From Steamboat Today (Steamboat Springs):  Steamboat Springs School District is leading the state when it comes to Proposition 104 and the issue of opening the collective bargaining process to the public. Before voters approved the proposition, the Steamboat Springs School Board already had voted to make those meetings open regardless of whether or not the measure received the nod from Colorado voters.

It was a bold move, and we think the School Board was wise to show its support for a more open employee contract negotiation process in advance of the election. Ultimately, voters across the state approved Proposition 104 by a three-to-one margin, which is evidence that the public has a strong interest in open meetings and making sure government business is conducted transparently.

In the wake of the election, school district officials have been proactive about reaching out to the Steamboat Pilot & Today about the new open collaborative bargaining process. (In Steamboat, the teacher negotiation process is referred to as collaborative, rather than collective bargaining, and our reporting on the first few meetings has proven that to be true.) After the first meeting was held in open session, the district reached out to the newspaper to discuss guidelines, logistics and practical considerations for conducting the lengthy, daylong meetings in open session.

This approach was welcomed and is evidence that district leaders want to abide by open meetings law even though Proposition 104 still is uncharted territory for newspapers and school districts alike. It also prompted the newspaper to request that the Colorado Press Association’s attorney draft an analysis of the legal effect of Proposition 104, which then was disseminated to newspapers across the state.

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