Labor Relations

NASA/NASB
2015 Labor Relations Conference
September 2-3, 2015
Embassy Suites- Lincoln
**Pre-Registration has now closed.  To register, please stop by the onsite registration desk at the event.**

Wednesday, September 2nd
12:30   Registration Open
1:00     Pre-Conference Workshop: The ABC’s of Negotiations - Perry, Guthery, Haase & Gessford, P.C., L.L.O.
In this pre-conference the Perry Law Firm will provide an in-depth review of the negotiations
timeline and statutes relating to the negotiation of teacher collective bargaining agreements, and instruction for the beginning negotiator on the unique comparability process that drives the structure and level of teacher compensation in Nebraska. There will be in-class assignments for participants to do their own mini-comparability study including developing an understanding of teacher placements on a salary schedule, fringe benefit elections, total compensation, selection of an array, and calculation of the mean, median and mid-point.
4:30     Beer and Wine Tasting Social
Join us after the Pre-Conference for a beer and wine tasting social with local breweries and
vineyards.  Grab a snack and spend some time networking with your colleagues all while trying out the wonderful local beverages Nebraska has to offer.

Thursday, September 3rd
7:00     Registration and Continental Breakfast
             Exhibits Open
8:00     Welcome, Award Presentation, and Opening General Session: Staff Behaving Badly - KSB School Law
What do you do when your bus driver threatens to fight a parent?  What should the district do if a teacher's personal blog compares students to the spawn of Satan and calls parents incompetent?  How about special education students as the subject of Facebook rants by teachers and paras?  As in any profession, there are always a few bad apples--these are real cases from Nebraska and across the country.  As a public employer, schools must balance the fine line between employee rights, such as free speech, with the need to operate successful educational programs.  The attorneys from KSB will take you through the most recent (and often humorous!) cases of school staff members behaving badly and discuss the policy and practical aspects of this balancing act which your board and administration should consider.
10:00   Concurrent Sessions I 
10:50   Concurrent Sessions II     
12:00   Lunch Keynote: Building Relationships Before You Need Them: Treat All People Like Gold - Jeff Beals
We all know that some of our success depends on other people. All professional relationships matter as you never know who could provide you with the necessary help to complete an important project. Treat all people like gold because your success ultimately depends on it. In this session, award-winning author and international speaker Jeff Beals recommends you constantly build relationships before you need them. Beals will provide you with a new perspective on the age-old art of networking. You'll learn what to say and to whom you should say it. Once you master the art of networking, your colleagues will wonder why you are so well connected and have such a seemingly easy time mobilizing the efforts of others.
1:15    Concurrent Sessions III
2:15    Concurrent Sessions IV   
3:00    Adjourn

Concurrent Sessions: 
10:00-10:45
The Annual Hair Pulling Contest:  What’s New in Washington and Lincoln – Regents A
Karen Haase and Steve Williams, KSB School Law
Karen and Steve will review decisions from the United States Supreme Court’s 2015 term decisions and what they mean for school districts, review proposed changes to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) regulations, discuss Title IX interpretation from the Department of Justice and Office of Civil Rights, and highlight recent state law changes.

Affordable Care Act - 50-99 FTE's – Regents B
Justin Knight and Rex Schultze, Perry Law Firm
School districts with 50-99 “FTE’s” were provided “transition relief” by the IRS during the 2015 calendar year. However, beginning January 1, 2016, the IRS expects these employers to comply with the ACA. In this session, we will walk through your requirements and offer practical tips to help you comply with the ACA for the 2016-2017 school year. This session will also suggest ways to “track” your employees’ hours to help your ACA reporting requirements.

Negotiations – Timing and Data are Everything! – Regents C
Jennifer Jorgensen and Craig Caples – Nebraska Association of School Boards
This session will outline and simplify the negotiation process.  It will provide an overview of the statutory requirements and necessary steps of the comparability process, demonstrate how to gain an advantage in the negotiation process, utilize various tools to that will ensure your district is following the applicable Industrial Relations Act requirements, instantly create and access data reports, and view real-time placement calculations. Come see how your district can save time using these simple tools to effortlessly streamline your negotiations.

Using Public Relations to Survive Labor Relations – Regents D
Annette Eyman and Kala Morrissey, Nebraska School Public Relations Association
Are you enduring a labor relations issue? Use public relations to survive! Do you know how to communicate your message to your target audience(s)? Do you have a plan to get in front of a crisis? This presentation will walk participants step-by-step through developing messages for a variety of issues, figuring out who your audiences is and how to best communicate with them, no matter what the issue at hand is. A duo of school public relations professionals will share ideas on how to communicate your message and survive…no win the PR battle in any crisis situation. Participants will leave this session they will have an in-depth knowledge of how to develop a message and frame your message to win your audience.

10:50-11:35
Purpose Driven Negotiations: How to Focus on Getting What you Really Need at the Bargaining Table – Regents A
Karen Haase, Steve Williams, and Shari Russell; KSB School Law
Very few board members run for the school board because they can’t wait to negotiate a collective bargaining contract with the local teachers’ union.  However, this agreement governs the utilization of your most important resource: your teaching staff.  Karen, Steve and Shari will review practical issues and strategies that will make your negotiations with the teachers’ union more efficient and effective.

Affordable Care Act - 100 or More FTE's – Regents B
Justin Knight and Rex Schultze, Perry Law Firm
By now, employers with 100 or more “FTE’s” are required to be in compliance with the Affordable Care Act. In this session, we will walk through some  tricky ACA situations that your district may face in the coming months. We will also discuss the imminent ACA reporting requirements, including the IRS forms that you will be required to complete.

Working Together for You – Regents C
Greg Long, EHA
Kent Trelford-Thompson, Blue Cross Blue Shield
In this session representatives from BCBSNE will discuss the long standing relationship between EHA and BCBSNE, and the value to your district that this relationship brings.  We will discuss the history of the EHA, and the five key strengths of this partnership.

School Finance: A Better Understanding – Regents D
Jen Utemark and Bryce Wilson, Nebraska Department of Education
From basic State Aid concepts and projections to the use of school district funds and budgeting. This session will address a variety of issues related to school finance.

1:15-2:00
The Board's Role in Evaluation of Teaching Staff – Regents A
Karen Haase and Steve Williams, KSB School Law
The transformative power of an effective teacher is something almost all of us have experienced and understand on a personal level.  Board members want to do everything they can to make sure that every teacher in their district is highly effective and enriching the daily lives of children.  But what can board members do to demand high quality instruction?  How does the process of evaluation work in Nebraska school districts?  Karen and Steve will review the Nebraska statutes, department of education rules and relevant decisions from the Nebraska courts dealing with teacher evaluation and the board’s role in teacher accountability.

FLSA Updates and Review – Regents B
Justin Knight and Greg Perry, Perry Law Firm
This summer, the Department of Labor proposed amending the Fair Labor Standards Act, primarily by increasing the salary level for employees to be overtime exempt. This session will review these proposals and explain the real-world consequences to your district. We will also walk through common mistakes that school districts make in complying with the FLSA.

Don’t Touch the Stove... No Really... We Mean It... Seriously – Regents C
Eric Weber, Nebraska Association of School Personnel Administrators
Participants will understand the “Public” of public education and the  “professional commitment” expected of educators. They will be able to identify appropriate boundaries and invasions of boundaries that can cause potential issues for students and staff. Participants will also be able to help others intervene with children and help them establish appropriate boundaries. Finally, participants will able to recognize if others have invaded professional boundaries and respond accordingly.

Improving Instruction Through Effective Evaluations – Regents D
Donlynn Rice, Nebraska Department of Education
What are the keys to improving student achievement through effective evaluations?  This session will highlight the teacher and principal evaluation models built from the Nebraska Teacher + Principal Performance Framework.  Learn how you can get started using these models in your district. What do you need to do first and what training opportunities will be available to assist you with this process?

2:15 – 3:00
Don’t be THAT Board Member: Bad Boardsmanship and How to Avoid It – Regents A
Karen Haase and Steve Williams, KSB School Law
While the overwhelming majority of school board members have good motives, even people who mean will can make bad moves.  Karen and Steve will present several case studies to improve collaboration and shared decision-making between superintendents and school boards.  This humorous but substantive session will provide clear direction for board members and administrators in a realistic and memorable way.

Discrimination Law – Regents B
Kelley Baker and Josh Schauer, Perry Law Firm
In this session, Josh and Kelley will address emerging issues regarding discrimination and employees.  Additionally, the session will include a review of potential pitfalls and things to consider when taking adverse employment action against district employees.

Certified Employee Discipline and Termination – Regents C
Eric Webber, Nebraska Association of School Personnel Administrators
Participants will learn about the process used for appraisal used by LPS. They will explore important concepts of just cause, formal and informal feedback, progressive discipline and intensive assistance. Finally, participants will hear about important keys to effective evaluation when dismissal procedures may be in the future.

Collective Bargaining Tactics – Regents D
Chad Meisgeier, Millard Public Schools
Chad Meisgeier will discuss collective bargaining strategies and tactics and will approach the discussion based on his experience as a professional labor negotiator for Millard Public Schools (and previously with Metropolitan Community College).

Room Reservation Information
At this time, reservations can be made at the standard rate:
  Embassy Suites          
  402-474-1111        
  www.embassysuiteslincoln.com

Any cancellation request must be received no later than Friday, August 28, 2015

*A 48 hour (2 business day) cancellation policy is in place for all events. To avoid being charged the full registration fee, please submit any requests to cancel your registration before the cancellation deadline. Please contact Michelle, michelle@ncsa.org, with all cancellation requests and inquiries. Please note: your registration fee will be refunded or waived ONLY if an event is cancelled due to inclement weather. Otherwise, the 48 hour (2 business day) cancellation policy remains in effect for all events.