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Ruesch-ing to schools’ aid

Ruesch-ing to schools’ aid

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(Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)
(Staff photo by Kevin Harnack)

Gary Ruesch has taken a keen interest in learning about how schools are run since he joined the School District of Greenfield’s School Board while in college.

“I found it fascinating to see how school districts work,” said Ruesch, an attorney at Buelow Vetter Buikema Olson & Vliet, in Milwaukee. “I was fortunate to find a job after law school where I could work with schools. School officials really care about other people and I enjoy working with clients who are doing good in their communities.”

But how did he get on the school board while still in college? That precocious achievement came about when some former teammates from the Greenfield High School’s debate team approached him to seek his help in persuading the school board not to eliminate the debate team.

“I was captain of the debate team when I was a senior so I agreed and started going to school board meetings and working with some of the officials,” he said. “I found that I really enjoyed it. And we saved the debate team.”

That experience got him interested in running for the school board. After he won, he remained on the board while earning his bachelor’s and law degrees from Marquette University.

“I’ve honestly never thought of doing anything but work with school districts,” said Ruesch, who received the 2015 George Tipler Award by the Wisconsin School Attorneys Association, an honor that goes to an attorney who demonstrates high achievement and dedication to the representation of school districts in Wisconsin.

Although Ruesch handles a variety of cases involving school districts, he specializes in defending school districts that are sued by the parents of children with special needs. He said those cases can be difficult, but, in the end, both the school and parents have a common goal – providing the best instruction possible to a student.

“Ninety-nine percent of the time, we can resolve the issue without going to trial,” Ruesch said.

Wisconsin’s Act 10, which did away with the bulk of teachers unions’ collective-bargaining rights in 2011, greatly affected relations between teachers and school districts, Ruesch said.

“I felt like we had to build relationships all over again,” he said. “It created challenges, but it also created opportunities and districts have been able to be more innovative.”

Wisconsin’s Act 10 isn’t the only profound change that school lawyers are dealing with. Ruesch said the priority that federal guidelines now tend to take over state laws has brought in tow its own set of difficulties.

“An example is the so-called ‘bathroom’ rule that the federal government issued (last year) that said students should be able to use the bathroom or locker room of the gender they identified with.

That sent school districts scrambling because many did not have a rule or policy regarding the issue,” he said. “It’s hard for school districts and boards to turn on a dime like that.”

Wisconsin Law Journal: What makes your work important to you?
Gary Ruesch: Representing schools and school districts allows me to assist a dedicated group of educators whose primary concern is the education of our future leaders. An effective education system is crucial to the survival of our democracy. As the U.S. Supreme Court said in Brown vs. Board of Education: “Today, education is perhaps the most important function of state and local governments. Compulsory school attendance laws and the great expenditures for education both demonstrate our recognition of the importance of education to our democratic society. It is required in the performance of our most basic public responsibilities, even service in the armed forces. It is the very foundation of good citizenship. Today, it is a principal instrument in awakening the child to cultural values, in preparing him for later professional training, and in helping him to adjust normally to his environment. In these days, it is doubtful that any child may reasonably be expected to succeed in life if he is denied the opportunity of an education. Such an opportunity, where the state has undertaken to provide it, is a right which must be made available to all on equal terms.”

WLJ: Who is your hero in the legal field?
Ruesch: Thomas More is for his dedication to the rule of law and doing what is right, within those rules. He could see beyond the present.

WLJ: What do you do outside of work to deal with stress from the office?
Ruesch: I enjoy spending time with my family and going for walks. Our family vacations are highlights of my year. Recent trips were to Iceland, Maine and Canada. Needless to say, over the years, our four children’s school activities, including girls’ high school rugby, have been great fun, too.

WLJ: What’s one thing many people get wrong about what you do?
Ruesch: Attorneys representing schools do a lot of good for children. We assist dedicated teachers and administrators in protecting the rights and well-being of students. Our clients work hard to better educational opportunities for all students.

WLJ: What’s your favorite memory from law school?
Ruesch: My favorite memory is a composite of my law school experience. It was really a “Paper Chase” and I treasure the people and experiences of the day as we fought the good fight to stay a step ahead of our professors. I also treasure the dedication of the deans and professors as they tried to build up our legal skills and knowledge and, most importantly, our values.

WLJ: Is there a certain case that stands out to you?
Ruesch: My first time in federal court was on behalf of a school district that was defending its educational programming for a student with a disability. I realized how dedicated school officials are in trying to meet the needs of all students. This district was so concerned that it took the matter to federal court at its expense do in its view, the right thing.

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