Sunday

I was so glad when Dr.Closen stopped negotiations. I can really understand how the preparation work is necessary so that sides don't become offended. I also really enjoyed the presentations. I really felt like it reinforced the information and gave interesting facts and perspective to the complexities of bargaining.

I was a joy to be in class with everyone.

Andrea

Saturday's Class

I was really impressed, overwhelmed with reworking all the financials again. It was a great experience. I was really statisfied with the information and help we gave each other. Laying out the information and seeing it through was really beneficial to me and the team.

Sunday (we had 'em on the ropes)

What a great day. As great of a day as you can have on a beautiful autumn afternoon in class. The negotiations got heated and we were all getting into what was going on. I especially appreciated Vicki's presentation on knowing who's at the table I think that's very important. I would have liked to had reviewed that a little more on the first weekend. The most insightful part of the entire class was at the end when Dr. Closen sat us down at the table for our debriefing. I learned so much but I feel I need to take the course a couple more times in order to be ready for the real deal. Please don't interpret that as I want a failing grade. (Ha!Ha!) Zac

Saturday

I felt the board team was well prepared, but our format was off. The way I had the page numbers and articles formated was a little confusing and you can't have that during negotiations. It makes it seem like you're trying to hide something or trick them and that definately wasn't the case. The packaging of the proposal is key. I really appreciate Dr. Closen talking us through that part of it. Preparating was stressed throughout the course, but Saturday it was really brought to life form me. If we were in this for real I'd practice going through the proposal outload right at the table for the other team was there. Zac

The End

The simulation is a must have for all of us. I feel sorry for those in the ACI class who don't get this opportunity. But they probably are from huge districts with lots of personnel to help.

Despite Dave's comments, the board side was not confused about our proposals. We just didn't have the experience that the teacher team did. Despite the number of mistakes we made, I found the experience to be enlightening and filled with lessons that I won't forget.

Waiting on the salary to propose it
Starting with the low number in a multi year first
Keeping to the ground rules or renegotiate them
Starting with a discussion of values, goals in order to begin to build a relationship
Showing numbers (some) and a package to help the other side understand our proposal and where we were coming from
Snacks! I think we needed snacks.

Andrea-hope the wedding was wonderful! Even though you weren't there, your presence was noticed as you gave inside information to through me! Perfectly timed by your chief negotiator I might add!

It was a great experience and I am grateful for my team and all the class members so that it was easy to make mistakes in the group without feeling like an idiot. I do appreciate that. It makes learning and risk taking more fun and meaningful!

kim

Sunday

Great class. I think I learned that I am not ready to sit in the negotiations without support. What we say and how we say it will determine how much success we have. If we are not prepared we can find ourselves in deep trouble. I enjoyed the sit down at the end of class. I think that if we could have had these meetings more often it would have been helpful. To have someone who has been in the trenches explain pitfalls and deal breakers would be valuable. I hope to see most of the class in research.

K

October 5, 2008

it seems as though the two sides in the simulation experienced things a bit differently. The union side seemed to pretty much "get into it" almost from the first time we met with the Board side. Truly, the biggest reason we were so into things was that meeting with the Board seemed to make things more and more difficult to even get through the simulation. For whatever reason, we were never sure if they were being intentionally confusing or if they were themselves confused :)

Regardless, it was an interesting experience. I do hope that Dr. Closen takes a moment to tidy up the simulation materials. It seems a bit difficult to approach it realistically if both sides are not using the same numbers. This was pretty much impossible as some of the numbers seemed to be made up "on the fly" as the spreadsheet and the simulation description contradicted each other.

It was fun, though. And, it was very interesting being on the opposite side of where I was this past summer. I truly wish I had this class prior to being on the Board negotiation team. Soooooo many more things would have made sense at the time.

3rd Sunday

Overall the contract negotiation simulation was a wonderful opportunity to learn the "in's & out's" of this process. Even though this was a simulation and even though I am not ready to jump in as a school superintendent/negotiator, should I have any activity with negotiations in the future, I will be better informed of the entire process and overall expectations because of this opportunity. I feel that I learned more from this class than I have in a very long time!

The teamwork among the students in the 600 level courses is very impressive (in spite of the heated moments in the simulation:). This feeling of comrades among the other administrators is a great networking advantage.

Last Saturday of Collective Bargaining

The negotiations were pretty intense on Saturday--a settlement seemed light years away! Experience from Dave and Angie have been very beneficial on the teachers' side, and I 'm just glad I am getting to work along side of them to learn from their experience-based manuvers.

Overall the presentations have been more interesting than I have seen in some other classes. Probably this is because this is such a broad topic, and I have such little experience with it myself-everything is new.

Sunday

I really enjoyed the negotiation process or simulation. It was very informative to me as I have been at the table several times but I this time through I was also trying to think as an administrator. The presentations were great. I enjoyed Kathy's information on the gender differences. Since in most instances the board is male and the union female this could be important information to both sides. Vicki's presentation on the different styles is also important especially when one is comprising a team. One would not like to staff the team too heavy with one personality versus a variety.

For those of you that this was my last class with you it has been great fun and I look forward to running into you in the future. Take care!

Suprises at the negotiation table

Today, our team started with a 'zing' about the laptops and technology. What was made in good fun - was, to me, a stunning realization that even ideas / comments taken completely out of context can be brought up. Even when my comments, discussions, ideas, and research :-) is done outside of the negotiation process, my words can come back to haunt me. What a powerful way to illustrate this concept.

Sunday, October 5

If I could change anything it would be to keep one running document during the negotiation process. It would show everything: signatures, strike-outs, additions, all language changes, etc. The union team did a much better job of this compared to the management team. Dr. Closen even suggested this at the onset of the simulation. By not adhering to this practice, we often forgot what we had agreed to and things became confusing.

For future reference:
Notetakers listen and type. We do not necessarily follow written documentation. Therefore, when negotiating, it is extremely helpful when Articles and numbers/letters are verbally given to keep things accurate.

10-5-08

I am finding the practice simulation on negotiations to be great. to watch everyone work gives me a better understanding of the process. The hard part is to think as a teacher again. When we make proposal's I want to be an administrator. I have a better understanding of how body language gives us away.

Sunday, September 21

Jay was very interesting. It was funny how some items from my school’s contract were used as examples of very poor ways to do things. Our salary schedule is truly one that was put together years ago and absolutely no one knows how or why it was put together in the manner it was. There is no pattern to the weighting, the number of lanes or steps, etc. As far as the negative effects of a strike, I was not around for the Farmington strike. However, I still hear about issues and bad feelings from that time.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

I was given a new perspective today. I now have a different view on how numbers are calculated based on the fact that I am on the union negotiation team. Though I had to continually remind myself to not see things from the viewpoint of the administration, I naturally seemed to calculate numbers from the viewpoint of the worker. Even though I did all of the negotiations this summer from the administrative perspective, it was natural to see it the other way when calculating insurance costs, etc. I looked at actual numbers as opposed to potential costs. Even though this is a simulation, it is so easy to get “upset” at the opinions of the other side of the table… interesting exercise.

Saturday, October 4th

The negotiation process has been manageable up to this point. Now that we are discussing salaries and benefits we are digging in our heals and tempers are beginning to show. One thing I noticed was the management team came from a place of financial stability for the district. The union side talked about touchy feely things like; teachers doing a good job, years of commitment, validating teachers with salary. I am interested in seeing how ending negotiations end up. I want to hear the union's side of justifiying their salary demands based on something other than warm fuzzies.

Paper, Paper, Paper, and more Paper

Wow,
one definite thing I learned this week was that I needed to develop a better tracking system of the huge amounts of paper. We needed to continually reflect on past conversations, look at notes, track conversations and ideas. The sheer volume of information is astounding. I think that next time I am involved in a situation similar to this, I will have a better method of tracking the info.
Additionally, when we were discussing numbers, salary and insurance - we were moving so fast. With everyone talking at once, disputing numbers, I really needed a minute to slow down. Now I understand that I need to know every possible financial scenario ahead of time so I can keep up with all the financial disputes. Wow, I can't underestimate the need for preparation.

Saturday

I agree with Kim that today's class went rather quickly. I agree that financial data is tricky but the key to be prepared with the numbers. I enjoyed the presentations today especially John's because it really hit home on much educating a superintendent must do with the board. It is important to take the time prior to negotiations or other scenarios to prepare and present information to the board in order for them to make the best informed decisions.

Saturday the 4th

Today went quickly.
I really appreciated the work our team did over the 2 week break. Each of us contributed and Andy added the coaching support in addition to his section work!

Today the most impressive issue that struck me was the interpretation of data/monies. Neither interpretation was wrong; just different and how do we deal with those different interpretations.

I was also struck by how intimidating the salary and benefits tends to be.
The board really does want to be fair, but it is all perspective.