Saturday, Oct. 8 Lincoln North Star High School

5801 N. 33rd St. Lincoln, NE

Nebraska State Education Association

CONFERENCE TRACKS

NEGOTIATORS HIGHER EDUCATION ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING

GOVERNMENTRELATIONS

8:45 a.m. WELCOME Nancy Fulton, NSEA President & Craig R. Christiansen, NSEA Executive Director

9 ‒ 9:50 a.m. room SESSION 1: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

101The Affordable Care Act and Cash-in-Lieu

The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires individuals to maintain minimum health insurance coverage for themselves and their dependents. It also requires most school districts to provide affordable coverage to full time employees. This “shared responsibility” affects most negotiated agreements, and has significant impact on those with a cash in lieu (CIL) of insurance provision or a flat salary arrangement. This section will address what negotiators need to know about the ACA and Cash-in-Lieu.

Presented by NSEA Legal Counsel Scott Norby

118A Higher Ed Bargaining This session is for community college, state college and UNK negotiators and officers to learn more about searching online for negotiations comparability data, explain what we have found and how to find it. The session will include a presentation and demonstration of IPEDS data that relates to negotiations, as well as other online data. NOTE: This is a 90 minute session.

Presented by NSEA Director of Research Larry Scherer & Organizational Specialist Mike Wiesen

111 Knowing and Enforcing Your Negotiated AgreementIn this session, participants will learn the importance of knowing their negotiated agreement and why it is essential to educate members on the agreement. Participants will also learn the importance of enforcing their agreement by knowing and using the grievance process effectively. Lastly, grievance policies will be reviewed and discussed.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Cindy Copich and Matt Pittman

112Developing a Local Organizing Campaign

Is your local as strong as it can be? Do your members want to do more? Attend this session to learn more about creating a local organizing plan using a template used by organizing teams across the region.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Rich Wergin

118B Student Loan SolutionsNSEA Members, break Free from student loan debt! Explore ways to remove or reduce monthly payments and redirect any savings to help you get on the road to financial success. Learn about three federal government loan forgiveness programs that could remove some or all of your student loan debt. Learn what loan repayment and refinance options are available to you to reduce your monthly payments.

Presented by Keith Jorgensen and Candace Specht, Horace Mann Companies

10 ‒ 10:50 a.m. SESSION 2: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

101Table Tactics 101

Never been part of the negotiation’s team for your local association? Do you want to learn some skills to feel more comfortable, or simply to brush up on your skills? Join Andrea and Maureen for some practical advice and skills for successful negotiating, handling hot-button issues, and when and how to close the deal at the table.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Andrea Longoria and Maureen Nickels

CONFERENCE TRACKS

NEGOTIATORS HIGHER EDUCATION ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING

GOVERNMENTRELATIONS

102 How To Play Well With Others: Managing Personalities & RelationshipsThis session will focus on the dimensions of power and different personalities at the table. Topics discussed will include, but not be limited to: First Impressions, Communication, Validation, Persuasion, Fear, Threats, Stereotyping and Respect. This session will involve some audience participation.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Mandy Faripour & Judy Roach

111Engaging Members in the Bargaining Process

As we know with our students, if they are engaged, learning is enhanced. Adults (teachers, faculty, education support professionals) also need to be engaged. We will look at various methods of engaging members in the bargaining process from start to finish. We will explore surveys, one-on-ones, working groups, all-member meetings, and other possibilities from your colleagues that have proven beneficial to completing a successful negotiated agreement.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Jay Sears

112 Bargaining Beyond Salary: Seasoned Negotiators PanelSeveral negotiators from across the state will answer questions about managing your contract as they share strategies they have used in negotiations. Leaders representing different-sized districts will share techniques that have worked for them.

Facilitated by NSEA Organizational Specialist Rich Wergin

118B Nebraska Public Education Legislation: Past, Current and Future

A review of the 2016 Legislative Session, current interim study hearings, and a preview of the 2017 Legislative Session. The program will cover the legislative process and how November’s state election will affect the future makeup of the Unicameral.

Presented by NSEA Director of Government Relations Jason Hayes

11 ‒ 11:50 a.m. SESSION 3: BREAKOUT SESSIONSSESSION 3

101The Educators Health Alliance

Learn more about the value of the EHA to members. Topics will include what it means to be part of the EHA and advantages of the Dual Option heath plan offerings.

Presented by Greg Long, Field Representative of the Educators Health Alliance

118AHigher Education Roundtable

This is an opportunity to network with other NSEA higher education affiliates; to discuss negotiations strategies; to share information; and to develop communication plans.

Facilitated by NSEA Director of Research Larry Scherer

111Don’t Sign That! Creating a Climate of Watchfulness

Your employment is protected by many things: state statute, your negotiated agreement, board policy and the documents you sign. Those same documents can pose problems if not carefully reviewed. This session will address the many ways that simply signing something can change the course of employment and create problems for you and your colleagues.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialists Randy Gordon and Kristen Sedlacek

CONFERENCE TRACKS

NEGOTIATORS HIGHER EDUCATION ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING

GOVERNMENTRELATIONS

112Engaging Members through Organizing Projects

Learn how to identify the current and pressing concerns of members and then carry out the process of resolving the issues by engaging the members in finding and implementing solutions. This process has the potential of making the work of the Association their work and commitment. Organizing projects make the association relevant to each member’s everyday life and can significantly affect their working conditions through a process other than negotiations.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Marlene Wehrbein

118BSchool Board Contact Teams and Elections

Your school board has more impact on your classroom than any other government body or elected official, including the President of the United States. Recruiting and electing quality school board candidates – those who truly believe in what is best for children and public education – is a top priority of the NSEA. It should be a top priority for your local association as well. However, many local associations are hesitant to get involved in local school board elections, which can lead to boards or board members who may not have the best interest of the students, parents and teachers at heart. This session will go through, step-by-step, how your local association can have a tremendous impact on school board elections without having to get too political or too controversial.

Presented by NSEA Political Field Operations Brian Mikkelsen

LUNCH: ORGANIZATIONAL SPECIALISTS, PROGRAM DIRECTORS, COORDINATED BARGAINING/ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS

1 ‒ 1:50 p.m. room SESSION 4: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

101Negotiate & Then Report a Great Settlement

This presentation will address three topics: Micro Search—the searchable database of all Nebraska negotiated agreements; Navigator—improvements and changes to NSEA’s comp study program; and Settlement Reporting—the contract settlement site developed jointly by NSEA and the Nebraska Association of School Boards.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Duane Obermier & Bargaining Associate Michelle Raphael

102Bargaining Prep 101

What does it take to be prepared to get the best deal when negotiating for your members? The side that is best prepared typically comes out on the better end of the deal. This session will walk you through some of the important pieces a team needs to put in place in preparing to go to the table.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Maureen Nickels

118AUnderstanding School Budgets and Bargaining

This session explains the latest data on school budgets, state aid, tax levies and valuations. What does your superintendent mean when he or she says, “Our budget is capped at 2.5 percent, our enrollment is dropping, our state aid is tanking, and our valuations are skyrocketing?” We will discuss ways to pierce the administrative veil that surrounds school budgeting. Sound like fun? Join the session and find out!

Presented by NSEA Director of Research Larry Scherer

CONFERENCE TRACKS

NEGOTIATORS HIGHER EDUCATION ADVOCACY LEADERSHIP AND CAPACITY BUILDING

GOVERNMENTRELATIONS

111Negotiated Agreements & Member Advocacy

There’s more to Negotiated Agreements than just salary and benefits! Bring your Negotiated Agreement and evaluate what language can help members beyond salary and benefits. We will also talk about language you can bring to the table that benefits your members but doesn’t cost the district!

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Kristen Sedlacek

112Local Officer Fiduciary Responsibilities

This is a must attend for all local association officers! Participants will learn about their roles and responsibilities as an association officer, and will learn how to initiate a good system of internal controls. Officers will also learn about the fiduciary duties around association finances, as well as important tax reporting requirements.

Presented by NSEA Comptroller Sheri Jablonski

2 ‒ 2:50 p.m. SESSION 5: BREAKOUT SESSIONS

101Interest-Based Bargaining: A How-To Guide to Bargaining around Interests, Not Positions

Both new and veteran negotiators will learn how the Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) model addresses individual interests, identifies commonalities and proposes solutions through a simple, relational process. While many negotiating sessions already explore common interests, most fall back into positional bargaining because they lack an adequate level of understanding and tools to generate solutions. The IBB model can create a truly collaborative negotiations process but also allows for a single side to begin to push for better solutions when one side is resistant.

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Randy Gordon

102Well-Written Proposals that get Results!

Problems arise when too much time is spent interpreting the meaning of words and phrases which are not specific to the intent of a proposal. A thorough review of the language used before an item is introduced will pay off in a rich, pointed discussion by both sides. This session will explore examples of well written proposals as well as some that "need some work!”

Presented by NSEA Organizational Specialist Rich Wergin

Copies of presentations are available from your NSEA Organizational Specialist.

Thank you for the generous support of these sponsors:

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska• EHA Wellness

First Nebraska Educators Credit Union• Horace Mann• NEA Member Benefits:

• California Casualty• Mary Oestmann – Frank, Fox & Hoagstrom Financial Group

• Security Benefit

Watch your email for the conference evaluation, and please provide feedback. Your input is valued and appreciated as we plan for future events!

We'd like to thank you for your attendance at this year's NSEA Conference.

Planning Committee Members: Neal Clayburn, Ron Goldenstein, Randy Gordon, Rich Wergin, Judy Roach, Kristi Capek

and a BIG THANK YOU to Jan Anderson for her work in making all arrangements for the conference!