The meeting starts up about ten minutes late at 4:40. There are notably fewer teachers at this session, maybe only six in total and Rob Rob encourages people to end their side conversations and to bring the meeting together. Rob starts by announcing that they will have "financials" for the next negotiation session, to which Emma responds that the administration had hoped to have the financials at the current session, and that she is interested in moving the process along. A teacher responds to this saying that the process could have gone faster [implying that the administration's switch in negotiation tactics caused a delay]. Emma responds briefly, implying that she doubts things would be any further along if the negotiation process had not changed. Emma introduces a new member of the administration's negotiation team, Tricia Pat Cook, someone new to MPS Human Relations. Emma asks Rob and the teachers if they have anybody new, and they say no. As he passes one set of papers around the table, Rob announces that the first thing is "the preamble", which is "just language things". Rob says that they have removed all language about NCLB, as they don't want to give NCLB any undue credit for anything referenced in the contract. Emma points out that the language to which Rob is referring was written jointly by teachers and the administration two years ago, but everyone shrugs and moves on. Rob passes another set of papers around the table and says that this is a new Section 3, about teacher rights and responsibilities. He passes another set of papers and says that it is Article 16 about transfer, reassignment, and recall. Rob notes that there is a new Section B, and that there is a change to what is in the printed handout. He references a particular spot in the text, then says that the following text should be added: "Interviews will be conducted by teams, consisting of at least two teachers chosen by vote at the site and the principal or administrator of the site." Rob then says that MFT may have some additional language modification in the future, but that they will be no further subtractions. Emma looks through the stack of papers and asks "Is that it?" Rob nods and says yes, Emma responds "okie-dokie". Rob asks the administrators if they want some time to review the proposals, and Emma nods. The teachers leave the room; I motion to Emma asking if I should leave, and she confirms. I wait about 20 minutes in the hall outside of the conference room. Finally, Emma comes out and tells the teachers (down the hall in another room) that she is ready to resume. As the negotiators are settling back in, an Administrator remarks that he has learned that KIPP is planning to make a Spanish immersion school, and there is discussion about how the school would be structured, starting with a few grades, then expanding the grades upward. A teacher asks an administrator about a media event they had both been at earlier in the day, and the administrator responds telling the story about being at Patrick Henry High School earlier that day as a teacher was awarded a $25,000 Milken National Educator Award [this event was featured on the front page of the next day's StarTribune]. The conversation quiets down and Emma speaks up, saying, "Well, Rob and team, we are pretty disappointed." She says that this is the third meeting where the administration has asked for a complete proposal, and has not received one. She says that the administration is not going to respond to anything that is less than a full proposal, that what the teachers have provided is just parts, and that the administration needs a full proposal before they will offer any response. Rob and the teachers are clearly a bit taken aback at this response. Rob starts talking about how the proposals by the teachers are the result of a democratic process, and he waves at the teachers at the table saying that "these folks work all day" and that it takes time to produce contract language. Emma snaps back that Rob doesn’t teach and that it is his job to move the process along, and she asks Rob if he would like her to email some possible language. A teacher starts to speak, and Rob asks her to hold her thoughts, saying that the MFT team is going to wait and come back later. Emma reemphasizes that the administration would like to see a complete proposal, particularly one that included the "economics" or compensation issues. After a little more back-and-forth, the teacher who was previously silenced speaks up and asks why they have to present a complete proposal, when in the previous sessions they went section by section. Emma responds that things have changed, and that this is a how traditional negotiations work. Another administrator asks Rob if they will have a proposal ready by the next scheduled session (Monday, October 15) and Rob responds that he doesn't know, that he will let the administration know when MFT is ready to meet again. Emma responds that it would also be helpful for the administration to have the proposal before the next meeting, and asks Rob if MFT can send the proposal to the administration ahead of the next meeting time. Rob quietly agrees. Another teacher starts talking about being insulted and how he works hard all day. Rob stands up to leave and says that he hopes the next time the negotiators meet, the tone of the negotiation will be different. An administrator confirms that the teachers will produce a proposal, notify the administration of a date, and forward the proposal to the administration before the date. The teachers agree, and then all leave the negotiating room. The administrators stay seated, but indicate they want to talk, so I pack up and leave the room. |