.
Following a national search, Disability Rights Montana’s Board of Directors is excited to announce the selection of David Carlson as its new Executive Director.
Disability Rights Montana is the federally mandated protection and advocacy system for Montana with the mission of protecting and advocating for the civil, legal, and human rights of people with disabilities across Montana, while advancing dignity, equality, and self-determination.
David comes to DRM following 21 years with the protection and advocacy system in Washington state, Disability Rights Washington (DRW). David led the advocacy work at DRW, including monitoring facilities and community settings, investigating potential abuse and neglect, issuing public reports and videos, engaging in both traditional and social media advocacy, conducting systemic legal and policy advocacy, and providing Washingtonians with disabilities information about their legal rights and support in being better self-advocates.
David has served as lead counsel in numerous class actions and other systemic advocacy efforts enforcing a wide variety of civil rights for people with disabilities. David’s advocacy work has been recognized in national and international media. He has given presentations on disability legal issues, legal ethics, and advocacy skills around the country. Additionally, David has taught Disability Law as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Seattle University and served as a member of the National Disability Rights Network’s Board of Directors and its legal strategy committee.
David graduated Cum Laude from both Eastern Washington University, where he received his B.A., and Gonzaga University School of Law, where he received his Juris Doctorate and served as the Editor-in-Chief of Gonzaga Law Review.
Donna Gleaves, President of DRM’s Board said, “We express deep gratitude to Bernie Franks-Ongoy for her 26-year stewardship of our organization and are excited to welcome David to Montana as our new Executive Director. We are confident David’s leadership will enhance an already exceptional staff at DRM. Montanans with disabilities will benefit from his experience and leadership.”
“As the outgoing Executive Director, I am pleased to leave DRM with a strong leadership in David. Together, David and the very capable and committed staff will lead the next chapter of our remarkable organization” said Bernie Franks-Ongoy, who is retiring in November following 26 years of service as DRM’s Executive Director.
David will start at DRM on November 15, 2023.
About the organization
Disability Rights Montana is the federally mandated Protection and Advocacy System and Client Assistance Program for Montana, protecting and advocating for the civil, legal, and human rights of persons with disabilities of all ages and across Montana. DRM has the authority to monitor and investigate the provision of services for people with disabilities anywhere in the State. This includes schools, hospitals, prisons, and jails. People with disabilities have a right to be treated equally, with dignity and respect, and should never have to experience any mistreatment, exploitation, abuse, or neglect.
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