A REALLY NEW FORM OF GOVERNANCE!!

EVERY BODY (ESPECIALLY MY COLLEAGUES): I BEGIN BY RECALLING MY REFUSAL TO VOTE FOR SB160, WHICH IMPOSED COLLECTIVE BARGAINING ON OUR K-12 SCHOOLS - BECAUSE I FELT THAT IF WE HAD TO BY STATUTE SET THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION AND SCHOOL TEACHERS, THE ATMOSPHERE WAS LIKELY SUCH THAT I WOULDN'T WANT TO SUBJECT KIDS TO IT IN THE FIRST PLACE. SAD TO SAY (EVEN WHILE I SUPPORT TEACHERS HAVING A GREATER ROLE IN DECISION-MARKING), I SENSE CONFRONTATIONAL MODELS SIMPLY DON'T SERVE OUR CHILDREN. 
I AM PROFOUNDLY INTRIGUED (AND I INVITE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME IN INFORMING OURSELVES REGARDING THIS PROFOUND & PROMISING DEVELOPMENT) BY WHAT'S BEING EXPLORED BY THE CUTTING EDGE BALL FOUNDATION (OF DETROIT) - TRULY COLLABORATIVE MODELS OF GOVERNANCE FOR K-12 SCHOOL DISTRICTS.
IN FACT, WE'VE RECEIVED A PROPOSAL THAT WE MASTER PLAN MEMBERS CONVENE OURSELVES AND LEADING KEY STAKEHOLDERS IN THE K-12 ARENA, FOR A DAY OF OUR OWN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH RESPECT TO COLLABORATIVE LEARNING AND TRULY SHARED INSPIRING COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE - I HOPE WE GRASP THAT PROMISING OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD OUR NATION INTO NEW FORMS OF COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE (GROUNDED IN OUR DEVELOPING TRUST IN OURSELVES AND EACH OTHER) AND LEARNING (SERVING TO INSPIRE OUR INNATE LEARNING INSTINCT)!