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SCENARIO:
A recent report has stated that minority groups in the Westbrook Regional School District show a significant disparity in academic performance with regards to their white peers. In response, the Executive Director of the Franklin Family Foundation (a local charitable foundation) and the Superintendent of the District have developed a tutorial program for high school minorities, to be funded be the Foundation. Reaction from the community and the School Board has been mixed. The Foundation Board of Directors and members of the community, headed by members of the school board, are meeting to discuss what should be done to proceed in improving the program. The two groups will first meet separately to determine their collective goals and objectives, and then will meet together to negotiate on the program.
MAJOR LESSONS:
This negotiation presents the opportunity to discuss creatively and to address a realistic problem facing many public education systems today.
The issues, and the participant's stances on those issues, do not divide neatly. Part of the challenge of this negotiation is figuring out what is important to the individual players. Only once that is clear, can the participants begin to craft a creative solution to which the parties can agree.
The internal negotiations within each side can quickly dissolve into interpersonal bickering and posturing.
Learning how to work together in the face of past disagreements is key to this negotiation. Separating internal or external negotiations properly is the key to consensus building in multi-party negotiations.
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
This simulation is part of a series in the Council on Foundations.
MECHANICS:
Ideally, all parties should be given their roles at least a day in advance to prepare.
The simulation takes place in 2 parts. The first part involves the community group and the board members meeting separately for 45 minutes. The second part involves the two groups having a joint meeting for 90 minutes.
There should be 3 rooms available. 2 rooms should be set-up for a 6-person meeting and a one room should be set-up for a 12 person meeting.
Time Requirements:
At least 30 minutes and preferably 1 day: preparation
45 minutes: separate meetings of the two groups
90 minutes: joint meeting of the two groups
At least 45 minutes: debrief
Total of at least 210 minutes
TEACHING MATERIALS:
For all parties:
General instructions
Profile of Westbrook Regional School District
Study titled “bridging the gap” on academic performances of ethnic groups
Notes on logistics and objectives
Worksheet for preparing for negotiations
Role Specific:
Foundation Board Members -
Ellen Rigby Franklin, Chairman of the Board
Thomas F. Leighton, Executive Director
Stephen J. Franklin, III, Board Member
Nancy Franklin Michaels, Ph.D., Board Member
Kevin Macloud, Board Member
Dr. Suzanne Lowe, Board Member
Community Members -
Martin O'Leary, Board President
Ruth Simone, Board Member
Julia Statner, Superintendent of Schools
Kyle Whitberg, President of PTA
Lynda Johnson, President of African-American Leaders
John Rayburn, President of Westbrook NEA
Teacher’s Package
All of the above
Teaching Notes on logistics and major lessons
KEYWORDS:
Foundations; education reform; community consultation, multi-party negotiation; collaborative problem-solving
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