June/July 2004

VOL. 14 NO. 11

Unifier Inserts:
• CCASAPE ACTIVE / CCASAPE RETIREE – PREMIUMS: January 1, 2005
• CCASAPE GENERAL OPERATING FUND 2004-2005 BUDGET

The Nominations and Elections Committee Chairperson, Carol Lark, has reviewed the tabulation of the ballots and certifies the following results:

Incoming President Joe Murphy, and the Past President, Jerry Boles, will continue to serve on the Executive Board. Tom Barberini, Sue DeFrancesco, and David Mendelson will begin their second year as At-Large members of the Representative Council. In accordance with the CCASAPE Constitution, the Executive Board will appoint a member to fill the vacancy on the Representative Council created when Cathy Conger was elected as President Elect.

On behalf of the entire CCASAPE membership, we would like to thank Charles Anderson, Linda Bessire, Lee Braegger, Ken Fowler, Andre Long, Karen Stansfield-Paquette, Susan Steaffens, Tim Stephens, Tony Ulintz, Demerise Hunter, David Mendelson and Neddy Alvarez for agreeing to their nomination for this year’s election. Additionally, the efforts of the Nomination Committee composed of Emilio Fernandez, Kim Grytdahl, and Carol Lark are greatly appreciated.

The President of the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals (CCAESP), Marilyn Miks, and the President of the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals (CCASSP), Beth Howe, will represent their respective associations as members of the

CCASAPE Representative Council. President Joe Murphy has reappointed Jeff Hafen, a professional-technical employee, to represent the professional-technical employees.

A special thank you is extended to Mark Coleman, Barbie Holmes, and Bart Mangino for their service as Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively, for the 2003-2004 school year. In addition, Sue Daellenback, Andre Denson, Ken Fowler, and Phyllis Meckley have completed their two (2) year term on the Representative Council. Additionally, Sue Steaffens, Linda Archambault, and Jeff Hafen are completing their term on the Representative Council as professional association representatives. The contributions and service of these individuals to CCASAPE have benefited all members and their commitment is very much appreciated.

CCASAPE is pleased to announce that the 401(a) Plan which has been discussed many times in previous Unifiers, has been fully implemented. Qualifying administrators, those who will turn 55 during the year that they retire, will have their final vacation payoff automatically deposited into the 401(a) tax deferred account. Participating administrators will avoid the payment of Medicare tax and will avoid or postpone the payment of federal income tax. A schedule of orientation meetings regarding the 401(a) Plan will be published in the next Unifier.

Joe Murphy, CCASAPE President, is seeking volunteers to serve on various CCASAPE and CCSD committees. If you are interested in serving on a CCASAPE committee or as a CCASAPE appointment to a CCSD committee, please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 or Joe Murphy at 799-7660.

On June 10, 2004, the CCASAPE 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 CCASAPE Association and Trust Fund Accounts;

2. Old Business:

A. CCASAPE / CCSD Medical Health Insurance Negotiations – Contract negotiations with Sierra Health have been completed and the details of the new three and one/half year agreement beginning July 1, 2004, for medical benefits were outlined. The contract, approved by the Representative Council, includes an 8% increase for the first 18 months, a 9.5% increase effective January 1, 2006, and an 11% increase effective January 1, 2007. The Representative Council also approved a CCASAPE Welfare Trust subsidy for actives and retirees so that the 8% increase will not affect employees and dependents until January 1, 2005;

B. Administrative Step Advancements – CCSD Regulation 4290 outlines the procedure to be followed for administrative step advancements. An update was provided regarding CCASAPE’s efforts in securing District agreement for step advancements for administrators who are appointed to promotional positions after January 31. Current District practice for administrators who receive promotional positions after January 31 is to deny any eligible step increase at the beginning of the next contract year. CCASAPE believes this practice is a violation of the contract and is working with the District to make the necessary corrections prior to July 1, 2004;

3. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Elections – A handout was provided listing CCASAPE members who have indicated an interest in running for office. Additional nominations will be taken from the floor at the general membership meeting. Biographical snapshots will be included with the ballots. Completed ballots must be returned to the CCASAPE office by July 9, 2004;

B. General Membership Meeting – Stephen reviewed the plans for the general membership meeting scheduled for June 17 at Palace Station. The meeting will begin at 3:30 p.m. and will include business meetings for CCAESP and CCASSP prior to the CCASAPE general membership meeting;

C. Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Payouts – The revised June payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical were approved;

D. 2004 – 2005 Budget – The 2004-2005 CCASAPE budget was approved. The budget will be distributed at the general membership meeting and published for the membership in the July Unifier;

E. Region Effectiveness Survey – The survey, in the format that was used two years ago, was mailed to members on May 25, 2004, with a requested return date of June 7, 2004. To date 238 surveys have been returned. Surveys will be analyzed and the results reported to the membership;

F. Conditional Enrollments – Concern was expressed regarding Education Services Division procedures related to conditional enrollments and expulsions. A meeting will be scheduled with Mr. Garcia to review the concerns;

G. New Teacher Hiring Practices – Many concerns were expressed regarding current procedures related to the hiring of new teachers. The Representative Council requested that this topic be added to the meeting agenda with Mr. Garcia.

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Sue Steaffens reported that elections have been completed and that Marilyn Miks, principal at Sandy Valley Elementary/Middle School will be president for the 2004-2005 school year. Additional officers include Charles Anderson, vice president; Patti Blomstrom, secretary; Kathryn Bausch, treasurer; and Rick Darrington, Phyllis Meckley, Karen Smallwood, Tony Ulintz, and Beverly Mathis, directors. Sue also reported that discussions were continuing with the District regarding the allocation of additional elementary school assistant principals;

B. CCASSP – Linda Archambault reported that CCASSP elections will be held at the general membership meeting and that professional development will continue as a focus for next school year;

C. Legal Committee – no activity to report;

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

On June 17, 2004, CCASAPE held its annual general membership meeting at the Palace Station Hotel. Prior to the CCASAPE 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 CCASAPE business meeting conducted by Jerry Boles, CCASAPE President, the proposed slate of officers was presented. CCASAPE members in attendance were provided an opportunity to make additional nominations. Jerry also provided an overview of the CCASAPE activities for the 2003-2004 school year. An overview of the previously approved 2004-2005 CCASAPE budget was provided to those in attendance. A copy of the budget is included in this edition of The Unifier.

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

Between January 1 and June 30, 2004, Roger Buckley, Kevin Connolly, Richard Ennes, Crystal Helm, Barbara Leslie, Rosemary Murphy, Sherri Sullivan, Kathryn Vasquez, Alma Vining, Mary Jo Wiebersick, and Terry Yarberry retired from the Clark County School District. CCASAPE 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, 30 additional administrators have turned in CCF-164’s announcing their retirement from the District between June 30 and September 2, 2004.

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. CCASAPE pays $450.00 annually to each eligible retired administrator in either June or January for the five (5) years following retirement. In June, CCASAPE distributed $32,400 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, CCASAPE distributed $18,035 to eligible retired administrators for unused sick leave.

With the June 2004 payouts, CCASAPE has paid out a cumulative amount of $633,600 for retired medical financial assistance and $847,350 for unused sick leave reimbursement for a combined total of $1,480,950 since these payouts were begun in 1987.

For the meeting of the Board of School Trustees held on Thursday, May 27, 2004, Mr. Garcia submitted an item to approve the assignment of four out-of-district candidates to administrative positions in the Clark County School District. One of the positions was to a senior high school principal position and the three remaining positions were to middle school principal positions with effective dates of July 1, 2004, and August 1, 2004, respectively.

In February, during the meeting of the Administrators’ Advisory Council, Mr. Garcia affirmed his concern that out-of-district candidates were not being appointed to principal positions in the District. He indicated that out-of-district candidates who are working in other districts are simply not available to fill new school vacancies or replacing principals going to new schools during December through March. He indicated that he wanted to explore naming, but not releasing, the new school principals the summer before they are typically released to assume their new assignment. By doing so, out-of-district candidates could apply for the new school positions or for the vacancies created when existing district administrators are selected for the new schools. Selected out-of-district candidates could begin the year in dean or assistant principal positions until the release date for assuming their principal positions.

Mr. Garcia was contacted by the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees regarding the item. He indicated that the board item was indeed his initiation of the plan he had discussed at the Administrators’ Advisory Council meeting. CCASAPE indicated that the item didn’t appear to reflect his stated intentions and that it, in fact, appeared to be a violation of Regulation 4111 which indicates in Section IV B(2), “Eligible administrators will be provided an opportunity to request consideration for vacant positions, which will be internally advertised.” It was agreed that CCASAPE would address the Board of Trustees to ensure that the item was clearly understood by the CCASAPE membership.

At the meeting of the Board of School Trustees held on May 27, 2004, CCASAPE indicated that its initial review of the item created a concern that the item was a violation of Regulation 4111, as well as, a concern that it was a departure from the discussion held with Mr. Garcia at the Administrators’ Advisory Council meeting. CCASAPE shared that a discussion had been held earlier that day with Mr. Garcia in which he had indicated that the item was indeed a part of the process discussed at the Administrators’ Advisory Council meeting and that persons identified in the board item might begin the year as principals or they may begin the year as assistant principals or deans. Mr. Garcia confirmed the accuracy of CCASAPE’s comments. Additionally, Mr. Garcia confirmed that the next high school principal position and the next three middle school principal positions will not automatically be assigned to these persons and that existing district administrators will be considered for any newly posted positions.

CCASAPE indicated that based on the responses given by Mr. Garcia, the CCASAPE concerns were resolved.

It is CCASAPE’s expectation that every future vacancy will be advertised before it is filled and that the person assigned to the position not be a predetermined selection. It is not clear what discussions were held with the four persons identified in the item and what arrangements were made if they are not assigned a principalship for the beginning of the 2004-2005 school year. The situation is clearly unusual. CCASAPE will work to ensure their fair treatment, as well as, the fair treatment of the existing district administrators.

The CCASAPE staff recently concluded the negotiations with Health Plan of Nevada. The information provided by the 2003 CCASAPE Health Insurance Survey played a significant role in shaping the plan that has been approved for administrators, professional-technical employees, and their dependents through December 2007.

Effective July 1, 2004, and for the period July 1, 2004, through December 31, 2005 (18 months), the medical premium will increase 8%. However, there will be no increase passed on to the actives or the retirees for the first six months (7-1-04 through 12-31-04). The increase for this six-month period will be paid through a subsidy from the CCASAPE Welfare Trust Fund. The rates for the Medicare Eligible Plan will not increase during the July 1, 2004, through December 31, 2005, period. Effective January 1, 2006, and for the period January 1, 2006, through December 31, 2006, (12 months), the medical premiums will be increased by 9.5%. Effective January 1, 2007, and for the period January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007, (12 months), the medical premiums will be increased by 11%.

In reality, for the active employees, the out-of-pocket cost in 2005 for the POS plan will remain at $0 for the employee only, will increase $3 per month for the employee/spouse, will decrease $.21 per month for the employee/children, and will increase $16.94 per month for the employee/family. For the retirees, the out-of-pocket cost in 2005 for the POS plan will increase $23.25 per month for the retiree only, will increase $45.34 per month for the retiree/spouse, will increase $43.02 per month for the retiree/children, and will increase $65.14 per month for the retiree/family.

Effective January 1, 2005, CCASAPE will offer a straight HMO option in addition to the existing Point of Service (POS) plan. The newly provided HMO plan will be similar, but will differ from the HMO component of the POS plan. The new HMO plan will include the same Rx benefit that is provided in the POS plan. The HMO plan will be offered with a medical premium that is approximately 25% less than the new POS premium.

In addition, the standard Mental Health and Substance Abuse benefit has been replaced with an expanded benefit rider at no additional cost. Additionally, HPN will modify its reimbursement methodology for claims payment under Tier III, Managed Care Indemnity (MCI), from the current eligible medical expense (EME) to a standard usual customary and reasonable (UCR) methodology. This change will prevent members who seek services under Tier III benefit levels from incurring charges beyond their deductible and coinsurance responsibilities.

Quarterly meetings will be held with HPN to address ongoing concerns regarding the plan and to develop member communication efforts. HPN will provide annual performance guarantees for administrative and member service categories to include claims accuracy, claims turn around time, ID card turn around time, telephone live voice answer time, telephone abandonment rate, acknowledgement and response time for written correspondence, primary care physician disenrollment, primary care physician membership ratio, and time required to obtain required prior authorizations.

Annual open enrollment meetings will be held in October and November to allow plan participants to add or remove dependents, to join the CCASAPE plan, or to change from the existing Point of Service plan to the straight HMO plan. All changes will be effective January 1, 2005. Additional information regarding meeting times and locations will be provided in future Unifiers.

We have included the new premium rate sheets that will impact out-of-pocket costs beginning January 1, 2005, for the POS and HMO plans for both actives and retirees.

Please click here to download a copy of the new premium pay chart.

CCASAPE is pleased to report that the District has agreed to allocate one day of compensatory time to 11-month principals who were required to work in July to review and or revise AYP reports. As you may recall, principals recently received an email which required them to be available to review these reports during a specified time period during the month of July. Requests for comp time should be submitted to your region supervisor.

A year round principal who is administratively transferred to another school has a contractual right to a 12-month contract and the year round school stipend and will maintain the contract and stipend indefinitely, unless the principal requests to be placed in a nine-month school.

A principal assigned to a multi-track year round school that converts to a single track or nine- month school has a contractual right to a 12- month contract and the $2,000 year round stipend. If the principal wants to remain on a 12- month contract, the District may transfer the principal to another year round school at the same range or may elect to have the principal remain at the newly converted single track or nine-month school and continue to be placed on a 12-month contract at the same range and receive the year round school stipend.

If the principal requests to remain in the newly converted single track or nine-month school, there is no right to a 12-month contract or the year round stipend. The principal will receive a one-month contract at the same range in July followed by an 11-month contract beginning in August. The principal will be entitled to a pro rated year round stipend for two months. The range of the 11-month contract will be determined by the classification criteria.

A year round principal who is selected to open a new school will receive no less than his/her current salary, including stipend, for a minimum period of three years. If after the three year period the salary range of the new school, based on the classification criteria, is less than the salary range of the principal, and the principal wants to remain on a 12-month contract, the District may transfer the principal to another year round school at the same range or may elect to have the principal remain at the new school and continue to receive the 12-month contract at the same range, including the year round school stipend. If the principal requests to remain in the new school, and the school has a lower salary range than the principal’s current salary as determined by the classification criteria, there is no right to a 12-month contract, the year round stipend, or his/her current salary. The range of the 11-month contract will be determined by the classification criteria.

If you have questions regarding year round school contracts, please contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.