Ground Rules

1. Attendance is a priority
2. Start on time/stop on time
3. Everyone participates
4. Stick to the agenda
5. Caucus as needed
6. Agreed upon work sessions to include Subcommittees outside negotiations process
7. Guest speakers by mutual agreement
8. No side discussions
9. No communication with the audience
10. No put downs
11. Joint voice for media
12. Get more food as needed and attend to personal needs
13. Extend session by consensus
14. Assume the best from others

Standards

• Workable – Physically possible – can be done
• Address – Not harm – Does it address the issue and not harm another interest
• Ratifiable – Ratified by teachers, accepted by BOE
• Weigh Cost/benefit and sustainability

Issue Tracking Categories

1. CMT - Committee
2. NEG - Negotiations Process
3. M&C - Meet & Confer
4. BLC - Basic Language Changes
5. TABLE
6. DROP
7. TA – Tentative Agreement

Agenda

• Introductions
• Establish Ground Rules
• Adopt Standards
• Review Articles
• Set Dates for Future Meetings (recommended weekly)
• Set Agenda(s) for Subsequent Meeting(s)
• Guidelines for Creating a "Joint Statement"
• Other

Joint Statement

The negotiations teams met on April 6, from 4:30 PM to 5:04 PM.

The meeting was held at the Lincoln Education Center. The teams introduced themselves.

The teams reviewed, amended and adopted the ground rules and standards for 2025-2026.

Issues that will be covered during future meetings were explained.

Meeting dates will be scheduled for Mondays at 4:15pm and end by 6:00pm at The Lincoln Education Center.

Guidelines for creating a “Joint Statement” was discussed.

At the next meeting the teams will consider:

NEA article: LOU VI – Review extended contract language and consider adopting into main body

NEA article: VI, Length of Contract-Discuss extended contract for ESOL staff

NEA article: VIII D, Professional Day-Discuss language for frequency and duration of meetings

BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-Review and consider clarifying language for collab flex day

BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-Adding flexibility for additional days for NEO

BOE article: XIII B, Application-Corrective action to subsection I reference

BOE article: XIX I, General Provisions-Corrective action to section I subsection 1 reference

BOE article: Consider adding language to request including items impacted by legislation

Meeting Schedule

• April 13 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• April 20 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• April 27 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 4 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 11 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 18 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center

Manhattan-Ogden NEA Team

• Ted Dawdy -Chair
• Lisa Heller
• Megan Rees
• Jacob Stroda-absent
• Emily Seay
• Robin Whitten
• Alternates: Kellee Gray, Holly Olberding, Dustin Duntz

BOE Team

• Nathan Downs-Chair
• Katie Allen
• Kristin Brighton
• Abby Bowen
• Andy Hutchinson
• Michael Dorst
• Sheila Henke
• Alternate: Courtney Hochman

Agenda

• Adopt Agenda
• Review Joint Statement from previous meeting
• Review Tracking Document
• Items for review
  • NEA article: LOU VI – Review extended contract language and consider adopting into main body
  • NEA article: VI, Length of Contract-Discuss extended contract for ESOL staff
  • NEA article: VIII D, Professional Day-Discuss language for frequency and duration of meetings
  • BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-Review and consider clarifying language for collab flex day
  • BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-Adding flexibility for additional days for NEO
  • BOE article: XIII B, Application-Corrective action to subsection I reference
  • BOE article: XIX I, General Provisions-Corrective action to section I subsection 1 reference
  • BOE article: Consider adding language to request including items impacted by legislation
• Next Meeting Items for Discussion

Meeting Schedule

• April 13 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• April 20 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• April 27 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 4 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 11 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center
• May 18 – 4:15 –  Lincoln Education Center