Los Angeles, CA (May 4-5, 2011) ~ Described as a "coalition of the willing," eleven district/union teams from across the state accepted inviations to attend a first-ever labor/management conference, co-sponsored by CalTURN and WestEd (view agenda).

In the face of the worst school funding crisis in the memories of most of the people in the room, the teams wrestled with the challenges of managing shrinking budgets while continuing to make progress with principal/teacher evaluation, peer assistance/review, and extended time for student learning and teacher collaboration.

The conference was designed as an opportunity for labor/management teams and researchers to share innovative and significant practices that have had a positive effect on professionalism and student achievement.

An evening session opened the conference with an overview and keynotes from Ken Futernick, Director, School Turnaround Center at WestEd, CalTURN Co-Directors Tom Alves & Kate McKenna, and TURN Director Adam Urbanski.

The following, full-day began with a panel on the topic of Managing Budgets During a Crisis, moderated by Ron Bennett, President and CEO, School Services, Inc (pictured center, above).  Also on the panel, from left to right, Pat Jaurequi, Supt., Tom Alves, Exec Dir - San Juan; Don Raczka, State Mediation and Conciliation Services; John Collins, Supt., Candy Smiley, Pres. - Poway

There were two luncheon speakers:

• Ken Futernick, WestEd, Lesson on Labor/Management Collaboration
• Jo Anderson, Senior Advisor to the US Secretary of Education, Federal Support for Labor/Management Collaboration

In the final session, a "World Cafe" process was used to generate a convergence of ideas for action and to provide a set of potential strategies for consideration by district/local teams.