This document proposes a model for the administrative involvement necessary to the negotiation of effective labor contracts in the schools. A historical analysis of laws, statutes, and significant court cases provides insight into the present scope, complexity, and limitations of collective bargaining in the schools of Washington State. Trends in the roles of school boards, superintendents, and principals in the collective bargaining process are also reviewed. The document's second chapter compares provisions of negotiated contracts currently in use in the 25 school districts of Washington's Educational Service District 105. Contract items reviewed cover personnel policies, working conditions, and negotiations agreements. The third chapter explains and illustrates the use of the Contract Item Analysis process, which provides first-line administrators a voice concerning contract provisions. The process model for administrative teams to follow when planning and conducting negotiations is presented in the fourth chapter. Steps in the process include selecting and orienting team members, collecting and assessing proposals, synthesizing the proposals, reviewing the synthesis, testing the revised synthesis, planning for contingencies, negotiating, preparing for implementation, and implementing the contract. The fifth and final chapter considers contingency planning for strikes and provides a checklist for gathering the information needed for strike planning. References, tables, figures, and a nine-page glossary are included. (PGD)