Running Head: MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 1
Miami School District Negotiation
Edward Charfauros
Organizational Negotiations MGT/445
June 26, 2012
Cecile Morris

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 2
Miami School District Negotiation
The Miami school district announces that it will be redrawing school boundaries upon the
upcoming year because of enrollment increases. A plan is in place by the school board for
students, as the school cannot accommodate every student within the district. The school hires
experts to submit after redraw school boundaries before the upcoming school year begins. The
majority of students are upset because they cannot remain at their present school. Stakeholders
voice their opinions concerning the school district’s proposal.
According to the article, influencing and negotiating skills: some research and reflections
- part I: influencing strategies and styles by Manning and Robertson (2003). “Negotiation is
directly associated with power in that it assumed that those concerned in a negotiation possess
some power which could be exercised, possibly in a disruptive fashion, to the detriment of
others. This is so even if one party is much more powerful than another” (negotiation and
influencing, p. 12, para. 1).
Quality Education
The majority of parents concern themselves with their children’s quality education, travel
time increase, cultural and economic boundary crossings, property value affects, and children
social effects. These are reasons against the plan proposal, as Edward addresses parents and
Miami school district’s concerns. Edward also develops a plan dealing with parent concerns and
negotiation strategy supporting school board issues concerning redrawing boundaries and parent
concerns. Additionally, Edward explains how culture and ethics effect decisions.
The Stakeholders

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 3
Many stakeholders within this situation with students are coercing to redraw from their
present school. Students, parents, teachers, staff, school officials, and the school district are
stakeholders. The redrawing affects upon the students as they may attend a different school and
personally dealing with different issues, such as friend separation, favorite places, and a familiar
environment.
Crossing Economic and Cultural Boundaries
Students may trouble themselves upon a new environment within society, struggling
upon meeting new people for friendships, possessing difficulty comprehending concepts, school
guidelines, education, and cultural differences. Students feel as though they lack support
according to surroundings and carry these problems home within themselves. It may become
difficult meeting friends while attending a new school, adapting to the new school culture, and
the groups within the school. Situations will appear where schools socially affect students taking
their problems out upon their parents. Student arguments may increase, receive teases, and may
be ignored by other students, which cause a lack of confidence and unhappiness within new
students.
Travel Time Increase
Parents remain as important stakeholders as they are concern about their children’s
welfare while attending a new school. Although students decide upon themselves by choosing
his or her lifestyle and life perspective, students surroundings affect them ultimately worrying
parents. Parents may worry of the education quality not equating to the same standards within
the new school. Additionally, the timing for commuting to and from the new school will be
unsatisfying for both parents and students, as the majority of students attend local schools within
walking distance. Many students will be crossing cultural and economic boundaries as they

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 4
move to attend a school with the majority of students representing certain cultures and religious
beliefs.
Affect Upon Property Values
Moving children to attend new schools affect property value. For example, schools
within higher income neighborhoods may witness lower income families moving in. Some of
the students from the lower income families may trash and vandalize the neighborhood after
inviting students from other neighborhoods and neighboring schools depreciating property value.
Additionally leading other residence toward becoming stakeholders. Parent’s primary concerns
surround the social effects upon their children and how social effects negatively influences
society.
Social Affects Upon Children
Teachers, staff, school officials, and the school district are stakeholders. School officials,
the new school’s staff, and teachers obligate themselves upon accepting students and providing
the students with a positive environment. The school district wants to provide quality education
for each student. The school district provides teachers and students with staff, materials, and
classrooms of appropriate size.
Negotiation Strategy to Redraw Boundaries
Although the school district wants to keep every student within his or her current school,
community growth challenges this idea. Therefore, as an alternative ensuring the school district
will continue providing education for students within the community, the school district redraws
students toward others schools. Attempting to satisfy both parents and students is base upon the
district’s decision, as it hires experts to redraw school boundaries.

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 5
According to the article, school redistricting officials listen to parent pleas on boundaries
under consideration: groups praise assistant superintendent for weighing alternatives to district's
plan to redraw boundary lines, by Puckett representing The Atlanta Journal the Atlanta
Constitution (1998). “Although the changes are merely alternatives under consideration and do
not address every parent's concern, they illustrate the school district's willingness to make
adjustments large and small based on input from parents” (abstract, p. 1, para. 1).
Upon supporting the school board’s boundary redraw for next year Edward uses
negotiation strategy persuasive style for stakeholder concerns. A large group of parents,
students, and school officials are unhappy with the school district’s decision. Edward uses the
persuasive style strategic methods and techniques to answer voicing parents concerns. Some
elements and steps include: emotional manner and tone, active participation with encouragement,
vivid language, fear incitement through threats, and violating receiver expectations.
Stakeholder Concerns
Primary concern for parents is the education quality their children will be receiving
within his or her new schools, because emotional tones and manners are high. A school district
meeting will occur encouraging parents to attend so school officials will explain what is
occurring.
Parents will first attend the meeting to voice their concerns and school officials will
attempt to satisfy parents by relaying to parents that education quality will not differ regardless
where their children will be attending. By using persuasive style, parents comprehend their
children (as students) will remain within the same school district, as the district continues
providing students and teachers with appropriate materials, staff, and classrooms. Although
attending new schools may be an inconvenience for both students and parents because of an

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 6
increase in travel, employing vivid language to manipulate parents will be in use for parent
agreement for a desirable decision.
School officials do not want crowding schools with students overflowing and a staff of
teachers with less teaching material. This will affect the education quality students receive,
unless the school district redraws for the upcoming year. As the school district looks upon
crossing cultural and economic boundaries, parents must comprehend the district is present to
educate students representing different cultures and income classes. The question remains
concerning racism, religious beliefs, and racial differences as parents argue of crossing
boundaries. Parents must comprehend every child represents a different background with the
right for fair treatment regardless of differences.
Property value is a concern for many parents; however neighborhoods require
understanding as good abiding citizens accepting the redraw. The involving stakeholders will
not tolerate graffiti and negative effects upon the communities. The school district will take
action upon individuals not complying with school district guidelines. Automatic expulsion will
follow from the school district when any individual is found conducting negative activity
internally and externally of school premises. Social effect concerns will be resolved as the
school district ensures every parent will comprehend school districts responsibility for
influencing children positively and avoiding negativity among students.
Culture and Ethics Affect Upon Edward’s Decision
Culture and ethics should not affect the stakeholder’s decision because many parents and
their children represent different origins and choices significantly differing from one another.
Although stakeholders believe they believe in the effects of culture and ethics, the Miami school
district believes it possesses no cultural differences. Therefore, the school district will not

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 7
choose where students will attend as the district hires experts for redrawing school boundaries.
For the crowding school this is the final decision with a final alternative, as the involving
stakeholders should comprehend this as the ideal solution for everyone. Students of diverse
origins attend each school district within the United States representing different cultures and
ethnicities. Parents desiring to have their children attend specific cultural groups and schools
may choose to have their children attend private schools.
Conclusion
Edward concludes with the stakeholders expecting to comprehend the concept herein this
paper accepting the decision using the persuasive style of negotiation strategy. Students, parents,
and school officials are expecting to adapt to school regulations and the district’s new changes
after exhausting the other alternatives. Presenting the concerns about the overcrowding school
situation, each involving individual will comprehend the purpose for redrawing school
boundaries during Miami’s school district meeting. During the meeting school officials, parents,
and students review each of the concerns publicly brought forward for solutions.
Edward uses the persuasive style to explain to the involving individuals the decision has
finalized. Finally, for the parents with disagreements concerning the redrawing have the option
to have their children attend private school.

MIAMI SCHOOL DISTRICT NEGOTIATION 8
References
Manning, T., & Robertson, B. (2003). Influencing and negotiating skills: Some research and
reflections - part I: Influencing strategies and styles. Industrial and Commercial
Training, 35(1), 11-15. http://search.proquest.com/docview/214107625?accountid=35812
Puckett, P. (1998, Nov 14). SCHOOL REDISTRICTING officials listen to parent pleas on
boundaries under consideration: Groups praise assistant superintendent for weighing
alternatives to districts plan to redraw boundary lines. The Atlanta Journal the Atlanta
Constitution, pp. JJ.01-JJ;01. http://search.proquest.com/docview/247670017?
accountid=35812