Section 10-153s - Negotiation, arbitration and ratification of turnaround plans for commissioner's network schools(a) Upon approval of the turnaround plan, developed pursuant to subsection (d) of section 10-223h, by the State Board of Education or, if the Commissioner of Education develops a turnaround plan for a school because the turnaround committee (1) is unable to reach consensus on a turnaround plan, (2) does not develop a turnaround plan, or (3) develops a turnaround plan that the commissioner determines is deficient, the local or regional board of education for a school participating in the commissioner's network of schools, pursuant to section 10-223h, shall negotiate with the representatives of the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, in accordance with the provisions of this section.(b)(1) If the turnaround committee, as described in section 10-223h, is able to reach consensus on the turnaround plan, developed pursuant to subsection (c) of section 10-223h, and such turnaround plan is approved by the State Board of Education, the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented and the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, shall negotiate with respect to salaries, hours and other conditions of employment of such turnaround plan. Such negotiations shall be completed not later than thirty days from the date when consensus is reached by the turnaround committee.(2) Any agreement reached by the parties following negotiations, conducted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, shall be submitted for approval by the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by such board of education at such school. Such agreement shall be ratified upon a majority vote of such members. Upon such ratification, such turnaround plan shall be implemented at such school.(3) If (A) the parties reach an impasse on one or more issues following negotiations conducted pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection, or (B) the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented fail to ratify the agreement reached by the parties following such negotiations, the parties shall proceed to the expedited arbitration process described in subsection (d) of this section. The decision resulting from such expedited arbitration shall be final and binding and included in the turnaround plan. Such turnaround plan shall then be implemented at such school.(c)(1) If the turnaround committee (A) is unable to reach consensus on a turnaround plan, (B) does not develop a turnaround plan, or (C) develops a turnaround plan that the Commissioner of Education determines is deficient, the commissioner, in consultation with teachers employed at the school in which a turnaround plan is to be implemented and parents or guardians of students enrolled in such school, may develop a turnaround plan for such school.(2)(A) If the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented and the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, agree on (i) all components of such turnaround plan, or (ii) certain components of such turnaround plan, such board of education and such exclusive bargaining unit shall negotiate only the financial impact of such agreed upon components of such turnaround plan. Such negotiations shall be completed not later than thirty days from the date when such turnaround plan is presented to such board of education and such exclusive bargaining unit.(B) Any agreement reached by the parties following negotiations, conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, shall be submitted for approval by the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by such board of education at such school. Such agreement shall be ratified upon a majority vote of such members. Upon such ratification, such agreed upon components of such turnaround plan shall be implemented at such school.(C) If (i) the parties reach an impasse on one or more issues following negotiations, conducted pursuant to subparagraph (A) of subdivision (2) of this subsection, or (ii) the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented fail to ratify the agreement reached by the parties following such negotiations, pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision, the parties shall proceed to the expedited arbitration process described in subsection (d) of this section. The decision resulting from such expedited arbitration shall be final and binding and included in the turnaround plan. Such components of such turnaround plan shall then be implemented at such school.(3)(A) If the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented and the exclusive bargaining unit for certified employees, chosen pursuant to section 10-153b, do not agree (i) on all components of the turnaround plan developed by the commissioner, or (ii) on certain components of such turnaround plan, the parties shall jointly select a turnaround plan referee from the list created pursuant to section 10-153t. Such turnaround plan referee shall review the components of such turnaround plan that the parties do not agree on to determine whether the parties shall negotiate on such components, pursuant to subparagraph (B) or (C) of this subdivision. Such turnaround plan referee shall examine each such component and determine whether such component is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success. If such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success, the parties shall negotiate such component pursuant to subparagraph (B) of this subdivision. If such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is significantly different from what is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success, the parties shall negotiate such component pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this subdivision. Each party shall share equally the cost of the reasonable expenses for such turnaround plan referee in implementing the provisions of this subdivision.(B) If such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success, such board of education and such exclusive bargaining unit shall negotiate only the financial impact of such component of such turnaround plan. Such negotiations shall be completed not later than thirty days from the date when such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success.(C) If such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is significantly different from what is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success, such board of education and such exclusive bargaining unit shall negotiate with respect to salaries, hours and other conditions of employment of such component of such turnaround plan. Such negotiations shall be completed not later than thirty days from the date when such turnaround plan referee determines that such component is significantly different from what is comparable to a public school with a record of academic success.(D) Any agreement reached by the parties following negotiations conducted pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this subdivision shall be submitted for approval by the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by such board of education at such school. Such agreement shall be ratified upon a majority vote of such members. Upon such ratification, such components of such turnaround plan shall be implemented at such school.(E) If (i) the parties reach an impasse on one or more issues following negotiations, conducted pursuant to subparagraphs (B) and (C) of this subdivision, or (ii) the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented fail to ratify the agreement reached by the parties following such negotiations, pursuant to subparagraph (D) of this subdivision, the parties shall proceed to the expedited arbitration process described in subsection (d) of this section. The decision resulting from such expedited arbitration shall be final and binding and included in the turnaround plan. Such components of such turnaround plan shall then be implemented at such school.(d) Not later than five days after the date the parties reach impasse on one or more issues or the members of the exclusive bargaining representative employed by the local or regional board of education for a school in which such turnaround plan is to be implemented fail to ratify an agreement following negotiations, the parties shall select a single impartial arbitrator in accordance with the provisions of subsection (c) of section 10-153f. Not later than ten days after the selection of the single impartial arbitrator, such arbitrator shall conduct a hearing in the town that such school is located. At such hearing, the parties shall submit to such arbitrator their respective positions on each individual issue in dispute between them in the form of a last best offer. The Commissioner of Education, or the commissioner's designee, shall have an opportunity to make a presentation at such hearing. Not later than twenty days following the close of such hearing, such arbitrator shall render a decision, in writing, signed by such arbitrator, which states in detail the nature of the decision and the disposition of the issues by such arbitrator. Such arbitrators shall give the highest priority to the educational interests of the state, pursuant to section 10-4a, as such interests relate to the children enrolled in such school in arriving at a decision and shall consider other factors, pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (c) of section 10-153f, in light of such educational interests. Such decision shall be final and binding and included in the turnaround plan. Such turnaround plan shall then be implemented at such school.Conn. Gen. Stat. § 10-153s
( P.A. 12-116, S. 20; June 12 Sp. Sess. P.A. 12-2, S. 16, 17.)
Amended by P.A. 12-0002,SS. 16, 17 of the Connecticut Acts of the 2012 Special Session, eff. 6/15/2012.Added by P.A. 12-0116, S. 20 of the the 2012 Regular Session, eff. 5/14/2012.