Workshop presenters say cardinal virtue in collective bargaining is patience

Workshops at three locations drew large crowds of school leaders,
including this Naperville event featuring attorneys from Franczek P.C.

Fifty-three attendees at a February 23 workshop in Springfield learned what school leaders need to know about collective bargaining trends, including the paramount truth that bargaining for the school board is about patience, not control.

That is, the statutory obligation to bargain in good faith doesn’t compel either party to agree to a proposal or require making a concession, according to presenting attorneys David J. Braun and Brandon Wright, of Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk, & Miller, Ltd. “You don’t have to counter offers,” Braun explained.

Braun and Wright were joined on the panel by two veteran collective bargaining experts who shared tips and success stories, namely Decatur SD 61 Board President Dan Oakes, and Deanne Hillman, assistant superintendent.

The Springfield event, one of three such regional workshops on collective bargaining hosted by IASB across the state that morning, detailed collective bargaining trends and gave participants the chance to hear from legal experts what the law requires on the subject.

Shelli L. Anderson and Melissa D. Sobota of Franczek P.C.
and Leyden CHSD 212 Board President Greg Ignoffo
and Assistant Superintendent Beth Concannon
shared knowledge and experience in Naperville.

Attendees learned about key issues such as language traps to avoid in bargaining and contracts. Springfield workshop presenters also covered the basics of bargaining as they explained available methodology, and shared best practice tips.

Similar presentations were offered for school board members and administrators in Naperville, led by Shelli L. Anderson and Melissa D. Sobota, of Franczek P.C.; and in Mt. Vernon, led by D. Shane Jones and Chad Watkins, of Tueth, Keeney, Cooper, Mohan &; Jackstadt, P.C. Joining the attorneys to share district success stories were Leyden CHSD 212 Board President Greg Ignoffo and Assistant Superintendent Beth Concannon in Naperville, and East Alton-Wood River CHSD 14 Superintendent John Pearson in Mt. Vernon.