For over fifteen years, our firm has represented over 100 School Districts in collective bargaining with teacher and support employee associations. We are a recognized leader in providing effective representation and in fostering positive labor-management relations through win/win and other collaborative approaches to collective bargaining. When serving as Chief Negotiator, we provide complete representation at the bargaining table.

At-the-table representation includes preparing initial Board proposals, analyzing union proposals and preparing counter-proposals, and meeting with the employee union continuously until the bargaining process has been completed. Constant contact with the Board and administration is maintained to ensure the expectations of the School Board are being met. If agreement is not reached, our staff is well-trained to participate in and manage all facets of the mediation and/or fact-finding processes. After negotiations have been completed, we are available to in-service the Board and administration regarding specific changes to the Negotiated Agreement. We are also available throughout the year to consult with administrative staff regarding interpretations of the Negotiated Agreement and potential and actual grievances.

Bargaining clients also receive the following services:

• Management Team Update, a monthly client newsletter on school management topics, mailed to the Superintendent and each Board member; Free registration for the Superintendent and Board President at our bargaining conferences; Use of our Fiscal Management System manual and computer disk;
• Priority access to all our Associates and Services

Our Negotiations Service has been endorsed by the OSSBA as having the most complete professional negotiations services available to school districts for over the past ten years. The OSSBA recognizes that positive Board/employee relationships are essential and recommends our collaborative approaches to bargaining as an asset in forming and maintaining those positive relationships.

Visit the OSSBA Website for more information on their myriad of services geared toward effective education and management of our public schools.

Our service to the school begins before negotiations, and includes:

• an initial meeting with the School Board and administration, orientating them to the bargaining law and process
• a review of the current Negotiated Agreement, with analysis related to law and accepted management practices
• a review of current Board personnel policies, regarding their consistency with law and the Negotiated Agreement
• a meeting with the Board and administration to establish goals and receive direction
• If negotiations are required regarding the Procedural Agreement, that service is included as part of our representation