The Last Class

Well I can honestly say I have enjoyed this class and have learned a great deal. On our final day we finished negotiations. We were down to salary and insurance so it didn't take long. We settled for a one year but would have preferred a multi. I found the presentations interesting. A lot of information was covered in a short amount of time. It was helpful to get the final in advance as I have been working some pretty long days here lately with the start of the school year. I always like to hear what everyone else has taken away from the experience. Thanks Dr. Closen. This was a worthwhile experience, even if it did create some passionate feelings among some of our cohort members : ) See everyone next weekend!!

EDL 623 LAST CALL

The entire bargaining process brought out emotions and frustrations that were hidden deep down in my soul. Ok..that is a little dramatic but I am very glad we were able to settle on that last day. We expedited the process because we had 4 issues to deal with. I am not sure that we "won" because we agreed to a one year contract. Someone posted about the Illini Bluffs situation. It would have been fun to hear from someone from that district so get the real "scoop." I see where they avoided a strike. Everyone did a great job on their presentatons. See you in a few days to learn about some very interesting topics!! I hope everyone has had a great start to the school year.

Last Class

I feel that the last day of the simulation was probably the most difficult. Trying to remember what was proposed or tentatively agreed upon from several weeks ago was difficult. However, this will be reality when we become superintendents. I feel that organization is probably one of the most important aspects of the bargaining process. Learning what not to do is just as important as what to do. The Illini Bluffs example and stories from Dr. Closen contain many of the "not to do's" The roundtable disussion at the end of class was very interesting. I like hearing what everyone took from the class. It is also nice to see imformative presentations that engage the audience....nice job on the jeopardy lando lakes and angie.

Sunday August 15

The contract bargaining simulation was completed fairly early in the day for our group. I was glad I took good notes on the last meeting date as there was some confusion regarding where we were at in the process. The union team agreed to our final proposal as it was presented. It worked out well even though I think we gave too much in salary I could live with that in that we were able to save in other areas. I found it more challenging than I thought it would be to type up the final contract. There were subtle changes that came into play as we began to formally publish the document. I could see where it would be very important to make sure that both sides were in agreement on the language before that process went too far.
I also presented my topic concerning merit pay. It was a little difficult because I felt tlike everyone was familiar with the topic and zoned out on me. I don't blame anyone for this but i did question how much was gained by the presentations.

Sunday, August 15th

The last day was a productive day. My group of bargainers decided on a one year deal. It was nice to finish the bargaining project.
I really enjoyed Scott Dearman's presentation on Merit pay. It was informative and cleared up myths about how merit pay would work. Nice job Scott!
How can you go wrong with Jeopardy? Very informative game for the class to play. Great job Lan and Angie!
Overall the class has been enjoyable and informative. I have taken several things away from the bargaining process. My last comment would be that I will not be jumping out of an airplane any time soon!

Final Day, August 5th

On the final day of class, we finished our mock negotiations. Two thoughts I continue to have are how much "down time" there is while negotiating. One group member going through negotiations mentioned how they forgot their laptop and there was no way to pass the time during caucus. Dr. Closen mentioned that not only do you have to find a way to pass time, the superintendent has to also help the BOE pass time as well. The second area of concern is that the union can make many demands without any concern for available money or to the extent which their demands would be fiscally irresponsible if agreed to by the school district.

Overall trust, being prepared, and perseverance are key to surviving negotiations, even more so if the negotiations are contentious from either side.

August 15-Last class!

It was our final class today. We were able to finalize the collective bargaining simulation. We found out how important it was to have good notes. We honestly couldn't remember exactly where we were at so referring to the notes was key to reminding us where to start from. The process was very good to go through and was very beneficial for all of in listing to everyone’s responses to their summarizing thoughts.
The presentations were full of good information once again today. I enjoyed learning a bit more about the insurance process. Lan and Angie’s Jeopardy game was refreshing and a nice little test of our knowledge of IBB and traditional bargaining. All in all a good day and a good class. I think we all learned a great deal about bargaining and the massive undertaking involved in being prepared to successfully negotiate a good CBA.

August 15th

Today's class was a great wrap-up. It was nice to get some time to finish up our bargaining session. Although, I really think that we felt rushed to get done and would have bargained longer if given time to do so. I enjoyed listening to the last of the presentations and feel that we always learn a lot from each other while still allowing ourselves some fun in the process. I think this class was a great introduction to what we will face as Superintendents, but I think that, as always, until we are in that specific position and role that we will have really no clue what we are in for. And although these classes have taught me so much I also think I now know how much I really don't know as well:(

August 15 - last class!!!

Today we were able to wrap things up in two areas. Our collective bargaining simulation finalized with good feelings. The union group I worked with was a great team and very practical with our requests. Our group was able to TA all the final issues and both sides walked away happy. Afterward, it was good to hear the “take aways” from all the students involved. Each of us had varied experiences and learned respectively. Realistically, our experience all came down to salary and benefits just like it does in the real world. The overall experience was neat and gave all of us a taste of what the experience is like. It forced all of us to prioritize and analyze the resources available to our mock district. Our class also finished our presentations. It is always neat to hear the presentations on various topics. Our class worked hard to give quality presentations and did a nice job.

August 15, 2010

We wrapped up our negotiation simulation today with a tentative agreement on the remaining open items. I feel this exercise has been very worthwhile and have captured many take-a-ways from the activity. I have really enjoyed the Collective Bargaining class and believe that the material covered will pay huge dividends to us as we pursue district level administrative positions. As I reflect upon the cohort scope and sequence of classes, this course provided experiences that have tremendous value associated with the duties and responsibilities of the superintendent.

I really enjoyed the presentations on merit pay, insurance, current trends in bargaining, thin contracts and the IBB/Traditional approach to collective bargaining. I realize that these topics will consume many hours of the superintendent and it is nice to have resources for our professional toolbox to use in future situations.

Last Class - Sunday, Aug 15th

I feel this class was very beneficial for those of us who intend to become Superintendents. My only concern, was the way this class had to be structured, and the large gaps of time we had between our meetings, somewhat inhibited us from conducting the simulation with consistency. However, that being said, the simulation was well worth the effort, as it gives all of us the opportunity to see and experience the contract negotiations process, which many of us had never experienced.
I enjoyed the presentations by the class, as it gave us additional information on various contract related topics. I particularly enjoyed Lan & Angie's Jeopardy game presentation, as it got all of us involved, and solidified many concepts we learned in class. That might be a good way to get the students involved in the review process before the final.

Sunday, August 15th

Last day of class! We were able to come to agreement on our contract assignment. Being a member of the union side, I think the union came away with a generous contract. Lan and Angie's presentation was very enjoyable. Class presentations were interesting. Found them to be very beneficial in the day to day administration of a school district.

In class I made a statement that it is easier to negotiate when there is little money to be haggled over. The negotiations in class were much more difficult to end then my other experiences in the "real" world. I think for those who have not participated in negotiations this was a very good experience.

My two biggest concerns entering the Ed.S. program was school finance and negotiations. I feel like this summer was the most intriguing for me, professionally.

Day 5

Completion of Collective Bargaining took place today. We were able to work to reach agreement with our contract with the board. After three counter proposals, we agreed to a one year deal. Overall, the simulation provided valuable information and insights. Trust/respect must take place for good negotiations to occur. The superintendent must have the trust/respect of the union in order to work towards a settled contract. During our simulation, there were several items that should have gone through smoothly that became argumentative due to these issues. Through the bargaining process, as a teacher, the traditional bargaining approach led my group to ask and try to get all that we could. In today's economic climate, a lot of what we asked for was ridiculous, yet we asked due to the position we were in--we were working to get all that we could get. Our end contract was advantageous for teachers and poor for the district. Looking at alternative bargaining styles will be one of the items I do as a future superintendent. It is crucial that both sides work together and I am not sure that traditional bargaining will allow this in future contracts.

July 20th, 2010

Jay Greening provided his insight on the collective bargaining process. I find it very interesting to have listened to three speakers talk on the same topic...all with a different perspective. I really like the way Jay approaches the bargaining process. He emphasizes the importance to establish good relationships, do your homework ahead of time, and consider the value of "no". Having experienced this firsthand, I appreciate his guidance in trying to provide good practices for the collective bargaining process.

Much of the day was spent going through the negotiations activity. Even though this is a simulation, it is a great way to experience the elements that take place during the bargaining process. The team has been great and our counterparts have been excellent bargaining partners.

July 20

Class was good. The presentation was very informative and like many others have commented, good negotiations start way before anything formal. Honest, trustworthy, straightforward relations get the job done. Our negotiation simulation went well. Our groups work well together and serve as an example of just how smooth things really can go. I am learning a lot about the process, in particular the tricks of the trade such as what 1% on the base will do the whole index. Going through this process for real will serve as the best learning tool. My district negotiates this coming year, so it will be interesting to see how things work out.

7/20 Class

Jay's presentation was interesting. My first thought was about how calm and mild mannered he was. As we broke to do our negotiations we discussed his general demeanor and the fact that he is in a situation where he is representing the district and can walk away at the end whether it is a favorable deal or not. Like others who have posted, being prepared is of the utmost priority. In our simulation, there was a mistake made due to a misunderstanding and another salary schedule issue that was caught by one of the teacher team members. That one error placed the district representation in a poor bargaining position and I wondered whether that could potentially cost a superintendent his/her job is that mistake was made in a real negotiation situation.

July 20

I really enjoyed Jay Greening's presentation. Miller Hall and Triggs represents my district and I have always found them to be a top notch law firm. The handout Jay provided has a great deal of good information that reinforces what we have been discussing in class. As far as negotions I feel that we have hit a turning point in negotiations and should come to an agreement early in the next class. I can't believe some of the language that is included in this contract...very confusing and unreasonable.

class 7/20

When I wasn't coughing, I enjoyed Jay Greening. He is currently our go to Attorney for the Morton school district. I find him to be extremely helpful. What I took from his presentation and packet was preparation. As Superintendent you had better know things front and backwards. The prep sheet he gave us is very valuable. The financial packet was well organized anxious like the spreadsheets. Being able to put numbers in and get immediate feed back is certainly necessary.
The second half of class is getting better for my negotiating group. We are close to a deal.

July 20th

Jay Greening came in and spoke to the class at the start. Jay represents our district and I know him well. I found it interesting that his demeanor was upbeat and I could tell he enjoyed speaking to the class. He made several good points but the one that hit home was doing your homework prior to negotiations. This became evident in our simulation that took part later in the day. We had a misunderstanding and to be truthful it was more of a mistake. I am glad it happened because our group wasn't taking the exercise too serious. We were doing the work and all but we were not real into it and focused. The mistake was something we were willing to do anyway but just not at that time. I have to get props to Joe for calling us on it they were obviously much more in tune to it than we were. It just really hammered home Jay's point about doing your homework and being prepared.

July 20th

Jay Greening gave a very informational presentation of collective bargaining from the Board’s standpoint. He spoke of the importance of preparation and the fact that communication prior to negotiations is a key to success. Essentially what I got out of it is that if you treat people fairly they in return will work with you and trust will be recognized. His perspective on once a board says no to something they must stick with that in order to maintain credibility. His use of examples was helpful and would have enjoyed even more of them so that we could relate better.

We hit the collective bargaining hard on this day. Our group is very close to contract. Though it is a simulation one does feel the pressure not to make a mistake. My group made a mistake and was called to the carpet on it by a very sharp negotiator. We realized we messed up and true to proper collective bargaining we had to honor our mistake and made a major concession to the teachers. All in all a great humbling experience! I feel we will finalize our contract in the last meeting of class and for the most part both sides will be happy.

July 7th

We started to get into the nuts and bolts of negotiations. Sitting on the Board side, I enjoyed listening to the teacher group make their proposal and their rationale behind their demands per the CBA. It is amazing the amount of time, knowledge, and detail it will take to truly be prepared for a negotiation session, particularly from the Board side of the table. Obviously, we have not done it justice in our simulation due to many factors but what we are getting out of it is the enormity of the process and that is an excellent experience. It will be interesting how the simulation will unfold.

I found Dr. House’s visit very informational. I enjoyed listening to everyone’s experiences during their internship. I think slowly we are figuring out that we can do the job of a superintendent but we all have a great deal to learn about the position but that will come with time. The internship will be a very valuable tool for us to continue to gain confidence and knowledge.

July 20th

Our day began with Jay Greening. As I listened to him I can't help but to wonder if any coursework can prepare us for this position. His financial work was helpful and I especially like the one page historical view of fund balances, revenues and expenditures. The more information I hear from our presenters only confirms my thoughts and feeling on the negotiation process. There must be an expert at the table representing the BOE. Clearly it won't be me!
The presentations given by my classmates were insightful and appreciated. Much of our content is overlapping, which is good.
Negotiations are going fine. I think we are down to money and insurance. This has been an interesting exercise. Body language and personalities really come out even in the stimulation (I mean simulation : )... ).

July 20th

Jay Greening kicked off the class today and I found waht he had to say a great reminder of most of what Dr. Closen had already covered with us. It was interesting to listen to him versus the "union goon" who had already spoke to us earlier in the class. I appreciated my classmates presentations and found them to be interesting tidbits of information. As much as I learn in this class I also feel that it uncovers so much more that I now know I don't know. Scary!! Our negotiations seem to be moving a bit quicker than the last time we met but we spent quite a bit of time on language issues and are just now starting to get down to the meat of the contract: money.

July 20

Today began with a guest speaker, Jay Greening. He did a great job of outlining the negotiation process from the Board of Education point of view. Jay emphasized the importance of preparation to be done before you ever sit down at the table and begin negotiations. His spread sheet with comparable districts, and stating the importance of figuring salary increases at 1% are invaluable. Again, he, just like Dr. Closen, have emphasized the importance of "doing your homework" before negotions begin. We spent the majority of the day on contract negotiation simulations. Our group ran into a snafoo, whereby both groups assumed we were looking at the same financial data....and we weren't. That screw up, in the simulation, was enough to prove to me the importance of all parties in the negotiations being on the same page. This simulation is a very worthwhile experience.

Bargaining July 20

We were able to review the first proposal from management to begin today's work. Managements proposal had merit as we looked at it from an administrative stand point. From a teacher's stand point, I found that it was hard to agree to change proposed items. Thoughts of how teachers worked to have these items and the time and battles that it may have took came up. It was hard to give up items knowing that these items may never be given back--although many were obscene from an administrative point of view. These items included five days of leave per death of immediate family, four personal/professional days, and place on salary scale staying while away for other duties. These were easier items to agree to work down. The activity has been educational in the process and in learning how you have to work to keep emotions out. Both sides are working to reach a fair agreement. Hearing from the school attorney was useful in that there were many points presented that if used will be beneficial in future negotiation sessions. Particularly, information regarding duty to bargain is important.

July 20, 2010

As our group is coming to an agreement on the contract and after listening to Chris Dvorak's presentation, I have to believe that there is a better to come to consensus on the collective bargaining agreement. The exercise is going well. Presentations were insightful from classmates. Jay Greening was informational and good. This class has been useful due to my participation in my district's negotiations.

collective bargaining 7/20

Jay Greening spend a couple of hours presenting his experiences with collective bargaining. One of the most useful tools for negotiating would be the salary comparison spreadsheet. Of course the district financial analysis would be a necessity. The historical budget information supplies much needed information for salary and benefits negotiating. The rest of the day was spent on simulation bargaining and presentations. The presentations went well. Bargaining was still frustrating but progress is being made. Slowly!!

Collective Bargaining 7/7

Today was a difficult day of bargaining. I learned a lot by working in our small groups. It was interesting to see how people reacted differently. Our initial sit down did not go well. There were too many people talking. I think both groups learned from the first sit down, and when our group made the first proposal...it went rather smooth.
As a Superintendent, I am learning that patience and not showing emotions can be a good thing most of the time. I have enjoyed working with my group in figuring out the contract and asking for the appropriate thing.
Even though it was not an official part of class, the seminar session was valuable. Listenting to other experiences helps you in your journey.

7/7 Negotiations

First, I have no experience with negotiations other than our simulation in class. Working on a proposal from the side of the union is interesting in that we didn't take into account any of the financial information for the district, which is extremely important from the side of the administrators. I asked a fellow member if the teachers use any financial information when making their initial proposals and they indicated that they do not. I am beginning to understand the rifts that form between the union and the administration when one side is making proposals without the understanding of financial or other restraints. Our negotiation teams are very professional with both teams working well together, I can only imagine the complexity of adding in a hostile party on either side and the implications that it would have on the time that negotiations take and the negative impact on the relationship between the union and administration.

Collective Bargaining 7/7

Our bargaining simulation is going very slowly. Sitting and waiting!! It is important to remember to bring something else to work on as you are waiting for proposals and/or counter-proposals. This is a great experience but a very frustrating one. I am on the union side and I keep finding myself thinking as an administrator. I know all proposals should be considered seriously but do some proposals contain "junk" that are easily given away in hopes of something in return? It was nice to realize that I am right on track with some of the others when it comes to the internship. My frustration is with my superintendent. Instead of including me in "things", he simply says you can join me in whatever I am doing. I guess I'll just be his little side-kick for awhile!! See you all on the 20th.

This class was good. As students, we had practical experiences in the roles of negotiators. The exercise was very realistic, as both sides have to review all the details of each proposal. Overall, the ability to lay decent ground rules was key. With fair boundaries, the rest of the process has been smooth thus far. Our proposal was fair and right to the point. As of now, the team representing the board felt our list was reasonable. I'm sure they will come back with a decent counter-proposal. The class also had a chance to see how all this plays out from a different perspective. With the guest speaker, the union's view was clearly laid out. Most of the discussion/presentation made sense and was easy to follow. Overall, we are gaining an accurate understanding of the enormity of the process and while at the same time experiencing the intricacies as well. I'm looking forward to the final class.

I found the bargaining simulation to be very informative. I have only been on the teacher side of negotiations, so being on the board side gave me a very different perspective. Contract language and working seems to be the most difficult part of this process. Having two side agree on the correct wording and intent seems to be one of the biggest hurdles. This process just reinforces the need for proper planning on both sides to make negotiations run smoothly.

I enjoyed the conversations with Dr. House. It is interesting to see what everyone else in the cohort is doing for their internships. Comparing and contrasting experiences reinforces the diversity of districts and situations we are all in.

July 8

I found our simulation bargaining experience to be pretty right on. I am on the teacher team and our first proposal had some great "ideas" but lacked language. We made those adjustments and both parties spent the majority of the time in caucus. I just recently finished participating in the negotiating of our certified and non-certified contracts. My experience was very similar. We spent the majority of our time in caucus. There were varying experiences within our simulation team, which was good. My group is working together well and are confident our proposal is fair and we will be "TA"ing on many items : )
I think a concern I have is the organization portion of this process in regards to note taking. During my internship experience the superintendent did it all, with some assistance from me. I'm in a small district. So, my mind is spinning on the thoughts of the many ways to organize the process. Having someone be the official note taker is ideal but may not be an option. It has been good to relate my course experience to my internship experience.

July 6th

I found our visitor from the union most interesting, especially since he was previously a building administrator. Clearly not his thing. I have a couple of thoughts or concerns I guess. One being, when did the focus of eduction move from the students to the adults? I'm not saying I want anyone working in an unhealthy environment. I don't understand. When will it end? Will the contract language ever be enough? Will administration and teachers always be compared in regards to salary when clearly we are oranges to apples? And finally, why should the language ever imply anything? Either it specifically states the circumstances or it does not. I think the only other item that raised my brow was his use of he term "full work year". I was a teacher and never worked a full year. I worked 185 days a year. Now as an administrator, my time off isn't even my time off. So, I found that phrase interesting. It was a valuable experience as we now know the different kinds of people and the mindsets we are up against when bargaining.

July 7, 2010

I am amazed at the amount of time that is spent on creating proposals and counter proposals. I do think that unless you have sat through a negotiations you can never truly understand why they take as long as they do, but once you have done that it is an "ah ha" moment in itself. The complexities of the personalities alone can slow the process down. I will have to work on my patience and my "game face" in order to be able to negotiate successfully.
I enjoyed the visit from Dr. House and appreciated hearing everyone else's experiences to date in their internships. It is overwhleming still to me how much is yet to be completed in this experience but I have faith that it will all get done in due time.

July 6th, 2010

I appreciated the guest speaker and the views he shared with us concerning negotiations. I do think that negotiations will be a weakness that I have and feel the least prepared for. I think all of the preparation in the world cannot replace the ability to "do the dance" and have the respect of the other members of the negotiating teams without having to be "the nice guy". I think this is a complex relationship that will take years to develop and may have to be redeveloped with each negotiations and new teams.
I feel that the mock-negotiations that we are participating in are truly one of the hardest assignments that we have had to engage in. Not only is it hard to sit down with those who are your classmates but the prep-work and proposals are exhausting to create and think through. I appreciate the work but it is not something that I have come to enjoy yet:)

July 7th, 2010

I really appreciated the wisdom, knowledge and experiences shared by our guest speaker, Tom McLaughlin. His experiences from the classroom, administration and time as a uniserve director for the Illinois Federation of Teachers provide an excellent perspective by which one should view the collective bargaining process. I really felt the information he presented on is very important for aspiring superintendents.

On Wednesday, we spent a large portion of the day putting together our proposal for the first round of the negotiations process. Having participated in several negotiations, I truly value the experiences gained through this simulation. The activity makes you reflect upon relationships and how to effectively communicate between two parties with different perspectives. The tenants of collective bargaining revolve around trust and good communication.

I enjoyed the opportunity to listen to the internship goals and activities from each member in our cohort. We all know the superintendency will be complex and it is reassuring to see the diverse perspectives from our colleagues.

July 7th blog

Today we worked on our propoals and items of importance concerning the board/union contract negotiations. I found it interesting that my group members found me to be a hard line negotiator. I do not think that this is the case at all I just prefer to be conservative early on. We are in the early stages of negotiations and I do not want to conceed too much too early. We were given the union proposal and it wasn't that unreasonable. We did finish our counter proposal and will distribute that on the 20th. We ended class with Dr. House coming in to discuss our internships. It was insightful to hear what other people are doing or plan to do.

Class July 7

I've enjoyed this day, spent in collective bargaining simulation. We begun by meeting in our entire group, and going over the teacher's proposal to the Board. We listened to their rationale for their proposed items, then we caucussed, to make sure we understood what they are asking. After lunch, we reconvened as a Board group to counter propose to the teachers. We have prepared our counter to propose at our next regularly scheduled meeting. I found it interesting that we (Board group) had quite colorful conversations related to the contract, but it was important we came together as a collective group for the sake of the negotiations. I would guess this is very similar to how a real contract negotiation would be.

We then meet with Dr. House to discuss our internships. I enjoyed listening to what my cohort members have been working on as well. Interesting to see how different yet similar all our experiences are playing out.

July 7

The weekend has been of value to simulate the negotiating of a teacher contract. From the perspective of teacher, we have had to take a step back to provide reasonable proposals to our board. Our group spent much time reviewing the contract to find language and clarity issues to improve the current contract. Roles of board and teachers were well taken as we moved with the activity. Working under our ground rules has allowed us to negotiate effectively. It will be interesting to see where our final contract is agreed upon--with short time, we have all worked to simulate the true activity while being as close to reality as possible. I believe that language items will be settled quickly and agreeably while financial items will be resolved without agreement. It will be interesting to see if everyone walks away feeling good about the contract.

July 7, 2010

So far today, we have submitted our proposal to our administrative team. I think our proposal is reasonable. We are waiting for the counter proposal.

Dr. House's visit was good. It was good to hear the other activities that my cohort partners have undertaken in their internship. It was good to hear the different experiences. It was worthwhile.

July 6, 2010

It was amazing how difficult the ground rules of negotiating were to agree on. We are preparing for an ugly session with the administration. They seem a bit unwilling to assist us on our proposal. We will see how it goes. It really has been an interesting exercise so far. The waiting time is painful at times, however.

Guest speaker was very interesting. Being only a few years removed from the labor side of things, I still find myself sympathetic to their cause. I think he brought up some interesting topics.

Collective Bargain 7/6

The most interesting part from today was listening to the guest speaker. Tom McLaughlin was extremely informative. I enjoyed listening to his thought process when it comes to the "teacher" side of the bargaining process. The major points I took from Tom were:
- know your bargaining agreement
- avoiding problems
- TRS changes
- mediation for teachers

The afternoon session was the start of the bargaining process. In the little time we had in the afternoon - Hostile! I can see why experience matters in negotiating contracts. Our groups struggled with the ground rules. Going through the process, I am learning how important roles are.

collective bargaining 7/6

It is interesting that our presenter today was once an administrator. I don't know his entire history (I remember one year as an elementary principal) but maybe administration was not his niche. He was a good presenter but when he answered our questions, he was very union-"ish". The ground rules assignment was frustrating. We did have too many people talking and adding to the discussion. I thought our ground rules assignment was going to end up in an impasse. Can't wait for actual bargaining.

July 6th Mtg.

Yesterday in class, we had a guest speaker from IFT. It was interesting to hear from the teachers' side of the collective bargaining process since most of our classes have dealt from the board side of view. Another part of the day that was interesting was when we began the bargaining process. I have sat in on negotiations before, and we did not establish any ground rules for the negotiations. After talking with the teacher group yesterday I see the benefit of establishing clear ground rules the committees will follow. I think the most important part of the ground rules is to establish when the meetings will be so each group can plan accordingly and be prepared for each meeting which will hopefully lead to a speedy and successful process. I also realized that the relationship process is key to negotiations as well. The more each side trusts each other, the smoother the process will play out. Both sides have to work together once the contract is signed, so the relationship piece is vital.

Collective Bargaining July 6

We had Tom McLaughlin come speak from the IFT who talked to us about avoiding problems as a superintendent in dealing with collective bargaining. I found it very informational particularly the topics of discussion dealing with current trends in bargaining. It was also interesting to listen to Tom regarding the new TRS laws, evaluation and Race to the Top. He was very knowledgeable and enjoyed asking him questions.

We were assigned our groups for collective bargaining. We established ground rules and were critiqued by Dr. Closen on things to improve on and things we did well. It was a good experience. I thought the process went well and was very good experience.

We finished up Dr. Closen's PPT on Collective Bargaing and he emailed it to us which will be of great benefit.

Class July 6 2010

Class on July 6th was hard to get back into, however, we did and the day ended up being quite eventful. We had an IFT guest speaker, who I thought gave a good representation on the union's side of collective bargaining. The most enjoyable part of the day, was when we were put in groups to simulate a collective bargaining situation. Again, the information was not all readily available, and we were all looking to each other for guideance, but I think that in many ways, that reflects how real negotiations can begin.

Collective Bargaining July6th

The guest speaker from the IFT (Tom) was interesting to listen to but not all that informative. His partner (Chris) works in my building as my head teacher and thus I have heard the union jargon many times. I found it intersting that he did his best to avoid answering senitive questions concerning union positions on the unfunded liabilities in the pension funds. The answer was really more of a finger pointing at the state government officials stating what their retirement requirements consisted of. It is worthy of note that he did state that the unions were somewhat responsible for the problem by the demands that have been requested that were not financially sound. We then worked on the mock negotiations and my team was the board side. I found it challenging to tackle in that the volume of work was so overwhelming. I get frustrated in that this is a mock situation and some of the information was incorrect or not available. I prefer to have all the information prior to but that is not possible in this case. We prioritized what we thought were most pertinent to us as a board. That was intersting to see what the others in the group felt were important.

First Class Reflection

I have had the opportunity to be at the table in two negotiations from the teacher’s side of things. I have truly enjoyed both experiences because they were completely different. They were both set in a traditional based bargaining fashion. The first time it ended up in mediation with the federal mediator and the second time there was much discussion and preparation and the process went smoother with both sides being very satisfied with the new contract. From the administrative side I have not been involved nor will I be officially until I become a superintendent. However, the Havana district will start negotiations next spring and I may still be doing my internship to some degree so I am hopeful I will be able to be involved in a tertiary role.

One of the aspects about collective bargaining is the attention to detail that is crucially important to both sides. I am hopeful in 623 we will learn the items as a superintendent that are crucially important to remember and keep in mind while negotiating a contract. I also learned that it is good practice to have the school attorney involved in the process to ensure the district is covered from and minor a major negotiating catastrophe.

In discussing IBB I find it an interesting concept that is really dependent on the mindset of both the board/superintendent and teacher’s union leadership. Dr. Closen spoke of the fact that TRUST is a must and I believe him completely. If there is not a basis of trust between parties then the collective bargaining process will be long and stressful.

The a-ha I had is the fact that as a superintendent you wear so many hats and everything you do as a superintendent affects the people around you. If one desires to be successful as a superintendent, then one must work daily to develop trusting qualities to enable not just collective bargaining but all facets the job to be productive and positive.

First Class Reflection

Our first class was eye opening for me. Like a few others, I have had little to do with negotiations over the years. My first experience was as a rookie teacher… being told to wear certain colors in support of my fellow colleagues, being told why I shouldn’t cross picket lines, and all the negative stuff that comes with bargaining. As my career moved forward, I have observed more of the drama from the administrative side. So I don’t have any war stories to tell. As a result, I’m learning a great deal about the process.

What I have learned so far is that all parties (especially the district’s leadership) need to gather all the facts before even setting a date to come to the table. So many variables play into the bottom line (known variables and unknown). To begin well, both sides need to have a shared understanding of common language; example “Good faith.” In addition, all parties need to know that negotiating is a lengthy, intensive process that greatly affects all facets of the labor relations. It was interesting to review position and interest statements. This activity seemed to reference to the bigger picture of knowing the whole context of a story.

Overall, I would like to keep learning about how this process works. Despite the varied approaches, the process boils down to teamwork, shared goals, ground rules, and developing trust. My “ah-ha” moment was during the guest speaker’s scenarios. That activity demonstrated the reality of loopholes and bartering. Neat!

Like others have stated, I haven't had any experience in negotiations as a teacher or administrator. I view it as a necessary evil, with no interest in conducting when I was a teacher. Contract terms were never a thought, as I didn't teach for the money or benefits. Now, as an administrator the fiscal responsibilities that are derived from developing a fair contract to hte teachers and the district are more clear. So the process becomes an important focal point. I couldn't help but think back to all of the classes to this point and the importance of a collaborative effort to create any long lasting change and how interest based bargaining can the appropriate framework to build a contract that addresses the needs of all parties.

May 9th Reflection

Like Jamie, I am also from a strong pro-union family. I remember my father being on-strike during traditional negotiations (Caterpillar). It is true the pendulum swings. I remember negotiating when I was a teacher years ago. We called it win-win or expedited.....it was really IBB. It was stated that it was the smoothest contract in my district's history. I was surprised to see the extensive list of preparations for contract negotiations. Reflecting back on my experience I can see that both sides were well prepared. I can see how negotiations can really distract or even stop some of the initiatives districts have going. This ultimately affects students in the end. Successful IBB really depends on amicable relationships between the board and union. I would like to be fully trained on the IBB process.

First Class Reflection

I always find the bargaining process very interesting. After listening to various perspectives, it appears that the success of the collective bargaining is dependent on the quality of the relationship between both parties. I really valued Dr. Closen's example of "Trust". I agree with the emphasis he placed on trust as being an essential element in the bargaining process.

I really appreciated the perspective on interest based bargaining offered by Mr. Drake. The activities provided an excellent opportunity to get an understanding how difficult negotiations can be. His experience in the field and knowledge of "position" and "interest" was a real take-a-way for me from this weekend.

Having served on both sides of the bargaining table, I always find it interesting that the process can begin and end using different methods. Even though negotiations may start with an "interest based bargaining" approach, it always seems to end with "traditional" bargaining. Mr. Drake provided good information on how IBB can be done through the money portion of negotiations.

First Class Reflection May 9

It was very eye opening to see how much work goes into preparing for a contract negotiation. The work up front (ground rules) seems to be the major piece that will help the negotiation process go smoothly. Thinking about who should be there, what should be researched before, and even where to meet are all very important, but at least in my experience in my district, seems to be a piece that was not handled correctly. My guess is that if the ground rules were set in the proper time frame (1 year out) we wouldn't have taken 9 months past the expiration date of the old contract to ratify. I also learned quite a bit about IBB, and I believe that philosophy and training should be one that I learn more about.

May 9th

I found collective bargaining to be interesting. I discovered I would rather find a peaceable solution to fulfill the needs of both sides. I realized through the various exercises that it is more important to meet needs rather than wants. I also realized that negotiating through IBB took a lot of effort to not make it a competition and to focus on what was important. To reach a negotiable, peaceable agreement with the interest and trust of others at stake and without thinking of self over others makes a whole lot a sense....both parties can walk away from the table with a positive relationship leading to a working, productive future.

May 9th reflection

I have had no experience with collective bargaining (thank goodness)so yesterday's class was fairly interesting. Growing up in a pro-union household, I remember the labor/management struggles. I remember the strikes. Dad coming home angry after union meetings. I remember the struggle that the traditional bargaining methods brought. It was the "us" versus "them" mentality. The IBB philosophy just makes so much more sense. I use a form of it almost daily dealing with staff and issues. I have discovered that my staff comes up with some great ideas. I haven't experienced IBB in negotiations, but it just seems to make sense.

First Class Reflection

Although I have been on the union's team during IBB 5 years ago, I really don't feel that I have near the experience I need in order to effectively bargain on the side of the administration yet alone lead them. I am sure that this will be a source of anxiety for me. I appreciate the class discussions and the questions that have been posed to us as it gives us time to work through what the answers are. Although I do not know how comforatable I will be with the role playing I do think that it will be one of the most realistic and relevant to what we will be doing as superintendents.
I am interested in learning about all of the different the various types of bargaining as I can see where IBB would be beneficial to use but I can't imagine that this type of bargaining is good to use in every situation. I did agree with the point made in class that IBB can work in language issues but that when it comes to money and insurance that it tends to go back to traditional bargaining as that is what I experienced first hand.

First Class Reflection

As a principal in our district, we are not directly involved in I.B.B. We meet as an Administrative Team and list our Interests. We also sit down with the union at our Labor Management Meetings and discuss interests. The actual bargaining is between a select few.

I do believe IBB is a great way to negotiate. Once you get past what I consider the fluff from the beginning, you can really bargain well.

I liked the role playing in class. You can see how difficult it is for some people. Along with the role playing, the exercises of Interest vs. Positions was enjoyable. It is a lot harder to come up with Interest based statements than you think.

Reflection on Sunday May 9

This is my first experience with collective bargaining. As a teacher, my district had just begun the interest based method as I was leaving. In my current position, building principals are not involved in the traditional collective bargaining. A small committee representing the BOE and the superintendent are the only people involved administratively. Thanks to my internship I will be participating in our bargaining endeavor and am thankful for the upcoming experience.
I can see where the interest based method would be effective. I think the level of trust and individual personalities really come into play with this task. In my district no matter the result of the bargaining, the process is always viewed as "us against them". I am anxious to experience (as an observer) my districts current process while taking this class. I know I need to work on my "poker face"!!

May 9th Reflection

Yesterday, during class, we learned the difference between Interest Based Bargaining and Traditional Bargaining. At Neponset, I have sat in on one contract negotiation. I would have to say that we have a more traditional bargaining system. Our staff comes to the table with their proposal, which usually deals with salary, retirement, and insurance. The Superintendent and a couple of board members read the proposal and makes a counter. This goes on for a few rounds, and the two sides usually meet in the middle. Both sides usually feel pretty good with the decision and the process takes a couple of hours. I believe that this is made possible because both sides know and trust each other. Neither feels that the other is out to get the other side. However, I was also part of a strike as a second year teacher. What was missing in that case was trust. There was hostility between the board and the teachers. If it had not been for 9/11, I am not sure how long the teachers would have been out of school. Having seen both sides, my "Ah Ha" moment was the importance of building and maintaining relationships. I thought your routine that you went through each day as a superintendent was very interesting and important to the climate of your district. Also, after negotiating with Tammy, I am predicting a strike within 3 years of her first superintendency!

First Class

Today I learned differences of Interest Based Bargaining and Traditional Bargaining for collective bargaining. The school I currently work at is union free and negotiations are compared to "working things out at the dinner table"; contrary to the conception, negotiations best resembles Traditional Bargaining. There is not much dialogue in understanding the interests of each side. The teachers present a proposal with few requests and the board/superintendent are quick to accept a few changes and then state what financial concessions can be made. The offer is brought back to the whole and voted on for acceptance. Interest Based Bargaining would be beneficial to allow for, if nothing else, hearing what concerns each side has. Growth of the organization and continued health can be accomplished through this approach. Both sides are forced to work together, build relationships, and develop trust. All of these skills can be applied to other areas of a school organization. A "ah ah" moment was seeing how bargaining changes when one or both parties have little to lose in a relationship. When one or both sides are disconnected, it is easy to try and take advangage in the bargaining.

reflection May 9th

I was a little tired yesterday but I learned about interest based bargaining. It was of value to me because I had heard of it being used to do some of the language changes during our last contract negotiations. I appreciate this approach for its simplistic common sense approach at solving often times complex and intense issues. Trust certainly was an operative word for the day. The underlying theme of this type of bargaining as it appeared to me was that each side must have established a level of trust and understanding prior to negotiations. I can certainly see and have first hand knowledge of the fact that this type of bargaining can be successful. I wonder at how successful it would be regarding the big three; wages, insurance, and retirement in our district. I would say that this would not work well in our district. We are not currently in negotiations and will not be anytime soon due to the fact that we are in the second year of a five year contract. With my interniship I hope to visit schools that are in this process and hopefully learn more concerning not only interest based bargaining but traditional collective bargaining.