Purpose / TheLocalEducationAgreement (LEA) Negotiation Team(“Negotiation Team”) hasbeenestablishedto negotiate a Local Education Agreement on behalf of the First Nation that will support improved student outcomes for First Nation learners, and promote greater and more meaningful First Nations involvement in the public education system.
Mandate / Toimproveeducationoutcomesforourstudentsinkindergartentograde12throughthedevelopmentofaLocalEducationAgreementandthenegotiationoftheagreement.
DuringthenegotiationstheNegotiationTeamwill:
a.Reviewallrelevantmaterialrelating tothe educationofourchildrenincludingbutnotlimitedto:
  • Existingor previous LEAs;
  • ExemplaryLEAswithintheprovinceofBC;
  • Recent How Are We Doing Report and any available data specific to your students;
  • Existing and previousEnhancement Agreements within the school district;
  • School district multi-year reports and other relevant reports;
  • Theroleof thecommunityintheagreement;
b.Develop a negotiation plan and strategies
c.Make recommendations about the contents of LEA to the Chief and Council and the education coordinator
d.Lead and participate inmeetingswiththe chiefandCouncil, community, andEducationCommitteeto gather input, direction and present drafts of LEA;
e.Make recommendations about negotiations to the education coordinator and chief and council.
Reporting / TheNegotiation TeamwillprovideregularreportstotheChief and Council and communitythroughout the negotiations and willpresent a final draft LEA to Chief and Council for review and approval.
Structure / CompositionofNegotiation Team
The Negotiation Teamhas three members: (for example)
  • [Chief Councilor or member of Council with Education Portfolio (or designate)]
  • [Community member (e.g. parent)],and
  • The EducationCoordinator.
Team Lead
TheEducationCoordinatorwillact as Team Lead and provideallnecessarymeeting coordination andfacilitation, and maintain a negotiation record.
AppointmentofNegotiation Teammembers
Appointmentswillbe made by the Chief andCouncilinconsultationwiththe education
committee.
Meetings
In‐person meeting at least oncea monthor as needed until the conclusion of the LEA.
RolesandResponsibilities / TheTeam Leadwillberesponsiblefor:
1.Providingall necessarysupportingdocuments
2.PreparingadraftofLEAbasedinputofallsubcommittee members
3.Facilitatingthenegotiation processinconsultationwithTeam members
Negotiation Teammemberswillberesponsiblefor:
1.Attending meetings, including meetings with school district
2.Reviewingallnecessarydocuments
3.Makingrecommendationsonthe contentsoftheLEAand thenegotiation process
DecisionMakingProcedures / TheNegotiation Teamwillmakebesteffortstoensureall ideasareconsideredanddiscusseduntilallmembersagreethattheycansupportthe decisionof thegroup.
AlldecisionsoftheNegotiation Teamwillberecommendationsbrought totheChiefandCouncilfor finalreviewandapproval.
Quorum
Quorumishalfplusoneof Negotiation Teammembers
CodeofConduct / Theculturalvalues,beliefs ofourFirst Nationswill be acknowledgedandrespected.
Memberswillparticipateinmeetingdiscussions andwillworktoensurearespectfulandsafeenvironmentandprovideallmemberswithanopportunity tospeakfreelywithoutjudgment.
AllrepresentativesoftheNegotiation Teamwillactwithhonesty,safety,integrity,trustandopenness in conductingandcarryingout business.
ConflictofInterest:
TheNegotiation Team members understand conflictofinterestandperceivedconflict of interestoccurswhenamemberparticipatesindiscussionsordecision‐makingprocessesaboutamatterthatmaydirectly orindirectly resultinbenefits(financialorotherandregardlessofthesize)tothismember,themember’sorganization,orsomeonewithwhomthememberhasafamilial orprofessional relationship.
DisputeResolution:
TheNegotiation Teamshall implementaflexibleandinclusive processintendedtofacilitatepeacefulandrespectfulresolutionofdisagreementsbetweenthepartiestothisTermsofReference.
Term / TheseTermsofReferenceshallapplyuntiltheconclusionof thewritingofaLEAandnegotiation with the school districtandreportingto thecommunity.
Amendment / Thesetermsofreferencemay be amended asagreedbytheNegotiation Team and approved by Chief and Council.
LEA Negotiating Team Composition / Insert names
Alternates may also participate on the Negotiation Team as determined by the Chief and Council