Policy 4143/4243 - Negotiations/Consultation

Negotiations/Consultation

The Board of Education is legally responsible for negotiating in good faith with exclusive employee representatives on wages, hours of employment, and other terms and conditions of employment identified in law as being within the scope of representation.

The Board recognizes its responsibility to represent the public’s interest in the collective bargaining process. The Board and/or Superintendent shall keep the public informed about the progress of negotiations and the ways in which negotiations affect district goals.

In reaching agreements on employee contracts, the Board shall balance the needs of staff and the priorities of the district in order to provide students with a highquality instructional program based on a sound, realistic budget.

The Board believes that effective negotiations require the input of all levels of the administration. The Board shall establish a bargaining team to assist in analyzing contract provisions and conducting contract negotiations.

The Board with its bargaining team shall establish standards of conduct pertaining to the negotiations process for individual Board members and members of the bargaining team. Meetings related to negotiations are not subject to state open meeting laws and shall be held in closed session. Matters discussed in these meetings shall be kept in strict confidence.

The Board shall provide its negotiator(s) with expected outcomes and clear parameters for acceptable contract provisions and may initiate proposals which promote the realization of district goals. The Board shall closely monitor the progress of negotiations and carefully consider how proposed contract provisions would affect the district’s short and long-term goals.