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JANUARY 2003

VOL. 13 NO. 6
CCASA SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS

Each year CCASA provides two (2) scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 each. Each applicant must be a senior enrolled in the Clark County School District and a legal dependent of an active CCASA member.

The counselor assigned to scholarship information in each of the high schools will receive scholarship packets during the month of February. The deadline for submission of applications is March 28, 2003. The Scholarship Committee will select recipients in early April.

Mark Coleman, CCASA President and principal of Silverado High School, serves as the chairperson for the Scholarship Committee. Also serving on the committee are CCASA members Richard Arguello and Sue Daellenbach.
CHANGE OF BENEFICIARY REMINDER

Administrators are reminded of the importance of periodically reviewing beneficiary designations for the Hartford and Cigna life insurance policies and for CCSD payroll warrants. When life changing events occur which may necessitate a change in beneficiary designations, it is necessary for the administrator to contact the CCASA office to make the necessary changes to the Hartford Life Insurance policy. The administrator must contact the District’s Benefits Office at 799-5418 to make beneficiary changes to the Cigna Life Insurance policy. Beneficiary changes for payroll warrants may be completed by contacting Hilary Engel in Personnel. When beneficiary designations are not periodically reviewed and updated, it is possible that the financial benefits from these policies will not go where the administrator desires or intends them to go.
CCASA MEDICARE ELIGIBLE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN

Active and retired administrators participating in the CCASA Medicare Eligible Health Insurance Plan recently received new insurance cards. Unfortunately, these cards did not contain all of the necessary information to ensure maximum benefits under the plan. To correct this problem, Sierra Health will be mailing out new cards to participants in the CCASA Medicare Eligible Health Insurance Plan. Cards should be received in the next few days.

Additionally, active and retired administrators are reminded that when you turn 65 and have Medicare Parts A and B that you are immediately eligible for the CCASA Medicare Eligible Health Insurance Plan. This plan is essentially the same insurance plan that is provided to all administrators with a significantly reduced premium and a number of enhanced benefits. Interested administrators may contact the CCASA office for additional information. Enrollment in the CCASA Medicare Eligible Health Insurance Plan can be completed by visiting the District’s Benefits Office. It is not necessary to contact personnel at Sierra Health.
RETIREMENT

Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before June 30, 2003, (will not begin employment in the 2003-2004 school year) must contact the CCASA office and complete a form to participate in the unused sick leave, retiree health insurance, retiree life insurance, and retiree long term care programs. THIS FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND FILED WITH THE CCASA OFFICE PRIOR TO MAY 1, 2003, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNE 2003 PAYOUT. Please call the CCASA office at 796-9602 if you have any questions.
72nd NEVADA LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The 72nd Session of the Nevada Legislature opens on Monday, February 3, 2003. As you know, CCASA and the Nevada Association of School Administrators will continue the contract with Frank Brusa to serve as the lobbyist for the 2003 legislative session. CCASA and NASA will also work closely with the Washoe County School Administrators Association in a joint legislative effort.

In preparation for the session, CCASA is requesting that administrators complete the CCASA Legislative Membership Database form included as a center insert in this newsletter. This information will be invaluable as critical issues begin to emerge during the session. Please return form to:

CCASA
4055 South Spencer, Suite 230
Las Vegas, NV 89119

Additionally, the first meeting of the CCASA Legislative Committee was held on January 22, 2003. Administrators serving on the CCASA Legislative Committee include Monty Bay, Alan Bowman, Teddie Brewer, Mark Coleman, Sue Daellenbach, Sue DeFrancesco, Liz Fraser, Kathleen Frosini, Patsi Johnson, Bart Mangino, and Sherri Ross. At this meeting committee members received an overview of the legislative process, committee member responsibilities and the status of legislation thus far submitted. Each subsequent Unifier throughout the legislative session will provide a summary of critical legislation, as well as, other information which administrators will find of interest. If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions regarding legislative issues, please contact one of the committee members, Allin Chandler, or Stephen Augspurger.
ADDRESS CHANGES

As you know, the Clark County School District requires that all professional organizations communicate with their members through the U.S. Postal Service rather than the CCSD mail. In order for CCASA to ensure that you receive its communications, it is critical that we be notified when you have a change of address. If you have moved recently, please call Debbie or Sadie in the CCASA office (796-9602) and provide your new address. The District should also be notified since we purchase labels from the District for our large group mailings.
CCASA REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL PLANS ANNUAL RETREAT

On February 6 and 7, 2003, the CCASA Representative Council will hold its annual retreat at the Casa Blanca Hotel in Mesquite. Tentative topics for this year’s retreat include administrative reclassification, iNVest, region issues, administrator survey development, Administrators’ Advisory Council meeting agenda, 2003-2005 negotiations, CCASA Constitution and Policies, administrator evaluation, and Administrators’ Leadership Network. The February Representative Council meeting will be held as part of the retreat activities. A complete listing of topics discussed and actions taken at the Representative Council meeting retreat will be provided in the February Unifier.
EMPLOYEE REPRESENTATION ARTICLE 28

Article 28 of the Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees states that an employee about to undergo an investigatory interview is entitled to an association representative and reasonable notice shall be given. There have been occasions recently where administrators who have been given notices of investigation have attended the investigatory conference without an association representative. CCASA strongly encourages all CCASA members to contact the CCASA office prior to an investigatory conference to ensure that arrangements can be made for either Allin or Stephen to accompany the member at the meeting.  
COMPENSATORY TIME FOR MIDDLE LEVEL BASKETBALL

With the middle school basketball season underway, middle level administrators are reminded that Article 15-6-5 and 15-6-6 in the Negotiated Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees outlines the payment of administrative compensatory time for the supervision of middle school home and away basketball games.

Supervisors shall offer administrative compensatory time for the following:

15-6-5: Supervision of middle school home basketball games which are held outside of the regular school day. Middle school principals may grant a maximum of two (2) hours of compensatory time to each of two administrators assigned to supervise each home game. Compensatory time will be granted to the deans and assistant principals only.

15-6-6: Supervision of middle school away basketball games which are held outside the regular school day. Middle school principals may grant a maximum of two (2) hours of compensatory time to one administrator assigned to supervise each away game. Compensatory time will be granted to deans and assistant principals only.
JANUARY REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING

On January 9, 2003, the CCASA Representative Council held its regular monthly meeting. The major items discussed and/or actions taken during the meeting included the following:

1. The revenue, expenditures, and balances within the CCASA Association and Trust Fund Accounts were reviewed;

2. A review of the status of:

A. CCASA Retreat – The retreat will be held in Mesquite on February 6 and 7. An overview of retreat activities and the tentative agenda was outlined;

B. CCASA iNVest Donation – A CCASA donation in the amount of $250 was approved to support activities to promote the iNVest proposal;

C. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting Agenda items and a summary of Mr. Garcia’s responses were reviewed; and

D. Lawsuit – The longstanding lawsuit of a former CCASA member against CCASA was dismissed from District Court. CCASA will pursue action to recover costs and fees associated with this lawsuit.

3. New Business:

A. CCASA Legislative Activities – The initial meeting of the CCASA Legislative Committee will occur on Wednesday, January 22, 2003. The various CCASA activities related to the 72nd Nevada Legislative Session were outlined;

B. School District Committees – The work of many school district committees is frequently poorly communicated resulting in committees often doing their work in isolation. Since the vast majority of district employees do not become aware of committee recommendations until final decisions have been made, it was previously recommended to the Superintendent that there be ongoing communication throughout the entire committee process. Mr. Garcia has agreed to announce new District committees, identify their membership, and give regular updates of their activities in the cabinet minutes that are distributed to administrators; and

C. Unused Sick Leave Payment – An unused sick leave payment was approved for an administrator who had returned to licensed status and within two weeks, retired from the school district.

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Del Bean, CCAESP President, reported that their focus was still on gaining additional elementary assistant principals and ensuring that the allocation of assistant principals is formula driven. The results of informal meetings held with administrators will be presented to Dr. Orci and Dr. Rulffes;

B. CCASSP – Doug Gougar, CCASSP President, reported that there was no new information from CCASSP;

C. Legal Committee – Jerry Boles, CCASA President-elect and Chairman of the Legal Committee, reported that a training meeting has been scheduled for January 29, 2003, to review the procedure to address legal issues related to CCASA;

D. Reclassification Committee – Mark Coleman, CCASA President, provided an update on meetings held with Dr. Rice, Dr. Orci, Dr. Rulffes and Mr. Garcia regarding the administrative reclassification process; and

E. Administrators’ Leadership Network – Stephen Augspurger, CCASA Executive Director, reported that the ALN format previously used will be changed this year. John Ralston, a local political commentator, will speak to administrators regarding the current legislative session at a date to be determined.

5. Executive Director’s Report – Stephen provided a review of the accountant report, the membership report, and the various CCASA activities and the types of assistance provided to CCASA members.