June/July 2003

VOL. 13 NO. 11

President Elect - Joe Murphy
Secretary - Barbie Holmes Treasurer - Bart Mangino
At-Large Members - Tom Barberini, Cathy Conger, Sue DeFrancesco, and David Mendelson

Incoming President, Jerry Boles, and the Past President, Mark Coleman, will continue to serve on the Executive Board. Sue Daellenbach, Andre Denson, Ken Fowler, and Phyllis Meckley will begin their second year as At-Large members of the Representative Council.

On behalf of the entire CCASA membership, we would like to thank Cathy Andrews, Del Bean, Kelly Bucherie, David Erbach, Tom Gifford, Pat Hayden, Peter Gallagher, David Garner, Kim Grytdahl, David Harcourt, Joe King, Barbara Mathews, Ron Montoya, Marcia Neel, Paul Oisboid, Alma Vining, and Doug Wilson for agreeing to their nomination for this year’s election. Additionally, the efforts of the Nomination Committee composed of Mike Kinnaird, Kim Grytdahl, and Carol Lark are greatly appreciated.

The President of the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals (CCAESP), Sue Steaffens, and the President of the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals (CCASSP), Linda Archambault, will represent their respective associations as members of the CCASA Representative Council. President Jerry Boles will appoint a non-licensed administrator to represent the non-licensed administrators.

A special thank you is extended to David Harcourt, Barbie Holmes, and Kathy Kulas for
their service as Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively for the 2002-2003 school year. In addition, Cathy Andrews, Cathy Conger, Linda Kemp, and Paul Oisboid have completed their two (2) year term on the Representative Council. Furthermore, Del Bean, Doug Gougar, and Dusty Dickens are completing their term on the Representative Council as professional association representatives. The contributions and service of these individuals to CCASA have benefited all members and their commitment is very much appreciated.

Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before December 31, 2003, must schedule a meeting with the CCASA staff and complete the forms to participate in the retiree unused sick leave payout, retiree health insurance payout, and retiree life insurance / retiree long term care programs. THE FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND FILED WITH THE CCASA OFFICE PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1, 2003, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JANUARY 2004 PAYOUT. Please call the CCASA office at 796-9602 if you have any questions.

As all of you know, one minute after the fiscal year began on July 1, 2003, Governor Guinn filed a civil action against the Legislature asking the Supreme Court to order legislators to fund education and levy sufficient taxes to balance the budget. In his suit, the Governor named every legislator as a defendant.

The suit was filed because legislators failed to pass tax increases and the required balanced budgets by the end of the regular session on June 2. A subsequent special session also ended with no action. A second special session brought the Legislature no closer to the completion of its business.

On Monday, July 8, 2003, the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees, the Nevada Association of School Administrators, and the Washoe County Education Administrators Association working jointly filed an amicus curiae brief with the Nevada Supreme Court. This petition was filed in support of the suit filed by Kenny C. Guinn, Governor, seeking the Supreme Count’s intervention in the Nevada Legislature’s failure to meet their constitutional mandates and was in support of the needs of administrators throughout the State of Nevada.

The 24 page amicus brief, filed by CCASA, NASA, and WCEAA concluded that the Nevada Legislature, and its individual legislators, simply failed to carry out their oath and sworn duties of office. “Those duties are mandatory, nondiscretionary, and the Legislature’s failure to pass a budget put the entire constitutionally mandated system of public education for Nevada’s children at risk. The time for the Legislature to act has passed; the injury has been inflicted and the measure of that injury will only be evident in the coming months and years. Further, the injury increases and compounds hourly and daily.” The brief concluded by requesting the Nevada Supreme Court “to intervene with its moral and coercive authority to urge, force and compel the Legislative action that was required by the end of the regular session, required by the end of the first special session, required by the start of the new fiscal year, and required in the second special session, but yet remains undone.”

As all of you are aware, on Thursday, July 10, 2003, the Nevada Supreme Court, in an unexpected and what will undoubtedly become a historic decision, issued a ruling that set aside the 2/3 majority constitutional requirement for tax increase approval and directed the Legislature to approve the education budget. On Monday, July 21, 2003, the Legislature completed its work by passing a final budget that included education funding for the next two years. Interestingly, the final budget was approved by the constitutionally required 2/3 super majority.

Administrators should know that CCASA, NASA, and the Washoe County Administrators joined together to act quickly and decisively in the best interest of administrators throughout the state to support the original lawsuit filed by Governor Guinn. In several instances, language and legal precedents cited in the jointly filed brief were also cited in the Supreme Court decision. The CCASA attorney, Mr. Thomas Beatty, is to be recognized for his many hours of dedicated work on behalf of the three organizations in the filing of this brief on a very tight time schedule over the July 4 holiday weekend.

UNUSED SICK LEAVE AND RETIRED HEALTH INSURANCE

Article 21-5 of the negotiated agreement between the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees and the Clark County School District provides that the District contribute $5.80 per administrator, per month, to the “School Administrators’ Welfare Trust Fund” for health insurance financial assistance for retired administrators. CCASA pays $450.00 annually to each eligible retired administrator in either June or January for the five (5) years following retirement. In June, CCASA distributed $34,200 to the eligible retired administrators for retiree health insurance.

Article 21-8 of the negotiated agreement also provides that the District contribute $6.65 per administrator, per month, to the “School Administrators’ Welfare Trust Fund” for unused sick leave reimbursement. Eligible retired administrators receive $10.00 per day for up to 250 days of unused sick leave in either June or January following their separation from the District. In June, CCASA distributed $21,210 to eligible retired administrators for unused sick leave.

With the June 2003 payouts, CCASA has paid out a cumulative amount of $553,050 for retired medical financial assistance and $761,780 for unused sick leave reimbursement for a combined total of $1,314,830.00 since these payouts were begun in 1987.

On June 12, 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;

2. Old Business:

A. Negotiations – An overview of progress made during negotiations was provided (a report of progress made thus far during negotiations is included as an insert in this Unifier);
B. Legislative Update – The CCASA Legislative Bill Summary Index was provided and discussed. CCASA produced 110 pages of bill analysis which was updated throughout the session and posted on the CCASA web site at www.CCASA.net. An e-mail was sent to each Representative Council member encouraging them to contact their state legislators;
C. General Membership Meeting – Stephen reviewed the plans for the general membership meeting scheduled for June 24 at Palace Station. The meeting will begin at 3:30 and will include business meetings for CCAESP and CCASSP prior to the CCASA general meeting;

3. New Business:

A. Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Payouts – The revised June payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical were approved;
B. 2003 – 2004 Budget – The 2003-2004 CCASA budget was approved;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Del Bean, president, reported that elections have been completed and that Sue Steaffens, principal at Derfelt Elementary School will be president for the 2003-2004 school year. Additional officers include Marilyn Miks, president elect, Leroy Espinoza, secretary, Kathy Bausch, treasurer, and Bev Mathis, director. Del also reported that discussions were continuing with the District regarding the allocation of additional elementary school assistant principals;
B. CCASSP – No report provided; and
C. Legal Committee – No activity to report.

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

Jerry Boles, CCASA President, is seeking volunteers to serve on various CCASA and CCSD committees. If you are interested in serving on a CCASA committee or as a CCASA appointment to a CCSD committee, please call the CCASA office at 796-9602 or Jerry Boles at 799-7260.

Negotiations between the District and CCASA for the 2003-2005 Agreement began formally on April 29, 2003. Since that time, six formal sessions have taken place between the CCASA Negotiations Team and District representatives. The CCASA Team has also held six work sessions to review and assess progress, plan strategy, and prepare for the formal sessions with the District.

Included as an insert in this Unifier is an Index of Changes thus far agreed to by CCASA and the District. Because the Nevada Legislature took until Monday, July 21, 2003, to pass the final state budget which included education funding for the next two years, decisions related to money have not yet been finalized. Money issues include salary enhancements, health insurance, PERS contributions and administrative reclassification.

The CCASA Negotiations Team consists of Jerry Boles, Mark Coleman, Dusty Dickens, Ken Fowler, David Harcourt, Jesse Phee, Ron Montoya, Allin Chandler, and Stephen Augspurger. Additionally, Linda Kemp and Mike Kinnaird also served as members prior to their recent retirement.

Since the legislature has now completed its work, it is anticipated that money issues related to negotiations will be quickly resolved.

Between January 1 and June 30, 2003, Betty Crabb, Jessica Perkins, Elizabeth Scott, Judy Costa, Andy Rowe, Pat Herron, Roberta Holton, Joan Gray, Georgina White, Steve Mudery, Dan Reese, Larry McKay, and Roger Buss retired from the Clark County School District. CCASA appreciates the many years of service these individuals have given to the students of the District. Congratulations and best wishes are extended to these latest retirees. It has been a pleasure working with each of them. For your information, 25 additional administrators have turned in CCF-164’s announcing their retirement from the District between June 30 and September 3, 2003.

On June 24, 2003, CCASA held its annual general membership meeting at the Palace Station Hotel. Approximately 35-40 active and retired CCASA members attended the meeting. Prior to the CCASA business meeting, the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals and the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals held brief business meetings.

During the CCASA business meeting conducted by Mark Coleman, CCASA President, Carol Lark, a member of the Nominations and Elections Committee, presented the proposed slate of officers. CCASA members in attendance were provided an opportunity to make additional nominations. Mark also provided an overview of the CCASA activities for the 2002-2003 school year. An overview of this year’s negotiations, and the previously approved 2003-2004 CCASA budget was provided to those in attendance. A copy of the budget is included in this edition of The Unifier. As part of the business meeting, Ralph Cadwallader, Executive Director for NASA, provided an overview of the role and function of the School Alliance Political Action Committee (SAPAC). SAPAC provides the means for administrators statewide to influence the political process by endorsing and financially supporting political candidates. Ralph provided payroll deduction forms to those present and solicited additional financial support for SAPAC. A payroll deduction authorization form is included with this newsletter for administrators wishing to regularly contribute to SAPAC. CCASA urges your participation in SAPAC.

Administrators attending the general membership meeting seemed to enjoy the eating, drinking, and socializing. The CCASA Representative Council extends a special thank you to all who attended.