The District and the Shaker Heights Teachers’ Association have agreed to use Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) in the upcoming contract negotiations.
IBB is an alternative to traditional bargaining that emphasizes mutual understanding of interests and collaborative problem-solving, rather than adversarial positions. More information about IBB.
We have agreed to use this process because we believe that it will lead to better results and will build upon the historically strong relationship between teachers and the District’s leadership,” Superintendent Gregory C. Hutchings, Jr., and SHTA President John L. Morris wrote in a joint letter to the faculty.
Representatives of the administration and the SHTA participated recently in IBB training through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which will provide a facilitator throughout the process.
“The training experience strengthened our belief that IBB is the right process for us at this time,” Hutchings and Morris said in their letter. “As we enter negotiations, we are excited about this new process and optimistic that it will lead to an agreement that meets the needs of teachers, the administration and Board, and, above all, Shaker students.”
The current SHTA contract expires at the end of this calendar year.