By Marcia Sagendorph

SPECIAL TO THE NEWS SUN

GRAYSLAKE — When classes begin in District 46 elementary schools Aug. 24, it is likely teachers will start work without a contract.

Negotiations are currently under way with the teachers’ union in the Grayslake-based district.

The district is using a new approach called iInterest- based negotiations. It is the first time that has been used in the district, Superintendent Ellen Correll said Thursday.

“I am happy to be going through this process,” Correll said. “You go into negotiations in a more positive way. Instead of one side versus the other, it’s here is what our concerns are. You work together to address those concerns.”

One of Correll’s concerns is starting school without a contract. She said that she hopes teachers will see they are working to address the issues.

“If we can all maintain a positive attitude during negotiations that will help,” she said, adding so far the process is going very well.

The teachers’ contract expired in May. The school board waited to begin negotiations until the new superintendent, Correll, arrived earlier this month. Several meetings have taken place over the past few weeks.

The contract would cover all 250 certified staff. District 46 serves more than 4,000 students in four elementary schools, Frederick School for 5th and 6th grades, and the Grayslake Middle School for 7th and 8th grades. Students come from communities including Grayslake, Hainesville, Round Lake, Round Lake Beach, Round Lake Park, Lake Villa and Third Lake.

Diane Elfring, president of the Grayslake Teacher’s Union, said she thought the interest-based negotiations process was a good one, noting teachers had been ready to negotiate since March.

7/29/05

• Interest based problem solving is not a panacea, and is not intended as a universal replacement for positional bargaining. But in appropriate situations it offers several advantages.
• Negotiations using interest based problem solving (IPBS) are more likely successful when a) parties has some history of joint cooperation, b) there remains sufficient time to work the process, c) parties are willing to share relevant information, d) parties forgo their right to use power as the sole means of winning, and e) participants and stakeholders understand and accept the IBPS methods.
• IBPS has numerous applications. Beyond a single contract, IBPS has application to grievance procedures and in daily contract administration through creation of joint teams and facilitators. Such forums provide a means of communications and a vehicle to discuss and resolve issues of mutual concern.

Core Principles in Interest-Based Problem Solving (IBPS)

• Separate the people from the problem
• Focus on interests behind positions
• Focus on the present and future, not the past
• Invent options for mutual gain
• Insist on using independent standards to satisfy interests, rather than power or leverage

Anticipated Outcomes of Interest Based Negotiations (IBN)

• Creative solutions
• Durable solutions
• Enhanced relationships

Four Stages of IBN

• Preparing for negotiations/educating constituents/soliciting issues
• Opening negotiations/sharing opening statements/discussing issues
• Negotiating using the IBPS process/selecting issues/discussing underlying interests/generating options/establishing standards/reaching agreements
• Communicating the results to constituents