CONFLICT RESOLUTION IN CALIFORNIA SCHOOLS
Disputes over special education are not uncommon in California schools, where one in 10 children qualify for individualized services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The disputes can escalate quickly. Ultimately, they may go before a state Administrative Law Judge for a binding decision. When that happens, typically, neither party is completely happy with the results.
Mediation is a timely, effective alternative for many cases. Ms. Talley has vast experience with facilitating a better way to resolve conflict. She believes it is best for everyone involved to work out differences at the earliest opportunity. That means taking advantage of an experienced, knowledgeable mediator in a non-adversarial environment.
Ms. Talley provides three main services for parents and schools:
Facilitation of Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings
As a neutral third party, Ms. Talley can lead these mandated meetings between parents, educators and other team members. She keeps the IEP discussion focused on the student and the education issues. She assists with communication and problem-solving strategies. As a result, the IEP team can achieve success in developing or modifying the education plan and maintain positive working relationships among all team members.
Mediation of a special education disputes
Ms. Talley works with parents and school staff to settle disagreements in an informal, nonadversarial setting. In a typical mediation, Ms. Talley helps identify the issues, reduce misunderstandings, clarify priorities, find points of agreement, explore new areas of compromise, and, finally, negotiate an agreement. The process is voluntary, and because the parties themselves craft the agreement, clients are typically happy with the outcome.
Mediation of Section 504 disputes
Some students have disabilities that do not necessitate special education services but may require accommodations under the Section 504 of the federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973. When families and school districts disagree over how to help the child succeed, mediation can prove invaluable. Remaining strictly neutral, Ms. Talley brings together parents and school personnel to resolve the dispute in a manner that is satisfactory to both parties. Again, the process is voluntary for both parties.
EMPLOYMENT AND BUSINESS DISPUTES
While Ms. Talley frequently works in education, she has extensive experience in other areas as well.
In her first job after law school, she headed the City of Davis (California) Community Mediation Services program, providing mediation, facilitation and conflict resolution training to address a wide variety of conflicts in the city. She mediated landlord-tenant disputes, and neighborhood conflicts over noise, landscaping and so forth.
Today, Ms. Talley specializes in disputes regarding employment and other business matters. State and federal laws govern employee-employer relationships, and often disputes over employment end up in the court system. Because employment disputes often involve long-term relationships that may continue beyond the resolution of the dispute, mediation is usually preferred over litigation. Ms. Talley can help settle these disputes more quickly and at much less expense in time, energy and money than litigation.
TESTIMONIAL
“We identified Ms. Talley as an ideal mediator to assist in this matter due to her extensive experience in mediation and her stellar reputation among both school districts and parents to reach mutually acceptable agreements.”