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[music]

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[Cili] Mediation, by definition,
is an opportunity

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for everyone
to come to the table

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and have a chance to talk
about whatever it is

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that they want to talk about.

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What makes
mediation special is that

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it's a
confidential process.

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Mediators are neutral parties.

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It's a, it's a neutral space.

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And it's also voluntary.

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[Nikimya] Oftentimes,
in CSC meetings,

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everyone just for the sake
of time cannot be heard.

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The mediation
process really does

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create a space
for both parties to be heard.

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And I think
that's the most important piece

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of this mediation process.

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[Yvette] When people feel that
they're genuinely being heard,

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it creates energy,
positive energy,

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and the discussion turns to
what's possible.

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[Richard] It's kind of like
sitting around the fireplace.

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If Johnny's the child,
what's the issue?

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What's the district's position?
What's the parents' position?

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And we're just going to talk.

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And I think
once the district hears

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what the parent has to say,

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and once the parent can hear
what the district has to say,

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they both sit back
and they think about it.

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And all of a sudden,
you know, the nerves come down.

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Now we start trying to problem
solve a little bit:

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What's the best for Johnny?

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[Laurie] Very often, when you have
a neutral party in the room,

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people are able to resolve
their own differences.

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[Cili] It's really available
to all families,

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no matter what their economic
situation might be.

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[Nikimya] It allows
just for the fleshing out

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of different thoughts
and ideas

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about what's in
the child's best interest.

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[music]

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[Laurie] One of the most
powerful things about mediation

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is the fact that
mediation helps

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parents and school districts

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improve their relationships
very often.

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[Richard] If you really
take a parent

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to a due process hearing,

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it really leaves
a bad taste in their mouth

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for the, for future events
and future concerns.

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[Yvette] Litigation takes
its toll,

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fiscally and emotionally

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on the time of staff
and administrators.

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So as a alternative
problem-solving strategy,

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mediation
is, is a great process.

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The resolution
comes from the parties

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and not the mediator.

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[Richard] If it goes up
to the next level,

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then sometimes we don't have
that, that much say anymore,

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where a hearing officer
is making the decision.

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I would much prefer to have
the district

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and the parent come up
with a joint decision,

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so everybody leaves the table
somewhat satisfied and happy.

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[music]

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[Laurie] Educating a child

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is something that goes on
for years and years and years.

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And sometimes

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mediation can be used as
a means of resolving disputes,

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but also as a means

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of clarifying things between
parents and school districts.

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It's really a tool to be able
to use something

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to really
enhance a child's education.

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[music]

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[music concludes]