The Governing Board recognizes its responsibility to represent the public's interests in the collective bargaining process. In negotiating agreements on employee contracts, the Board shall balance the needs of staff and the priorities of the district in order to provide students with a high-quality instructional program based on a sound, realistic budget.
(cf. 0200 - Goals for the School District)
(cf. 3100 - Budget)
(cf. 4140/4240 - Bargaining Units)
(cf. 4141/4241 - Collective Bargaining Agreement)
The Board shall negotiate in good faith with exclusive employee representatives on wages, hours of employment, and other terms and conditions of employment identified in law as being within the scope of representation. (Government Code 3543.2)
The Board believes that effective negotiations require the input of all levels of the administration. The Board shall establish a bargaining team to assist in analyzing contract provisions and conducting contract negotiations.
The Board and Superintendent shall provide its negotiator(s) with expected outcomes and clear parameters for acceptable contract provisions which promote the realization of district goals and priorities.
In consultation with the Superintendent and employee organization, the Board shall determine the collective bargaining approach or method to be used.
The Board with its bargaining team shall establish standards of conduct pertaining to the negotiations process for individual Board members and members of the bargaining team. Certain meetings related to negotiations shall be held in closed session in accordance with Government Code 3549.1 when not required by state open meeting laws (the Brown Act) to be held in public. Matters discussed in these meetings shall be kept in strict confidence.
(cf. 4119.23/4219.23/4319.23 - Unauthorized Release of Confidential/Privileged Information)
(cf. 9010 - Public Statements)
(cf. 9011 - Disclosure of Confidential/Privileged Information)
(cf. 9321 - Closed Session Purposes and Agendas)
The Board and its negotiator(s) shall not knowingly provide the employee organization with inaccurate information regarding the financial resources of the district. (Government Code 3543.5)
The Board shall closely monitor the progress of negotiations and carefully consider how proposed contract provisions would affect the district's short- and long-term fiscal, programmatic, instructional, and personnel goals.
(cf. 3100 - Budget)
The Board and/or Superintendent shall keep the public informed about the progress of negotiations and the ways in which negotiations may affect district goals.
(cf. 4143.1/4243.1- Public Notice - Personnel Negotiations)
Whenever the district has a qualified or negative certification on an interim fiscal report, it shall allow the county office of education at least 10 working days to review and comment on any proposed agreement with exclusive representatives of employees. The district shall provide the County Superintendent of Schools with all information relevant to gain an understanding of the financial impact of any final collective bargaining agreement. (Government Code 3540.2)
(cf. 3460 - Financial Reports and Accountability)
Once the final terms of the agreement have been ratified by the membership of the employee organization, the contract shall be presented to the Board at a public meeting for acceptance.
Any agreement adopted by the Board may be for a term not to exceed three years. (Government Code 3540.1)
In the event of an impasse in negotiations, the Board shall participate in good faith in state mediation and fact-finding procedures pursuant to Government Code 3548-3548.8. (Government Code 3543.5)
(cf. 4141.6/4241.6 - Concerted Action/Work Stoppage)
Following adoption of the collective bargaining agreement, any subsequent amendments shall be executed in writing by the Board and the employees' exclusive representative.
Consultation
The exclusive representative of certificated staff may consult with the Board on the definition of educational objectives, the determination of the content of courses and curriculum, and the selection of textbooks.
(cf. 6011 - Academic Standards)
(cf. 6141 - Curriculum Development and Evaluation)
(cf. 6161.1 - Selection and Evaluation of Instructional Materials)
(cf. 9310 - Board Policies)
Legal Reference:
GOVERNMENT CODE
3540-3549.3 Educational Employment Relations Act
Management Resources:
CSBA PUBLICATIONS
Collective Bargaining DVD-ROM
Maximizing School Board Governance: Collective Bargaining
Before the Strike: Planning Ahead in Difficult Negotiations, 1996
WEB SITES
CSBA: http://www.csba.org
California Public Employee Relations: http://cper.berkeley.edu
Center for Collaborative Solutions: http://www.ccscenter.org
Public Employment Relations Board: http://www.perb.ca.gov
State Mediation and Conciliation Service (SMCS): http://www.dir.ca.gov/csmcs/smcs.html
Policy NEWPORT-MESA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
adopted: September 8, 2009 Costa Mesa, California