Interest-based bargaining is a method of negotiating that focuses on meeting the underlying needs, concerns or interests of both parties. Negotiators are encouraged to communicate what is important about an issue, rather than arguing for a specific position or solution. By focusing on why an issue is important, the parties are better able to understand where the other side is coming from. This helps them generate a wider range of potential solutions that are acceptable to both sides. This approach is also referred to as integrative, win-win, or mutual gains bargaining.
Our current contract is in effect until
August 15, 2006
Download the Tentative Agreement
Part One              Part Two

12/5/05  ATA and School Board Agree to Pursue Interest-Based Bargaining   The Arlington Teachers' Association and the District 25 Board of Education have agreed to proceed with their contract negotiations using interest-based bargaining. IBB is based on the belief that issues can be mutually resolved by working together to find solutions to common interests.
2/13/06  All Negotiators Attend a Two-Day IBB Training Workshop   The Arlington Teachers' Association and the School District negotiators participated in an intensive two-day workshop on February 9th and 10th. They were trained in the processes used during interest-based bargaining. Training was provided by professional staff from the Illinois Education Association and the district law firm.
4/2/06  Teams have three meetings behind them, with five more scheduled   The Arlington Teachers' Association and the School District negotiators continue to meet on a weekly basis. Several topics have already been addressed, including hiring and transfer practices, scheduling and planning time for special area teachers and support staff, travelling staff issues, the sick leave bank, religious holidays and leaves of absence.
5/15/06  Eight Meetings Already Held, Three More Scheduled   The ATA and District negotiators are scheduled to meet three more times this month. Many issues have already been addressed during the past eight meetings, with conceptual agreements being reached on many of them. Several issues still under discussion include various stipends, National Teacher Board Certification, overnight field trips, school nurse team leaders, elementary performance groups, summer work for BTAS and supported ed facilitators, retirement and salary

 

 

Our Negotiations Team

Email us anytime!
Melissa Applebaum ... Dryden
Christie Brennan ... Westgate
Ann Buch ... Greenbrier
 Diane Burk ... Patton
John Katzenmayer ... Thomas
David Keller ... Thomas
 Jeff McHugh ... Greenbrier
Sarah Seiberlich ... Greenbrier/Ivy Hill
Ron Wirth ... South
Mark Michaels ... IEA Region 43 UniServ Director
Our team is comprised of members from across the district, including veteran and non-tenured teachers and our support staff. Christie Brennan and Jeff McHugh are our team co-chairs. We have met on a regular basis during the summer.
District Negotiators
David Wano - Board Member Mary Kalou - Asst. Super. for Business Chris Fahnoe - Principal
Ken Nielsen - Board Member Renee Zoladz- Asst. Super. for Personnel Charles Williams - Board Member
Brian Kaye - Associate Principal

Negotiations Schedule

ATA Meeting Schedule

Monday, February 27th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Thursday, March 2nd - 4:00 p.m., Westgate

Monday, March 6th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Monday, March 13th - 5:00 p.m., Greenbrier

Monday, March 20th - 6:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m., Dunton

 Wednesday, March 22nd - 4:00 p.m., Westgate

Monday, April 3rd - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Thursday, April 6th - 4:00 p.m., Westgate

Monday, April 10th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Monday, April 10th - 4:00 p.m., Greenbrier

Wednesday, April 19th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Monday, April 17th - 5:00 p.m., Thomas

Monday, May 1st - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton

 Monday, April 24th - 4:00 p.m., at Ann Buch's
Monday, May 10th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton Monday, May 8th - 4:00 p.m., at Ann Buch's
Monday, May 22nd - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton Monday, May 15th - 4:00 p.m., Thomas
Monday, May 24th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton Monday, May 23rd - 4:00 p.m., at Ann Buch's
Monday, May 31st - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton Thursday, May 25th - 4:00 p.m., at Christie Brennan's
Monday, June 5th - 5:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m., Dunton Thursday, June 1st - 5:30 p.m., Thomas
Tuesday, June 13th - 4:30 p.m., Dunton Monday, May 8th - 4:00 p.m., at Ann Buch's
Thursday, June 22nd - 12:30 p.m., Dunton June meetings at Christie Brennan's
July meetings at Dunton July meetings at Christie Brennan's
August meetings at Dunton August meetings at Christie Brennan's

Negotiations Issues That Have Been Discussed

Hiring and transfer practices
Scheduling and planning time for special area teachers (PE, art, music), ESL, and support services staff
Travelling staff issues
Sick leave bank
Religious holidays
Use of personal days
Leaves of absence
Job sharing
Middle school choir and drama
Speech and language pathologist team leader position
Administrative procedures
Complaint resolution process
Consistent discipline across the district
Teacher evaluation
FLEX facilitators
National Teacher Board Certification
Overnight field trips (Science Fair, Science Olympiad, Taft, state track meet)
School nurse team leader position
Elementary performance groups (chorus, ORF, fine arts festival)
Compensation for summer work for BTAS and supported ed facilitators
Part-time staff issues (seniority, compensation)
Placement of speech and language pathologists on the salary schedule
Health insurance benefits
Part-time staff insurance
Increments
Stipends
Retirement
Salary
Contract language

Negotiations
From The ATA Bylaws
Article VI - Section 9

The Negotiations Team shall act as bargaining agent for the Arlington Heights, District 25 Teachers in professional negotiations with the Board of Education.  Members of the Team shall be appointed by the President. The Team shall be responsible for soliciting input from the membership, collecting and organizing the information, and presenting the proposed package to the Representative Assembly for approval by simple majority.  Upon Representative Assembly approval, the Negotiations Team and the President or designee will work together in the preparation of the Negotiations Proposal for Presentation to the Bargaining Agent for the Arlington Heights, District 25, Board of Education.  The Negotiations Team shall be responsible for organizing and presenting the tentative agreement to the general membership for ratification by a simple majority vote.

 

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