Lawrence school district, teachers union to use new negotiation method; 7 meetings scheduled

photo by: Nick Krug

Lawrence Public Schools district offices, 110 McDonald Drive.

Lawrence school district administrators and the Lawrence Education Association (LEA) will follow a new format for contract negotiations this year, and they’ve planned 28 hours’ worth of meetings.

District spokeswoman Julie Boyle said via email that the negotiation teams have been trained in interest-based bargaining, or IBB. She said that changes the format of meetings into “collaborative-style discussions among one team working together.”

A federal mediator will guide the process, Boyle said.

“The board and LEA team hope this new method helps develop deeper rationale, understanding, and discussion for various issues that arise during the school year and helps foster greater communication about the Master Agreement throughout the year,” Boyle wrote.

For the 2018-2019 contracts, negotiations began in June and continued until Dec. 10; after two sessions with a federal mediator, the board agreed to a contract that the teachers union had voted 687-37 to approve.

Public meetings have been scheduled for 4-8 p.m. at district offices, 110 McDonald Drive, on the following days: Thursday, May 30; Tuesday, June 11; Tuesday, June 18; Tuesday, June 25; Thursday, June 27; Tuesday, July 23; and Thursday, July 25.

Lawrence school district 2018-2019 contract negotiations

• Dec. 10, 2018 — Lawrence school board approves contract giving teachers $1,200 raise

• Dec. 9, 2018 — Lawrence school board to consider teachers contract, compensation packages for staff

• Nov. 27, 2018 — Lawrence school district, teachers union reach tentative agreement on contract

• Nov. 19, 2018 — Lawrence school district, teachers union make progress during 7-hour mediation, but don’t reach agreement

• Oct. 10, 2018 — Lawrence school district, teachers union agree to 2nd day of federal mediation on 2018-19 contract

• Oct. 9, 2018 — Lawrence school district, union to meet with federal mediator in attempt to end contract impasse

• Sept. 24, 2018 — ‘Work your contract’: Lawrence teachers can’t strike, but they are cutting back in other ways

• Aug. 29, 2019 — Lawrence school district, teachers union at impasse over 2018-19 contract

• Aug. 28, 2018 — Lawrence school district, teachers union will try to narrow $1 million compensation gap

• Aug. 10, 2018 — Teacher pay proposals from union, district leaders differ by more than $1 million

• July 18, 2018 — Lawrence union asks for new contract that would give all teachers at least $2,200 raise

• June 4, 2018 — Lawrence teachers union proposes adding 5 positions; negotiators defer salary discussion

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