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
   

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Joint Statement

 The negotiations teams met on April 13, from 4:15 PM to 5:26 PM.

The meeting was held at the Lincoln Education Center.

The teams reviewed ground rules and the joint statement from the previous meeting.

The teams discussed the following articles:

At the next meeting the teams will consider:

• NEA article: LOU VI – NEA proposed having the letter of understanding for extended days for special education staff be moved into the main body. BOE prefers to leave it as an LOU for flexibility in the future. LOU VI remains a letter of understanding.
• NEA article: VI, Length of Contract-NEA proposed having language for ESOL staff to have additional extended contract hours. This stems from a previous issue where ESOL staff were asked to complete tasks on a float work day. ESOL staff have had voluntary opportunities to come in additional day(s) paid to work, this would make it mandatory. Discussions regarding use of time during PD days/collaboration days. This resulted in no change with potential to be revisited in future years.
• NEA article: VIII D, Professional Day-Discussed changing the title to avoid redundancy of the section names. Compared data on length and number of meetings held after/before school, which varies. Discussed specific building concerns need to work through the communication matrix and problem solve individually instead of creating language for the entire district. Tentatively agreed to change the title of the section.
• BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-BOE suggested language to reference section specifying details of professional collaboration to avoid confusion for flexible collaboration hours. Compromised on language for timeline. Tentative agreement to change language.
• BOE article: VI, Length of Contract-BOE suggested language to have flexibility for additional day for new educator orientation for additional onboarding for PBIS, etc. Tentative agreement to adopt language.
• BOE article: XIII B, Application-Corrective action to subsection I reference. Tentative agreement to fix typo, no substance to change.
• BOE article: XIX I, General Provisions-Corrective action to section I subsection 1 reference. Tentative agreement to fix typo, no substance to change.
• BOE article: Consider adding language to request including items directly impacted by legislation during negotiations. Tentative agreement to adopt language.

Reviewed items for next meeting for review:

• NEA item: IX A: Specials teachers duties outside of assigned content area.
• NEA item: IX B: Increase minimum time considered for professional release.
• Item VIII D: Review proposed name change for section.
• BOE item: XI F: Consider changes to align with state statute.
• BOE item: XIX G: Discuss terminology for “unforeseen” with sick/personal day exchange.
• BOE item: XIX G: Extended leave w/o pay, consider changes in language.
   

Additional item time permitting:

• NEA item: XIX Leaves: Discuss language for paid time off.
   

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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 and Ground Rules
• Review Tracking Document
• Items for review
  • NEA item: IX A: Specials teachers duties outside of assigned content area.
  • NEA item: IX B: Increase minimum time considered for professional release.
  • Item VIII D: Review proposed name change for section.
  • BOE item: XI F: Consider changes to align with state statute.
  • BOE item: XIX G: Discuss terminology for “unforeseen” with sick/personal day exchange.
  • BOE item: XIX G: Extended leave w/o pay, consider changes in language.
• Additional item time permitting:
  • NEA item: XIX Leaves: Discuss language for paid time off.
• Next Meeting Items for Discussion
   

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