February 2004

VOL. 14 NO. 7

In each of the five previous Unifiers, it has been reported that the CCASAPE Representative Council has been examining the 401(a) Retirement Plan for possible participation by District administrators. The front page of the December and January Unifiers provided extensive discussions of the 401(a) plan. It was reported in each of these newsletters that CCASAPE would continue to examine the plan and secure answers to questions regarding the impact of its implementation.

At the February retreat in Mesquite, the Representative Council, after months of investigation and discussion, approved CCASAPE’s development of the unique plan for participation in the Distinct sponsored 401(a) qualified tax sheltered plan for terminal vacation pay. Implementation of the plan will occur as soon as the plan is officially adopted by the Board of School Trustees.

Once implemented, the 401(a) Plan will change the manner in which administrators, who retire, receive their terminal vacation payoff. With the adoption of the 401(a) Plan, the Internal Revenue Service rules require mandatory participation by all eligible administrators. To be eligible to participate, a retiring administrator must be at least 55 years old. It is anticipated that the CCASAPE unique plan will include (1) Administrators younger than 55 will continue to receive their vacation payoff in their final check. (2) A minimum of 10 vacation days will be required for participation. (3) The vacation payoff of a deceased administrator will go directly to the beneficiary, and will not be routed through the 401(a) Plan.

401(a) Plan benefits include:

• Provides an additional method for administrators to shelter up to $40,000 of vacation pay at the time of retirement;
• Can avoid or delay income tax, as well as, eliminate the 1.45% Medicare tax for those hired after 1986;
• Will allow all eligible administrators (55 and over) who are buying service credit to shelter the money and use 100% of the money (no taxes removed) for the purchase. Previously, if the vacation payoff was used to purchase retirement credit, it was done with after tax dollars;
• Money deposited can be retrieved from the account in 10-14 days (money taken out of the account will be taxed at a minimum rate of 20% as opposed to the minimum rate of 25% currently in place with the current payoff procedure);
• Money deposited in the fixed account is guaranteed 2% but has never paid less than 4%;
• The local office is through VALIC. There are 21 options, each with multiple investment options available for investing outside of the fixed accounts;
• Funds may be transferred to other tax sheltered plans or other tax sheltered plans may be transferred to the 401(a) Plan;
• There are NO withholding fees, transfer fees, or surrender charges;

The Bencor Company has agreed to provide a series of annual orientation meetings for all interested administrators. Additionally, as additional information regarding the implementation timeline becomes available, it will be communicated through the Unifier.

If you have questions regarding the 401(a) Plan, please contact Stephen Augspurger at the CCASAPE office at your convenience.

On February 6, 2004, the CCASAPE Representative Council met in Mesquite, Nevada, for its regular meeting and a full day retreat. The major items discussed during the regular meeting included the following:

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

2. A review of the status of:

A. Assembly Bill 286 – An overview of CCASAPE concerns regarding this bill was provided. Potential legislative and legal remedies related to these issues were outlined;

B. Lawsuit – The lawsuit filed against CCASAPE by a former member has been completely resolved;

3. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Scholarship _ Scholarship materials will be mailed out to high schools on February 9 and are due back to Mark Coleman at Silverado High School by March 29, 2004;

B. Medical and Vision Contract Negotiations An overview of the progress of medical and vision contract negotiations was provided;

C. CCASAPE / CCSD Contract Concerns – An overview of contract issues related to Articles 9, 27, and 28 was provided;

D. Professional-technical Employees / Implementation Procedure and Time Line The status of progress related to Professional-technical Employees was outlined;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – No report was provided;

B. CCASSP – Linda Archambault, President, announced that a power point workshop will be held in March at Greenspun Middle School;

C. Legal – Joe Murphy, Legal Committee Chairperson, reported that a request for legal assistance has been received and a Legal Committee meeting to hear that request has been scheduled for February 17, 2004;

5. Executive Director’s 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.

6. The major items discussed during the retreat included the following:

A. Administrative Reclassification _ The mechanism for making changes to the reclassification procedure was outlined. Changes approved by the Representative Council must still be negotiated with the District. The following changes to the reclassification procedure were approved by the Representative Council:

• Provide two activity points for middle school principals
• Provide two points for principals supervising two sites
• Revised the definition of "at risk" by deleting test scores and location from the current definition
• Provide points for staff size based on the total allocation from personnel, which includes any staffing units converted to preps in lieu
• Revised the supervision banding for non-school based positions as follows _ 0 points for supervising 0-1, 17 points for supervising 2-13, and 34 points for supervising 14-25. Points for greater than 25 employees supervised will remain as it presently exists;

B. 401(a) Plan – The Representative Council approved CCASAPE's participation in the District sponsored 401(a) Plan for the terminal vacation payoff. Participation will begin as soon as the plan is formally adopted by the Board of School Trustees;

C. CCASAPE Constitution and Policies _ The Representative Council approved language changes to Article III (Membership) and Policy 9 (Sick Leave Pool). Changes to Policy 9 will be posted on the CCASAPE web site at www.ccasa.net. Proposed changes to Article III (Membership) will be submitted to the membership for approval;

D. CCASAPE Legal Expenses and Related Activities – Legal expenses incurred during this school year were outlined. Additionally, an overview of Policy 3, Legal Assistance, Legal Committee Procedural Guidelines, and the elements of CCASAPE's Duty to Fair Representation were outlined;

E. 2004-2005 CCASAPE Budget Development – The procedure and time table for the development of the 2004-2005 budget was outlined;

F. CCASAPE Office Staff – The Representative Council approved CCASAPE office staff salaries for 2004-2005;

G. Administrative Summary – A statistical analysis of monthly administrative growth since 1989 to the present was reviewed. When CCASA record keeping began in 1989 there were 287 administrators. As of February 6, 2004, there were 1019 administrators;

H. Administrator / Teacher Salary Comparison _ An analysis comparing teacher and administrator salaries was distributed and discussed;

I. Region Leadership / Region Issues / District Issues _ Discussion was held regarding issues of interest and concern;

J. Administrators' Advisory Meeting Agenda Agenda items were developed for the February 18, 2004, Administrators' Advisory Council Meeting with Mr. Garcia;

Although there has been considerable discussion in previous Unifiers of the impact that AB286 may have on the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan, one aspect of the bill that has not been discussed is the requirement that a single set of premiums must be utilized for all active and retiree participants in the plan.

When the plan was initially established in 1998, the true cost of the medical insurance was applied to the retiree premiums. The cost of the medical insurance for the active participants reflected a blended cost for the medical insurance. The cost of dental, vision, life, and long term disability insurance represented the actual premium charged by the various providers.
CCASA ensured that the entire employee only premium was fully covered by the contribution provided by the District. Additionally, CCASA ensured that the District contribution and any additional contribution remaining were applied toward the cost of the premiums for the active participants with dependents. This blending resulted in a portion of the premium for employee and spouse, employee and children, and employee and family to be subsidized by the additional contribution provided by the District.

As additional contribution has become available through the collective bargaining process, CCASAPE has ensured that one hundred percent of the employee only premium is paid by the District contribution and that any additional District contribution is applied to the premiums for the employee and spouse, employee and children, and the employee and family.

Because of the requirements of AB286, the blended rate for the active employees can no longer be used. The premiums for the active participants must be the same as the premiums for the retirees which are, in fact, the true cost of the insurance benefits that are provided. Retirees are not eligible for the UNUM long term disability and, therefore, the retiree premiums do not reflect the $14.36 per month charge.

Although the premiums for the active participants will be the same as the premiums for the retiree participants, the out-of-pocket costs for each active employee will remain the same. There will be a $41.68 subsidy for employee and spouse, a $52.97 subsidy for the employee and children, and a $114.92 subsidy for the employee and family. These subsidies are not new but existed previously. They were simply not identified on the previously provided premium sheets.

There will be no changes in the premiums for the Medicare eligible participants since AB286 does not apply to the active and retiree participants in that plan.
A copy of the health insurance premiums has been provided as insert in this Unifier for your information.

In both the November and December Unifiers information was provided regarding the premiums for the CCASAPE Health Insurance. Unfortunately, the dental costs for the employee/spouse and the employee/children, as well as, the retiree/spouse and the retiree/children were reversed. The correction of the error will result in a premium decrease of $5.88 monthly for actives and retirees with a dependent spouse. Conversely, the correction of the error will result in a premium increase of $5.88 monthly for active and retirees with dependent children. These corrections apply to the retirees and actives participating in the Medicare eligible plan as well. The premiums previously provided for employee and retiree only and for employee and retiree with a family are not impacted by this correction.

We apologize for any inconvenience that may have occurred as the result of this error.

Each year CCASAPE 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 CCASAPE member.

The scholarship counselor in each high school has received the scholarship information. The deadline for submission of applications is March 29, 2004. The Scholarship Committee will select recipients in early April. The scholarships will be presented to recipients at a school board meeting in April or May.

Mark Coleman, principal of Silverado High School, serves as the chairperson for the Scholarship Committee. Also serving on the committee are CCASAPE members Richard Arguello and Sue Daellenbach.

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 CCASAPE 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 CCASAPE 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.

An orientation and information meeting regarding the CCASAPE / CCSD Medicare Eligible Health Insurance plan has been scheduled for April 13, 2004, at the Sierra Health building located at 2720 N. Tenaya Way. The meeting will begin at 10:00 am and will be held in the executive dining room. The agenda will include discussion of Medicare reform and updates, a general overview of the CCASAPE Medicare eligible plan, prescription and pharmacy issues, disease management and health, education, and wellness information. An opportunity will be provided for all participants to ask questions of the Sierra and CCASAPE staff. This meeting is for current participants and for anyone who may become eligible for Medicare in the future and may want to participate in the CCASAPE / CCSD Medicare Eligible Health Insurance Plan.

ADMINISTRATORS’ ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING

The Administrators’ Advisory Council held its third meeting of the school year with Superintendent Garcia and Deputy Superintendents Orci and Rulffes on Wednesday, February 18, 2004.
The Administrators’ Advisory Council consists of the CCASAPE Executive Board (Jerry Boles, Joe Murphy, Mark Coleman, Bart Mangino and Barbie Holmes), presidents of CCAESP and CCASSP (Sue Steaffens and Linda Archambault), the professional-technical employee representative on the Representative Council (Jeff Hafen), and the CCASAPE staff (Allin Chandler and Stephen Augspurger).

The following topics were discussed at the February 18, 2004, meeting. Mr. Garcia's responses to these topics are summarized for your information.

1. ADMINISTRATIVE SELECTION PROCESS - CCASAPE reviewed the ongoing general concerns regarding the District’s failure to follow the procedure established in regulation and the perception that the process may not be fair to all participants. In addition, CCASAPE reviewed the statistical data regarding promotions and transfers within regions, as well as, between regions. Requests were made by CCASAPE that position announcements include the range assigned to the position and that a procedure be put in place to ensure that out-of-district candidates are aware of the required licensure requirements in Nevada.

Mr. Garcia requested that CCASAPE provide more specificity regarding perceived unfairness and regional influence on the promotion and transfer procedure. He agreed to CCASAPE’s requests regarding placing the range on position announcements and the development of a reminder procedure for out-of-district candidates regarding the required licensure requirements in Nevada. Additionally, Mr. Garcia discussed the possibility of naming the principals of new schools the summer before the scheduled opening. However, the effective date for the appointments would remain unchanged.

2. IDMS – CCASAPE requested information regarding the implementation timeline for IDMS, including the training plans.

Mr. Garcia indicated that principals are being trained this year and the teachers will be trained next year. Although he indicated this was the goal, he stated that it will likely not be accomplished 100%.

3. SCHOOL STAFF (ECS, elementary counselors, elementary assistant principals) – CCASAPE requested information regarding the assignment of ECS’s to schools and why some schools receive ECS’s as on ratio, some receive ECS’s as off ratio, and others do not receive ECS’s at all.

Mr. Garcia agreed that additional ECS, elementary counselors, and elementary assistant principals are needed, but added that current budget constraints make it difficult to add additional positions. Many schools have self-funded an on ratio ECS position. Mr. Garcia stated that the District has not done a good job in keeping up with growth. Unfunded mandates from the state and federal governments continue to be problematic for the District.

4. ELEMENTARY REPORT CARD CONSISTENCY _ CCASAPE expressed concern that there is a lack of consistency in the elementary report card from region to region. The inconsistencies become apparent as students transfer between regions.

Dr. Orci stated that he will work with the regions to reinforce the idea that consistency of grade reporting is needed. Additionally, once IDMS is fully implemented, a district wide common report card will be developed. This will most likely occur for the 2005-2006 school year.

5. REGION EFFECTIVENESS _ CCASAPE requested the status on the development of the survey instrument to survey region effectiveness.

Mr. Garcia stated that the instrument was developed in conjunction with UNLV and will be sent out to students, parents and staff this spring. A single survey will be utilized for all regions.

6. NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND _ CCASAPE expressed concern regarding the requirements associated with highly qualified teachers and the difficulties that middle schools are experiencing hiring teachers in the areas of math and science.

Mr. Garcia indicated that NCLB has created a national crisis in the area of middle school certification.

7. EDUCATION SERVICES DIVISION _ CCASAPE expressed concern that procedural changes in the expulsion process have occurred and that the input of school based administrators had not been sought.

Mr. Garcia concurred that effective communication had not occurred between the new Education Services Division and principals. A meeting has been scheduled for March 2, 2004, in Room 143 at Curriculum and Professional Development to provide all principals an opportunity to voice their concerns and provide input and direction regarding the development of the expulsion process and related procedures.

8. SUBSTITUTE SERVICES _ CCASAPE expressed concerns that schools are continuing to report a shortage of substitutes to cover teacher vacancies.

Mr. Garcia reaffirmed his commitment to eliminate training activities on Mondays and Fridays and will communicate this to the regions. Dr. Rulffes outlined several pilot programs that seemed to be having positive results with regard to providing substitutes to high need areas and committed to seeking additional improvements in this area.

9. ADMINISTRATOR AND TEACHER EVALUATION PROCEDURES _ CCASAPE expressed concern that a great deal of inconsistency exists from region to region on the use of the administrator and teacher evaluation instrument. A concern was also expressed that the original intent of the revisions was to make the documents more efficient and streamlined, but that the end result was an evaluation procedure which is more complicated and time consuming.

Dr. Orci indicated that both documents are works in progress and that each will be improved and refined over time. Dr. Orci added that it was never the intent to design a document that would reduce the work load for administrators and agreed that the new designs will result in additional work on the part of school administrators.
Note: Based on the response provided, CCASAPE will continue to discuss this issue.

10. SCHOOL POLICE _ CCASAPE requested a status report on the use of highly trained hall monitors in lieu of school police in middle schools.

Dr. Rulffes outlined the training program that is being initiated that will result in additional performance competencies and salary upgrades for hall monitors that are hired in lieu of school police positions at the middle level. Hall monitors in these positions will report directly to the school principal. It is anticipated that this program will be in place when school opens in the fall of 2004.

11. YEAR ROUND TESTING CALENDAR _ CCASAPE spoke to the current testing problem created by the state required testing dates for year round schools. Year round students will be tested having 30 to 40 fewer days of instruction than 9 month students.

Mr. Garcia stated that steps have been taken to correct this problem for next school year, but that nothing could be done about the state required testing dates already established for this school year.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Mr. Garcia brought two additional discussion items forward. These included reclassification and full day kindergarten in selected schools.

Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before June 30, 2004, (will not begin employment in the 2004-2005 school year), must contact the CCASAPE 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 CCASAPE OFFICE PRIOR TO MAY 1, 2004, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JULY 2004 PAYOUT. Please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 if you have any questions.