Before the negotiation process ever begins in a school district, both sides need to step back and think about what is truly their mission. Ultimately, it should focus squarely on the shoulders of its students in the district. The students often seem to get lost in the shuffle when both sides have heated and often contentious debates. Often the debates become personal and both sides have difficulty backing down because it may show that they are not staunchly protecting their respective group.
In my small district, although I wasn't part of the negotiating team, I often heard the petty arguments that came from the previous night's negotiation meetings. I thought to myself, 'If those teachers put that much passion into the classroom, we would be a School of Promise on annual basis.' Don't get me wrong, I respect our negotiation team for standing up for us, but it all comes down to priorities. What can be done to accommodate the adults that will not have a detrimental effect on the education of our students. The one area I told our negotiaton team to be passionate about is the retention of new teachers. We've had a problem about keeping new teachers, and this turnover rate hurts the continuity in the classroom. A huge way students can connect with teachers is through their interactions at school, building up that trust. Seeing the same teachers each year and talking to them at school builds this trust. If students feel that they can trust the adults, they will likely perform better in the classroom. With a high turnover rate among the newly hired staff, that trust factor is difficult to establish, especially in my district which is comprised of nearly one-half Native Americans.
So how could the negotiation process be beneficial? It all centers around collaboration - both sides sharing a common vision and not letting the process get personal. I know it's difficult to establish, but the negotiating team should be a good representation of the staff in the district (male/female, younger/older, etc.). This would the first proactive measure taken. If you have one member who has a particular "hot button" issue, they will be virtually useless to the negotiation process. If you can select members that would be interested in the totality of education, especially the importance of putting students first in the negotiations, that would be a great starting point.
I've always felt that transparency is the only way to conduct negotiations. If the opposing side thinks you're hiding something, the stakes will simply get higher, and they'll dig their heels into the the ground a little deeper. If you can be honest about the issues and not try to pass an issue through by skirting the truth, it will help streamline negotiations and result in fewer people getting their feelings hurt. Hopefully, this will result in a better education for all the students.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
School District Government
School District Government
A common School Board has 3, 5, 7 and 9 school board members. (It may not exceed 11.)
The regular terms of school board members shall be three years, unless otherwise noted.
School board members elected shall take office on the 4th Monday in April.
No later than the 4th Tuesday in November prior to the spring election, the school clerk should publish a notice for the spring election.
No later than 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday in January, the school clerk shall verify the declarations of candidacy and certify the names of the candidates who have filed nomination papers and who qualify for the office.
The school board should require a primary election if there are more than two candidates for any seat on a 3-member board or more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected to an unnumbered school board of more than 3 members. When there is a primary election it should be held in conjunction with the spring primary.
The clerk will supervise the drawing of the order of the candidates on the ballot.
Publication notice must be in newspaper on the preceding Monday or earliest day that the newspaper can publish it.
The notice must contain:
1. date of election
2. names of all candidates and order of names on ballot
3. locaion and hours of polling place
4. a fascimile ballot and relevant portions of voting
If using paper ballots, that must be done 22 days before election
Absentee ballots apply to these elections.
An election for an unexpired term will be held in accordance with a regular school board election.
School district meetings - Every elector is allowed to vote at annual or special meetings
Consideration of special subject - Must be filed 60 days before the annual meeting
Annual meeting - happens each year in the fall - approve the tax levy
School board meetings - held at least once per month
School board duties - management of school district
A school board shall permit a child care provider before and after school under the stipulation that all rules and procedures are met
School board powers: The board has the right to promote the cause of education for the benefit of all of its students
The board makes rules for its organization, including graduation and discipline (expulsions)
Capital improvement fund: May create this fund with a two-thirds vote.
Audit of school district accounts: A licensed accountant should audit the district each year and certify it.
Board should include a president, treasurer and clerk with each person having specific duties.
Annual school district report: Need to file a verified report no later than Sept. 1 from the previous school year. Also need to conduct a school census.
School board may contract out for courses. May also acquire facilities within our outside school district.
A common School Board has 3, 5, 7 and 9 school board members. (It may not exceed 11.)
The regular terms of school board members shall be three years, unless otherwise noted.
School board members elected shall take office on the 4th Monday in April.
No later than the 4th Tuesday in November prior to the spring election, the school clerk should publish a notice for the spring election.
No later than 5 p.m. on the second Tuesday in January, the school clerk shall verify the declarations of candidacy and certify the names of the candidates who have filed nomination papers and who qualify for the office.
The school board should require a primary election if there are more than two candidates for any seat on a 3-member board or more than twice as many candidates as there are members to be elected to an unnumbered school board of more than 3 members. When there is a primary election it should be held in conjunction with the spring primary.
The clerk will supervise the drawing of the order of the candidates on the ballot.
Publication notice must be in newspaper on the preceding Monday or earliest day that the newspaper can publish it.
The notice must contain:
1. date of election
2. names of all candidates and order of names on ballot
3. locaion and hours of polling place
4. a fascimile ballot and relevant portions of voting
If using paper ballots, that must be done 22 days before election
Absentee ballots apply to these elections.
An election for an unexpired term will be held in accordance with a regular school board election.
School district meetings - Every elector is allowed to vote at annual or special meetings
Consideration of special subject - Must be filed 60 days before the annual meeting
Annual meeting - happens each year in the fall - approve the tax levy
School board meetings - held at least once per month
School board duties - management of school district
A school board shall permit a child care provider before and after school under the stipulation that all rules and procedures are met
School board powers: The board has the right to promote the cause of education for the benefit of all of its students
The board makes rules for its organization, including graduation and discipline (expulsions)
Capital improvement fund: May create this fund with a two-thirds vote.
Audit of school district accounts: A licensed accountant should audit the district each year and certify it.
Board should include a president, treasurer and clerk with each person having specific duties.
Annual school district report: Need to file a verified report no later than Sept. 1 from the previous school year. Also need to conduct a school census.
School board may contract out for courses. May also acquire facilities within our outside school district.
Monday, July 23, 2012
Principal description
The elementary principal in the Bowler School District should be an energetic, forward thinker who is willing to work collaboratively with staff, students and the community. This person will be part of a dedicated team whos ultimate mission is serving the needs of the students in the district. This person must also attempt to maintain a postiive envirornment in the school by being visible in the school. The person should also foster the relationship between students and their families in the school community. This person should also be knowledgeable in developing programs to increase reading and math scores in the district. Overall, this person should keep the lines of communication open with all of the stakeholders in the district and be an ambassado for Bowler Schools.
My Job Description
An applicant for a 5th-grade position in the Bowler School District should be an energetic, compassionate and engaging person who is willing to motivate and challenge students to reach their academic potential in the classroom. This person must possess excellent classroom management skills and be willing to embrace diversity in the classroom. The person must also have the ability to identify the learning needs of the students and provide interventions and enrichment as needed. This is done through a balanced literacy approach and differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all the students. The candidate should also be familiar with PBIS (Positive Behavioral Intervention Systems)and RtI (Response to Intervention). The person must also work collaboratively with staff and be a lifelong learner, dedicated to the students at Bowler.
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