MARCH 2003

VOL. 13 NO. 8

Articles and topics identified to be addressed in this contract negotiations include:

• Article 4 Grievance and Arbitration Procedure
• Article 9 Personnel Files
• Article 12 Extended Leaves of Absence
• Article 15 Work Day
• Article 20 Professional Compensation
• Article 21 Health Benefits – Welfare Trust
• Article 22 Public Employees Retirement System
• Article 27 Progressive Discipline

Topics may also include reclassification, responsibility pay, transfer, year round school stipend, PERS contribution, etc.

If you have additional ideas or suggestions for the Negotiations Team, please forward that information to a member of the team or to the CCASA office at 796-9602.

The CCASA Negotiation Team is composed of Jerry Boles, Mark Coleman, Dusty Dickens, Ken Fowler, David Harcourt, Linda Kemp, Mike Kinnaird, Ron Montoya, Jessie Phee, Allin Chandler, and Stephen Augspurger.

As you know, CCASA provides each active administrator a basic long term care policy. This policy pays $1000 per month for a long term care facility, $600 per month for an assisted living facility, and $500 per month if receiving professional home care from a licensed practitioner. This basic LTC plan pays a lifetime maximum benefit of $60,000. This policy is a negotiated benefit through CCASA and there is no cost to active administrators. Active administrators and retirees, who have had no lapse in long term care coverage, may also elect to purchase additional long term care coverage from UNUM.

UNUM, the provider for long term care insurance, will be mailing out new policy booklets to each administrator in the near future. If you have questions regarding your policy, please contact the CCASA office at 796-9602.

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.

On March 6, 2003, the CCASA Representative Council met for its regular meeting. The major items discussed during the meeting included the following:

1. A review of revenue, expenditures, and balances within the CCASA Association and Trust Fund Accounts;

2. A review of the status of:

A. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting Agenda items and the discussion with the Superintendent for the February 26 meeting were reviewed;

B. Edison Principal Evaluation Procedures – The star rating system and points of accountability for Edison principals were reviewed. It was approved that CCASA would continue to support the bonus for Edison principals for the additional time required to complete the requirements of the position;

C. CCASA Retreat Expenditures – Expenditures for the February retreat in Mesquite were outlined;

D. Secondary Activity Stipend – The time line and payment methodology were discussed. This information was provided to the membership in detail in the February Unifier;

E. CCASA / Governor Guinn Meeting – The March 10, 2003, meeting between Mark Coleman, Stephen Augspurger and representatives from NASA and the Washoe County Administrators Association with Governor Guinn was discussed. This meeting replaced one previously scheduled, but cancelled for January 27, 2003;

F. Lawsuit – The status of a lawsuit filed against CCASA by a former member was reviewed. The lawsuit was dismissed at District Court. CCASA will continue to work with the attorney to determine the best course of action in the event that an appeal is filed. The recovery of costs and attorneys’ fees was also discussed. CCASA will seek an estimate of costs associated with this activity;

3. New Business:

A. Negotiations – The status of negotiations was reviewed. The CCASA Negotiation Team held its first work session on February 11. Additional work sessions have been scheduled for March and April. Formal negotiations with the District will begin in April;

B. Legislative Update – An overview of CCASA legislative activities was provided. Critical bills which CCASA is tracking were reviewed;

C. Insurance Issues – The CCASA office property casualty insurance policy and the worker compensation policy will not be renewed by the present carrier. The reason provided for the non-newel was that the company was eliminating all of its smaller accounts. The CCASA broker is currently shopping these policies for replacements. Additionally, the status of a beneficiary dispute for a Hartford Life Insurance claim was outlined;

D. Top Ten Alert – Approval was given to mail out a letter to all CCASA members outlining a joint District / CCASA program to provide a greater level of influence at the Nevada State Legislature;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP _ Del Bean, President, reported that CCAESP continues to meet with Dr. Orci and Dr. Rulffes to discuss the creation of a formula for the allocation of elementary assistant principals;

B. CCASSP _ Doug Gougar, President, reported on the NASSP convention recently held in San Diego;

C. Legal _ Jerry Boles, Legal Committee Chairperson, reported there were no legal issues;

D. Reclassification _ Mark Coleman, CCASA President, reported that reclassification was currently at a standstill due to funding restraints, but that work was moving forward regarding finalizing the regulation which will govern the creation of new positions and the reclassification of existing positions;

E. Administrators' Leadership Network _ The Representative Council approved the cancellation of Administrators' Leadership Network activities for this year;

5. Executive Directors' Report _ Stephen provided a review of the accountant's report, the membership report, and the various CCASA activities and the types of assistance provided to CCASA members.

On March 10, 2003, Mark Coleman and Stephen Augspurger, representing CCASA; Teddie Brewer, Barbara McLaury, and Ralph Cadwallader, representing NASA; and Lonnie Shields and Kathy Dreher, representing the Washoe County Administrators met with Governor Kenny Guinn in Carson City. Also attending the meeting with the Governor were Frank Brusa, lobbyist for NASA and CCASA, and Doug Byington, representing NASA. During the nearly hour and a half meeting, the Governor outlined his efforts to help support K-12 education, detailed his strategy for increasing tax revenue, and talked about the importance of elevating the amount of contact and influence with the members of the Legislature.

With the writing of this Unifier, the 72nd Session of the Nevada Legislature is nearly half over. The session opened on Monday, February 3, 2003, and will conclude on June 2, 2003. Although most of the discussion regarding the session has centered on the issue of taxes, a total of 1319 bill draft requests have been submitted to the Legislative Council Bureau. Of the initial 1123 bill drafts, 127 addressed issues of concern to CCASA members which included education (83), insurance (23), PERS (11), taxes (3), and miscellaneous (7).

Of the 396 bills introduced in the Senate and the 444 bills introduced in the Assembly, CCASA has to date analyzed 124 of them and has identified 97 to track throughout the session.

It is more critical than ever before that each and every CCASA member take the time to contact Legislators to convince them of the need to increase funding for K-12 education. Included in this Unifier is a listing of email addresses for each legislator. Email addresses and other information may also be found at www.leg.state.nv.us.

While CCASA is tracking over 97 bills, the following bills are being provided for your information at this time. If a CCASA position has been developed, it is listed at the conclusion of the bill. Members are encouraged to provide additional feedback to CCASA regarding each of the bills that are being tracked. Additionally, you are strongly encouraged to contact your legislator regarding these bills. All CCASA members are also reminded to participate in the CCSD / CCASA sponsored “Top 10 Alert” program.

The following Assembly Bills are being tracked and were previously reported to the membership in the February Unifier: AB 45, 54, 68, 122, 138, 154, 162, and 165. Senate Bills being tracked and previously reported include SB 2, 31, 33, 34, 35, 36, 44, 52, and 85. Please refer to the February Unifier for a summary statement regarding each of these Assembly and Senate bills.

Since the printing of the February Unifier, CCASA is tracking the following bills:

AB179 Requires that a pupil satisfying the other requirements for a diploma cannot be denied a diploma because the high school proficiency examination is not passed. CCASA supports this bill.

AB182 Allows an employer and a labor organization to enter into an agreement to collect a service fee from each employee in a bargaining group who is not a member of the labor organization. CCASA supports this bill.

AB218 Reintroduces the language contained in AB319 from the 2001 session which requires the principal, with input from the school’s teachers and parents, to develop a plan for the progressive discipline of students and an on-site review of disciplinary decisions. If the principal fails to review and submit a copy of the plan, or the revised plan, to the Superintendent of Schools, the Board shall withhold the principal’s salary for each day after October 1 during which the plan is not developed or reviewed and submitted. The bill and the first reprint of this bill have been analyzed. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB227 Requires the district to increase the salary of school psychologists who hold national certification. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB234 Authorizes the school bus driver to remove the bus riding privilege from students who misbehave on the bus. This bill creates additional work for the principal, adds additional responsibility for the principal, and reduces the principal’s authority. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB240 A CCSD bill. Repeals the expiration date allowing Boards of Trustees to issue general obligation bonds to raise money to replace existing buildings or grounds and to purchase equipment, furniture, and vehicles for transporting kids. CCASA supports this bill.

AB253 Appropriates $71,750,340 from the State General Fund to the State Distributive School Account (DSA) for an unanticipated shortfall in 2002-2003. CCASA supports this bill.

AB264 This bill is too lengthy and incongruous to summarize in this newsletter. This bill and/or the CCASA summary should be read in its entirety. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB266 Requires each school district to maintain an ending fund balance of 5% which cannot be used to settle arbitrations, negotiations, or to adjust district-wide salary schedules and benefits of employees, and makes various other appropriations for education and education personnel. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB268 Requires the district to increase the salary of speech pathologists. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB279 Modifies the collective bargaining process and provides the authority in certain circumstances to strike. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB311 Revises the provisions regarding home-schooled students. Allows home-schooled students to participate in interscholastic activities or to form teams to participate in interscholastic activities in the same manner as public and private schools. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB345 Requires that the Boards of Trustees ensure that each public high school library be open to the public from the end of the school day until 7:00 pm on each weekday during the school year and for four hours per day on each weekend day. The Boards of Trustees may not request reimbursement for the costs associated with the public use of the library. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB354 This bill is very lengthy and attempts to rewrite the collective bargaining agreements. This bill and/or the CCASA summary should be read in its entirety. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB396 Requires the CCSD to continue its pilot program to replace certain schools. The amount to use in the replacement program is not to exceed $135,000,000 and projects are to be completed prior to August 1, 2006. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB407 Authorizes Boards of Trustees of school districts to grant the use of public school libraries to the general public. Permissive in nature. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB411 Requires the State Board of Education to prescribe, by regulation, a program of reading instruction for elementary schools. CCASA opposes this bill.

AB426 Requires local school districts to pay the university and community college for remedial education provided to a student who graduated from a high school in that district. The Board of Regents will bill the school districts. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB182 Appropriates $3,000,000 to revise the format of the proficiency examination. No Position

SB190 Creates a certificate program for middle level teachers in math and science. Provides $2,000 stipend for teachers completing the program. No Position

SB191 Implements the requirements of No Child Left Behind, a federal mandate.

SB210 Provides an additional 5% salary increase for math, science, and special education teachers. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB222 Requires the distribution of general obligation bonds to charter schools. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB226 Establishes a classification system for teachers in charter schools and regular schools. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB230 A very expensive bill that requires additional training for bus drivers. No Position

SB234 A CCSD bill that requires the State Board to adopt regulations prescribing the maximum compensation and costs that a school district may be required to pay to a hearing officer in a due process hearing. CCASA supports this bill.

SB253 Revises school attendance procedures. No Position

SB254 Authorizes parents of certain pupils to choose which public school pupils will attend. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB317 Provides for a program of education for incarcerated individuals. No Position

SB340 Provides scholarships for students with disabilities to attend private schools when the parent is not happy with the progress being made in the public school. CCASA opposes this bill.

SB341 Requires the Board of Regents to pay for the expenses of high school pupils taking college courses in pursuit of degrees in teaching and nursing. No Position

SB376 This bill contains much of the same language as does SB254 regarding choice but adds voucher schools as well. CCASA opposes this bill.

The following tax bills are also being tracked and supported by CCASA:

AB204 Allows for the temporary increase in taxes on certain business, liquor, cigarettes and certain gaming fees to begin on April 1, 2003 and end on June 30, 2003. (Same as SB219)

AB243 Provides revenue in support of the state budget. (Same as SB238)

AB281 Contains the same taxes as those provided by the Governor, but some rates and implementation schedules are different.

The following health insurance bills are also being supported by CCASA: AB165, AB222, and SB215. Each of these bills will require that the rates established for all participants in the state health insurance program be the same. This is a good bill for CCASA retirees who remained in the state health insurance program. CCASA has provided verbal and written testimony regarding the passage of these bills.

The full text of all bills contained in the March Unifier can be found at www.leg.state.nv.us within the 2003 session information. The CCASA analysis of each bill can be found on the CCASA website.