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!