1. You will be a representative of the “public interest” on the arbitration panel. What are the interests of the public in an arbitration proceeding? Do you see your role as being an objective decision-maker or as being an advocate for the public interest? Do these roles differ?

2. How can the public be assured that you are truly neutral?

3. Do you base your decision only on the evidence and arguments that the parties present in the arbitration hearings?

4. The Teacher Negotiation Act (TNA) requires arbitrators to give priority to the public interest and the school district’s financial capability in deciding issues. Do these two factors ever conflict? How do you give priority to both?

5. In a final offer arbitration you can be faced with two poor last offers. How do you pick one? Do you look at the contract as a whole when choosing between offers on one issue?

6. Over the years arbitrators’ decisions have been subject to a great deal of criticism by the public and public officials. How might this affect you as an arbitrator?

SC: ts