One of the biggest errors that boards of education make in collective bargaining concerns the selection of their bargaining team. A negotiator should be used who knows labor law, understands the educational process and its common practices, and is knowledgeable about school law. In addition to the negotiator, who should be the spokesman, the negotiating team should have a member of the board as policy consultant and one or two administrative consultants to respond to contract items pertaining to elementary and secondary issues. Frequent mistakes that are made by boards in collective bargaining include: (1) making a best offer prematurely; (2) dealing with negotiations issues as separate items rather than as a complete package; (3) not knowing in advance the exact cost of any item in the proposal; (4) not being prepared for alternative responses; (5) meeting too often; (6) focusing on union demands; (7) relying on union documents; and (8) thinking they can negotiate better than their designated negotiators. It is a mistake to assume that the district or school directors have failed because a strike has occurred. Collective bargaining is an adversarial relationship and not a forum where educational improvement can be achieved. (DC)