Why This Workshop is Important

Start with "No"
...Negotiating in Tough Fiscal Times .
Collective Negotiations Knowledge, Skills, and Strategies

Why This Workshop is Important

There are many approaches to negotiations. Understanding which approach works best in particular circumstances is fundamental to long-term success. Collaboration is important, but at what price? Boulwarism is attractive and tempting., but lacks a record of success. Integrative bargaining, problem solving, or interest based negotiations works only with cooperation. Knowing what strategies and tactics to employ is more essential now, when resources are limited, than at any time in the last decade.

This workshop covers the basis of the collective bargaining process, including proposal preparation, good faith bargaining, data analysis, concession ordering, and impasse and mediation. Participants will learn how to anchor their position and negotiate from a position of power while maintaining mutual respect. Special emphasis will be focused on the preparation of the Board of Education for their role in negotiations.

Workshop Faculty

James N. Mills, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools

Dr. James Mills is a highly regarded professional negotiator and school superintendent. He has a rare combination of administrative and negotiating experience. He has been a school superintendent in New York State for sixteen years. He is Past President of the New York State Council of School Superintendents.

During his career as a professional negotiator he has represented twenty-two western New York school districts in collective bargaining and has personally negotiated over one hundred and twenty agreements. Dr. Mills has taught graduate courses in collective bargaining at SUNY Fredonia and is currently an adjunct professor at Niagara University were he teaches Employer-Employee Negotiations in the Educational Administration Department.

Dr. Mills is an outstanding presenter that holds interest by sharing practical knowledge and meaningful anecdotal experience. His presentations in the workshop series Fiscal Navigation for Superintendents continues to be well received throughout New York State. Dr. Mills is an advocate for the use of technology in instruction and is currently on the Board of Directors of The Virtual High School, Inc., a Massachusetts based, international company, providing high school courses over the Internet.

James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator

Dr. James Merrins is executive Program Administrator for the Cycles of Success the statewide Transition to Superintendency Program, and numerous workshops for school administrators. He has sixteen years experience as Superintendent of Schools, twelve in the Fredonia Central Schools and four years as Superintendent and Business Administrator in Honeoye Central Schools. During his career as a school administrator he has represented his school districts in collective bargaining and has personally negotiated over twenty agreements. Dr. Merrins is New York State certified as a School District Administrator (SDA) and School Business Administrator (SBA), and has taught school finance and school law at SUNY colleges.

Workshop Sponsors

Educational Support Services (LEA)
James M. Merrins, Ed.D., Executive Program Administrator
SUNY Oswego, Dept of EDucational Administration
Suzanne Gilmore, Ed.D., Chairperson