Sunny gets it wrong again: Last week Sunny Schubert called the board a bunch ignorant monkeys, an opinion informed by her own ignorance of the situation. This week she backs off the statement, but steps in it again by stating that the board has abdicated its responsibility by not having members in the room during the negotiations with the teachers union. To be fair Sunny asks for an explanation, but don’t you think it would be better if she asked the questions first before going to press? Sunny’s “shoot first, ask questions later” style of “journalism” gives her an opportunity to take irresponsible pot-shots without those troublesome facts getting in her way. And yes, it is lazy. (Am I being a little hard on Sunny? - Well I’m not the one who started this off by calling people “Ignorant Monkeys” in print).
As for the question about why the board doesn’t participate in negotiations: In the past I’ve had numerous discussions with experienced board members on this topic, many of whom did participate in negotiations with MGEA (a few more times than Sunny has, I might add). The consensus I have gleaned is that having board members in the room doesn’t add much, and in their experience actually hinders the process. The negotiation process is difficult, delicate and detailed, and it is better to have the experienced professionals representing the board’s positions and interests - there is less animosity and negotiations are more productive. Further, no subset of the school board has the power to deal with the contract issues on their own anyway. All issues would have to be reported back to the full board to be debated and decided.
This is a judgement call, but its my judgement that the public’s interests are best served by handling the negotiations as they are now. We aren’t abrogating our responsibilities, but living up to them. Yes, board members have participated in the past – but that experience is why we don’t today. In recent negotiations the board has offered to participate provided that both sides agree to the process of “Consensus Bargaining”. Consensus bargaining has been used successfully in this district in the past, but in recent years the MGEA has declined the offer.
Oh and Sunny, my number is 661-9534 - just in case you have a question in the future.
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5 comments:
Contract negotiations are tedious and difficult things. Unless a board member has specific expertise in the field that helps the process, they probably would be more of a hinderance than anything.
Of course, the board should be kept completely abreast of negotiations, and be ready to discuss the situation as needed, but I don't feel board members need to be in negotiations.
Especially this board, which is as long-winded as it is short on experience.
So-Peter why not call her?
yes, in your opinion she tossed the first stone. Yet, if you want to make a friend and NOT fall into the trap that everyone else does in this town-pick-up the phone and call.
The Mayor is calling her complaining that people are honking their horns-so she might enjoy your call.
I think you have it backwards - Sunny should be calling board members to ask these questions rather than publishing them first and expecting the board members to come to her afterwords
"I think you have it backwards - Sunny should be calling board members to ask these questions rather than publishing them first and expecting the board members to come to her afterwords"
But she did not, right? So Peter should sit in his corner and whine and let Sunny throw stones (as he perceives it)? Does that move anyone forward? I understand that Peter has a point and maybe mad and frustrated, but he is going to stay that way and sunny is going to stay in her corner until someone calls the other.
Do you need me to come over and dial the number?
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