Board backs plan to use outside facilitator for contract negotiations; administration to budget for facilitator

Superintendent Dr. Ainsworth recommended the district use an outside facilitator experienced in public‑sector bargaining to help lead upcoming contract negotiations. He and administration staff argued that an objective, professional facilitator would protect the district’s interests, reduce strain on volunteer board negotiators and district staff, and provide legal and procedural expertise the district does not have in staffing numbers to sustain internally.

Board members largely endorsed the proposal. Multiple board members said bargaining is time‑consuming and emotionally fraught, and that an outside facilitator would make the process more neutral, sustainable and consistent year to year. “Unless you do it for a living, to be thrown into that role is a lot,” said one board member who supported hiring experts; another said facilitation keeps negotiations professional and reduces the risk of long‑term relationship damage between board members and staff.

Budget and logistics

Administration and the board discussed cost and timing. The district reported it has set aside funds in the current and next budgets to cover one bargaining cycle and plans to phase facilitated bargaining in to avoid overlapping facilitator fees for multiple bargaining units in the same fiscal year. The administration said it budgeted for facilitator/legal fees in prior cycles and that the cost projected for the facilitator this year would be similar to amounts the district has previously spent on attorney support for negotiations.

Questions from board members covered whether the facilitator would replace board negotiators at the table (the facilitator would be neutral and would not direct board policy decisions), whether facilitators could run both certificated and classified bargaining (administration said the plan is to phase use and prioritize certificated negotiations this cycle), and how the board would preserve its policy‑level roles and guardrails in the process. The administration said the board would still set goals, guardrails and final approval of any agreement; the facilitator would manage process, structure and subject‑matter expertise.

Next steps

Administration said it will include facilitator fees in the supplemental budget planning and return with a contract recommendation and scope for the facilitator role. Board members asked for training so they understand their role during a facilitated negotiation process; administration said that training would be part of the facilitator contract.

Ending

Board members said they were comfortable pursuing facilitated bargaining and asked administration to return with a budgeted contract and training plan. No final contract with a facilitator was signed at the meeting; staff will bring specific proposals and fee estimates to the board for approval.