Board Minutes - 2022.03.14 - IESP Negotiations Opening Statements

Independence Community School Board

Public Meetings for Negotiations

March 14, 2022

The Public meetings were held on March 14^th at the Administration Office starting at 3:38 pm.

Present: Supt Russ Reiter, Director of Finance Laura Morine, Board Member Eric Smith and Kim Hansen.  IESP Negotiation Team: Lisa Preuss, Janette Hopkins, Janet Shannon, Andria Anderson, and Deanna Miller.  Peg Bantz joined after opening comments.  Five support staff were all in attendance.

Supt. Reiter welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked the support staff for their dedication and hard work.  He stated that there is pressure from other businesses in towns on starting wages and that we have to keep that in mind.   

FIRST MEETING:

Lisa Preuss from the Independence Educational Support Personnel Association (IESP) presented their initial proposal stating that they were interested in negotiating an increase in wage to assist in attracting and retaining quality staff.  They also have an interest in working on a longevity system. 

SECOND MEETING: (held immediately following the first)

Supt. Reiter stated that this was the first year for interest-based bargaining with the IESP staff.   Interest- base bargaining is about problem-solving and finding solutions that work for both sides.  Money is usually not talked about in the opening statements.

Board initial proposal to the Independence Educational Support Personnel Association (IESP)

• The Board of Education has a tremendous responsibility to educate all of our students and support our staff to ensure they are successful.  Having an opportunity to discuss important issues and understanding we have similar goals, allows us to work together with a shared vision.
• The Board would like to convey their appreciation to the IESP for the interest-based problem-solving proposal and in their participation in the progress.   Our goal is to attract and retain the best individuals to support our students and school district.

Full disclosure of both proposals may be reviewed at the Administration Office.

The open meeting ended at 3:47 and those not on the negotiating team left.  The negotiating teams from both sides then began negotiating.

 

Eric B Smith                                                     Laura Morine

Board Chairman                                               Director of Finance/Board Secretary