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District staff describe interest‑based bargaining as talks near completion for classified and certified units
Summary
Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Vicki Thompson told the school board the district is using an interest‑based bargaining process and expects tentative agreements on compensation and benefits for classified and certified employee units this week; administrative, professional and supervisory negotiations will follow later in the month.
Vicki Thompson, assistant superintendent of human resources for Laramie County School District #1, told the board the district is using an interest‑based bargaining process and is close to completing talks with both classified staff and the district’s certified (licensed) unit.
Thompson said the district does not use “positional bargaining” — a win/lose approach in which parties trade offers back and forth — but instead follows an interest‑based, consensus‑oriented process that emphasizes confidentiality, agreed norms and facilitator‑led discussion. She said the approach is used with both certified and classified units, while administrative, professional and supervisory staff participate in a separate “meet and confer” process.
Thompson told trustees the district will meet with employee units beginning Tuesday and Wednesday of the week following the board meeting: the certified unit (CTEA) on Tuesday morning to discuss compensation and benefits, a classified unit (transportation) Tuesday afternoon, and paraprofessionals, TSS, nutrition and custodial groups on Wednesday. She said the district has already negotiated language adjustments and held benefit meetings, and that the process aims to reach consensus so units can ratify tentative agreements before the board considers final approval.
Thompson said a facilitator, Shelly Langrath, a former school district HR assistant superintendent now working as a consultant, is running the sessions. Thompson also said district budget officer Judd (last name not specified on the record) will attend compensation discussions to provide cost estimates.
Board members asked for clarifications about timing and past raises. A trustee asked whether employees received raises previously; Thompson said employees received raises last year and that compensation proposals will be costed out by Judd during the meetings. Trustees also asked who facilitates the sessions; Thompson identified Shelly Langrath as the consultant facilitator and described her background in rural‑district negotiations.
No formal motions or agreements were recorded during the update. Thompson said administrative, professional and technical negotiations will occur later in the month at those employee groups’ request, and that the district expects units to ratify any tentative agreements before the board takes final action.
Ending: Thompson said the district’s goal is to have consensus‑based tentative agreements brought to employee units for ratification and then to the board for approval after ratification. She asked trustees for questions and closed the update.
