August 14
Lansing Center

The upcoming Districts in Distress workshop on August 14 contains information that is critical to the survival of all school districts in the state. Your district does NOT need to be in distress in order to benefit from this workshop!

This workshop was developed for leaders who want to:

• Avoid labor and financial distress,  and
• Manage it should it occur.

This is the type of content our members have been asking for, which is why we hope you seriously consider having at least one board member and one administrator from your district attend. We’ll present very useful information on vital issues and are confident it will be worth your time. Challenging times are before us and your district needs to be prepared for what may come its way.

To register for this workshop, or see a full agenda, visit http://emerge.masb.org/source/Events/Event.cfm?Event=LCONF_09

Why Attend? 

New Board Members and Administrators–
This is a valuable opportunity to learn the basics of labor relations BEFORE a problem occurs in your district.  You’ll have an opportunity to learn about the law that governs collective bargaining, and the practices and tactics involved with negotiations. Superintendents, if you want new board members who understand the collective bargaining process before the start of the school year, you should recommend they attend this session!

Districts Facing Financial Issues –
If your district is facing financial difficulties, come to the clinic session on dealing with deficits. You’ll get both legal and practical advice. Given the financial crisis facing Michigan, many districts – through no fault of their own – are on the financial edge.  You need to be prepared with facts and information if your district may face a deficit this year or next.

Districts that Need Information on Handling Difficult Labor Situations –
You may or may not be facing tough negotiations with your unions; however, it’s wise to be prepared. You’ll get that preparation in two ways: 1) by learning from the experiences of a district that went through an illegal strike; and 2) by learning communication strategies and tactics from seasoned negotiators, media representatives and communications experts.  This is a rare opportunity to gain insight and understanding to avoid a, “worst case scenario” or manage such a situation if it should occur.

Districts that May Open School Without A Contract and/or Need Background on Impasse Procedures:
Many districts (if not a majority) will be opening school without a contract. Learn the important legal nuances regarding your obligations and rights in this situation. Also learn about impasse procedures – there is new and important case law in this area that you MUST understand when going through the process. You’ll also have an opportunity to hear about preparing for factfinding, an integral part of the impasse procedure.

Districts that Wish to Sharpen Their Public Relations/ Communications Skills:
The keynote address at this workshop is about communication; communications will be a theme throughout the day. Unions are increasingly aggressive and disciplined in communicating with your community and media – you need to prepare to communicate just as strategically as they do.

Because we felt this workshop was of such value, we sought and received a  a generous sponsorship from MILAF+/PFM  in order to offer this workshop at a reduced price of $95 per person.  The value of the knowledge you receive will far exceed the cost. You’ll be prepared better to manage and/or to avoid the pitfalls of the difficult situations your district may encounter in the coming years.

To register for this workshop, or see a full agenda, visit http://emerge.masb.org/source/Events/Event.cfm?Event=LCONF_09

Contact Tom White or Brad Banasik at MASB for more information at 517.327.5900.