Lakeland District administrators presented a proposal to form a Problem-Solving Team (PST) under an Interest-Based Bargaining (IBB) framework to address outstanding issues in the district’s negotiated agreement and to surface solutions before formal negotiations.

The PST, as described by a district presenter (Speaker 6), will include four district-appointed members and four LEA-appointed members, meet monthly, share budget information openly and submit LEA concerns to the PST chair within three days of meetings. "We're gonna review our budget, review budget transparency, review solutions in advance of formal negotiations," the presenter said. The presenter also described ground rules emphasizing professional communication, student-centered outcomes and a consensus ("thumbs-up") practice for finalizing decisions.

Board members raised procedural and timing concerns, including complaints about prior years when the LEA ratified a negotiated agreement before the board had substantive input. One board member (Speaker 2) said, "I don't like this at all," describing frustration that the board was sometimes presented with a ratified LEA agreement with limited ability to influence language earlier in the process. Multiple members asked that negotiation-related items come to the board first as discussion items rather than immediate action items.

After discussion, the board and administration agreed on three operational adjustments: add a board member to the PST to improve representation; move the board planning and appointment timeline earlier in the year (participants recommended February rather than April to allow new board members to be seated and set priorities); and provide monthly PST updates or a standing agenda item in the spring so the full board receives regular reports. A district presenter confirmed the administration will provide monthly reports "if there is anything to report."

Members also clarified PST scope: it is intended to be a problem‑solving body composed primarily of district office staff and LA/LEA appointees, not a replacement for formal negotiations. The presenter said items that are not directly finance-related may be handled in advance of budget deadlines to avoid the April-to-budget publication "crunch." Board members requested that PST and IBB meetings not be scheduled during standard daytime work hours to accommodate member schedules.

The meeting opened with the board approving the night’s agenda by voice vote. Beyond that procedural approval, the subsequent changes (adding a board member, moving timelines, monthly reporting) were agreed in discussion and recap but were not recorded in the transcript as formal roll-call votes. The presenter closed by recapping next steps and reaffirming that items placed on PST example lists should be actionable and within the team’s ability to address.

The board’s next steps include finalizing PST membership with an added board representative, advancing appointment and planning to February, and establishing standing updates for the PST in spring agendas. Administration will return with timelines and will avoid scheduling core PST meetings during standard daytime work hours when possible.