Board discusses negotiating methods
Education association interested in training
Staff reporter
Unified School District #410 board members saw a presentation of a "different way to negotiate."
The presentation was timely with the annual contracts for teachers and staff coming up for renewal soon.
Following the presentation, the board adjourned to executive session to discuss the matter. The board reconvened to regular session and will meet with the USD 410 Education Association to further discuss it.
John Doern, of Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, made the presentation to the board and teachers in attendance.
Interest-based bargaining (IBB) is a different way to negotiate, said Doern. The process is problem solving.
"Teachers and administration come to the table with problems and then through power or pressure tactics, they try to extract from each other what is needed," said Doern.
Doern added that he's "not a salesman but a mediator. I have no power and cannot make anyone do anything they do not want to do."
The two-day, intensive training is usually scheduled back-to-back, either two consecutive evenings or two consecutive Saturdays. Doern and his partner would come on-site to conduct the training.
They also would attend the first day of negotiations.
The biggest obstacle, according to Doern, is changing the way of thinking.
"We're going to change the way we act," said Doern. "You look at an issue and ask how can we address this issue?"
School districts that have implemented this method of negotiating include Peabody-Burns, Herington, El-Saline, Geary County, Eureka, Haysville, Elkhart, and Great Bend.
Lack of commitment is the usual cause of failing in IBB, said Doern. He said the training process starts off slowly but builds momentum.
Negotiations are most productive in three-to-four-hour segments and can be used for every process including wage negotiations.
"You bring to the table only those issues that need to be resolved," said Doern. All of the other "baggage" is left behind.
Gordon Mohn, superintendent, asked about the timeline to complete the training. Mohn said that typically negotiations were settled after the legislature was finished.
Mohn also said that negotiations were usually completed before the end of the school year.
Sara Hill, president of the education association, said that this is the route the association would like to go.
"We're interested in what the board wants to do," said Hill.
