August 2004

VOL. 15 NO. 1

The District and the CCASAPE Representative Council have reached agreement on the following revisions to Administrative Reclassification. Agreed upon changes were implemented July 1, 2004, or will be made retroactively to July 1, 2004.
• Provide 2 points for middle school activities

• Provide 2 points for principals with the responsibility for two sites

• Award points for total staff allocation including teaching units converted to preps in lieu or support staff positions / hours – (use the allocation of licensed units and non licensed units for the school as provided by personnel)

• Rewrite the definition of supervision for non school based positions as follows:

- supervision of 0-1 employees = 0 points
- supervision of 2-13 employees = 17 points
- supervision of 14-25 employees = 34 points
- supervision of 26-50 employees = 68 points
- supervision of 51-75 employees = 102 points
- supervision of more than 76 or more employees = 136 points

Note: This change will not apply to previously reclassified non school based administrators.

All principals are reminded that Article 20-11-5 of the Negotiated Agreement between the District and CCASAPE outlines the procedure to be followed by the District in completing the annually required analysis of the Point Factor Allocations.

Additionally, all administrators should be aware that the administrative classification / reclassification system is a dynamic process that is subject to annual review. This fall, CCASAPE will seek input from administrators regarding the compensable factors.

In the July Unifier, CCASAPE announced that the 401(a) Plan had been fully implemented. Qualifying administrators, those who will turn 55 during the calendar 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 postpone and possibly reduce the payment of federal income tax. The local AIG-VALIC office will be assisting administrators with various investment options associated with the 401(a) Plan. CCASAPE believes that the more information members have regarding the 401(a) Plan, the greater potential there is that administrators who are retiring or thinking about retirement will be able to make informed decisions. To provide as much information as possible, quarterly meetings with AIG-VALIC representatives have been scheduled and are listed below. If you have questions regarding scheduled meetings or any aspect of the 401(a) Plan, please do not hesitate to contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

401(a) Plan Information Meetings

Note: The term administrator as used throughout the newsletter refers to administrators and professional-technical employees.

Once each year, during the months of October and November, CCASAPE holds an open enrollment period. This is the time for you to review your benefit election to ensure that it meets the needs of you and your family. During the open enrollment period, you will have the opportunity to make the following changes to your benefit election:

• You can add eligible dependents.
• You can drop covered dependents.
• You can join the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan if you are currently an active administrative employee and receiving your health insurance from CCEA, ESEA, or from another provider.
• You can join the new stand alone HMO plan.

The changes will be effective on January 1, 2005. The Benefits Office at 799 5418 will assist you with these changes. A series of health insurance information meetings have been established to provide administrators an opportunity to discuss the changes in the benefit levels and rates for the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan. Additionally, at each of the meetings, CCASAPE staff and representatives from Sierra Health will discuss the new HMO product that will be available to retirees and administrators with dependents beginning in January 2005. This insurance plan will result in a significant reduction in out of pocket pocket costs for participants. Meetings are scheduled as follows:

CCASAPE / CCSD HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN
2004 OPEN ENROLLMENT MEETINGS

The CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan is a comprehensive health and medical insurance program. In order to receive the maximum benefits possible through the current point of service plan at the best possible cost, it is important that administrators and professional-technical employees and their dependents are familiar with the various components and benefit levels offered through the plan. Each participant is encouraged to carefully review the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan benefits booklet. Additionally, the PPO and HMO Provider Directories from Sierra Health should be examined carefully to ensure the appropriate selection of medical providers. It is recommended that plan doctors be accessed on line through the CCASAPE web site (www.ccasa.net). The web site listing will be more up-to-date than the printed HMO and PPO provider directories.

Since, at this time of the year, there are many new administrators and professional-technical employees enrolling in the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan, a brief plan overview is being provided. It is important to note that CCASAPE retirees have the same level of benefits as active employees, with the exception that there is no Long Term Disability benefit for retirees. Additionally, retirees do not receive a District contribution to offset the cost of insurance.

The comprehensive health insurance plan negotiated by CCASAPE consists of five separate components that are provided by five different providers:
Medical Coverage...…………………Sierra Health
Dental Coverage………………………Humana Dental
Vision Coverage……………………….VSP
Life Insurance………...….…………….Standard
Long Term Disability………………..UNUM

Medical Coverage – Sierra Health

The CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan is a “point of service” plan which allows all participants to secure health services from either an HMO, PPO, or MCI provider each time health services are needed. Participants can move between the HMO, PPO or MCI provider as desired for each medical need. Benefits received through the HMO portion of the plan will result in the lowest out-of-pocket cost and will generate the greatest savings for the individual and family.
There is no calendar year deductible to see a doctor. There are only copayments of $5.00 and $10.00 (HMO), $10.00 and $20.00 (PPO), and the amount charged by a MCI doctor that is in excess of 70% of the eligible medical expense. Please refer to your health benefits booklet for specific benefits under each tier of the point of service plan. Services received under the HMO benefit are not subject to calendar year deductibles or coinsurance payments. Some services under the PPO benefit are subject to calendar year deductible and coinsurance of 20%. All services under the MCI benefit are subject to the calendar year deductible and coinsurance of 30%. Please be reminded that a new stand-alone HMO plan will be offered effective January 1, 2005. This plan will significantly reduce out-of-pocket costs for retirees and administrators with dependents.

Prescription copayments are $5, $10, and $20. You should never be charged for anything more than these amounts. Any other copay is incorrect. There is no preauthorization required for any prescription. The $5, $10, and $20 copays also apply to 90 day supplies of maintenance drugs ordered through Express Scripts

If you have ANY problems with the HPN Point of Service Plan, the new HMO Plan, or the SHL Out-of-Area Plan, you can contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

Dental Coverage – Humana Dental

Dental care is provided by Humana Dental Insurance Company. A summary of benefits is as follows. The deductible for each new enrollee is a $100 lifetime deductible. Diagnostic and preventive services are generally paid at 100%. Basic benefits are covered at 80% and crowns, bridges and dentures are covered at 50%. There is a maximum $1500 benefit per patient per calendar year and a lifetime $1500 orthodontic benefit for dependent children to age 19.

Vision Coverage – VSP

The provider for vision care is Vision Services Plan (VSP). Examinations and lenses will be provided every 12 months and frames will be provided every 24 months. The plan includes a $10 copay to member doctors at the time services are provided.

Standard Group Insurance

Each administrator and professional-technical employee currently participating in the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan has a $50,000 life insurance policy from Standard. This policy also contains an additional $50,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Benefit. Both the original amount and the AD&D benefit will reduce to $32,500 when active employees reach age 70 and to $25,000 when active employees reach age 75. For retirees who keep the CCASAPE / CCSD health insurance plan, the original amount and the AD&D benefit reduce to $25,000 at age 70. The policy also provides $2,000 life insurance coverage for the spouse and dependent children of an active and a retired administrator. Dependent coverage includes unmarried children from live birth through age 20, or through age 27 if the child is a full time registered student.

Long Term Disability

This benefit is provided by the UNUM Life Insurance Company. The benefit is effective 180 days after an individual becomes disabled. The benefit is 60% of an individual’s salary. The premium is paid with after taxed money which makes the full 60% benefit tax free.

In addition to the comprehensive insurance plan outlined above, CCASAPE has negotiated other health related benefits for administrative employees. These benefits are provided at no cost to the employee and include the following:

Standard $100,000 Life Insurance Policy

The Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees administers a $100,000 life insurance policy for all active employees and those retires who elect to continue the policy after retirement. The policy also contains an additional $100,000 Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Benefit. Both the original amount and AD&D Benefit reduce to $65,000 when active employees reach age 70, and to $50,000 when active employees reach age 75. This policy is currently provided through Standard Life Insurance Company of America. This policy is a negotiated benefit provided by CCASAPE to active district administrators. There is no cost to active administrators. There is no negotiated life insurance contribution provided once an administrator retires. However, CCASAPE, as a free service to its members, will collect the premium from the retiree and transfer the premium to the Standard Life Insurance Company. For retirees who elect to purchase this insurance, the original amount and the AD&D benefit reduce to $50,000 when the insured retiree reaches age 70. The premiums for retirees are the same as those of active administrators.

UNUM Long Term Care

CCASAPE also provides to each active administrator and professional-technical employee 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 maximum benefit of $60,000. This policy is a negotiated benefit through CCASAPE and there is no cost to active administrators. The policy can be continued at retirement, but the premium must be paid by the retiree. 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. Please contact the CCASPE office for an application packet.

REMINDER – FULL TIME STUDENT ENROLLMENT STATUS MUST BE VERIFIED

An unmarried child who is under the age of 27 and enrolled in an accredited school is eligible to receive health benefits as a dependent on the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan. Students must be enrolled in 6 credit hours and must submit, once annually, a letter from the registrar’s office verifying that the student is enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours. Verification from the registrar’s office must be sent to Nick Venturini in the Employee Benefits Office in the Education Center by the end of September 2004 to continue health benefits for the 2004-2005 school year.

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 CCASPE appointment to a CCSD committee, please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 or Joe Murphy at 799-7660.

As you may recall, the 2004 Member Survey was authorized by the CCASAPE Representative Council and was mailed to all CCASAPE members on May 25, 2004, with a requested return date of June 7, 2004. The 2004 Member Survey, with just a few exceptions, was identical in format and content to the 2002 Member Survey.
The executive summary and statistical analysis has been completed for the 263 surveys that were returned to the CCASAPE office. The summary and statistical analysis will be mailed to members within the next few days. The mailing will also include a side by side comparison of the 2004 survey with the 2002 survey. Copies of all survey documents, including the 21 pages of single spaced typed comments have been shared with Mr. Garcia, Dr. Rulffes, Dr. Orci and each of the region superintendents. CCASAPE encourages your careful review of the survey documents.

Administrators are reminded that Article 9-4 through 9-6 of the Negotiated Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees outlines the procedure for the removal of supervisory reports, comments, reprimands, admonitions, or other such documents from the personnel files of administrators. Administrators are asked to review this procedure and to call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 for assistance with the removal of any applicable documents.

Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before December 31, 2004, must schedule a meeting with the CCASAPE staff and complete the form 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 CCASAPE OFFICE PRIOR TO NOVEMBER 1, 2004, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JANUARY 2005 PAYOUT. Also, as a reminder, any retiring administrator who will turn 55 in the calendar year of his/her retirement will automatically have the final vacation payoff deposited to the 401(a) qualified tax deferred plan at Bencor Inc. Please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 if you have any questions regarding retirement issues or the 401(a) Plan.

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

2. CCASAPE election results – President Joe Murphy reviewed the certified election results and welcomed new and returning members. Jeff Hafen was reappointed as the professional-technical representative. President Murphy announced that the vacancy on the Representative Council created by Cathy Conger’s election as President-Elect will be filled by appointment of the Executive Board as specified in the CCASAPE Constitution;

3. President Joe Murphy announced that volunteers are being sought for a number of CCASAPE committees as well as CCASAPE appointments to school district committees;

4. Old Business:

A. General Membership Meeting
Expenses incurred for the June 17, 2004, membership meeting were outlined. Discussion was held regarding how attendance at future meetings can be improved;
B. Administrators’ Step Advancement – The District has agreed to cease the practice of denying eligible step increases at the beginning of the next contract year for administrators who receive promotional positions after January 31. Twenty-two administrators were directly impacted by this agreement and have received the appropriate salary increase effective the first day of their respective 2004-2005 contract;
C. Health Insurance Subsidy – At the June 10, 2004, Representative Council meeting, a CCASAPE Welfare Trust subsidy was approved to cover the 8% increase in the cost of health insurance for active administrators with dependents and all retirees. The CCASAPE subsidy would have covered the increased cost of health insurance from July 1, 2004, through December 31, 2004. CCASAPE recently received a grant of $120,000 from the state for unexpected expenses related to health care. The CCASAPE Representative Council approved the use of the grant money to replace the CCASAPE Welfare Trust funds and to extend the subsidy from July 1, 2004, through June 30, 2005, for active administrators with dependents and all retirees;
D. Health Insurance Benefit Binder – Health benefit binders have previously been compiled by Sierra Health and distributed by the District benefits office. Effective August 2004, the binders will be distributed to new administrators during employee orientations at the CCASAPE office. This procedure will ensure that benefit binders always contain accurate information. Updated binder inserts will be mailed out to all administrators during late September or early October. The new inserts will replace the outdated material in the benefits binder;
E. 401(a) Plan – The current status of the 401(a) Plan was outlined. The plan is fully implemented and allows eligible retiring administrators to avoid the Medicare tax and to postpone and possibly reduce federal income tax. Support and assistance to plan participants is being provided by the AIG-VALIC staff. The schedule of member orientation meetings was outlined.

5. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Meetings with Mr. Garcia, Dr. Rulffes, Dr. Orci, and Dr. Rice – The schedule of regular meetings and topics of discussion were outlined;
B. Administrators Advisory Council – The purpose and membership of the Administrators’ Advisory Council was discussed. Exact meeting dates will be determined for October, December, February, and April. The October agenda will be established at the September Representative Council meeting;
C. Officers and Directors Insurance – The status of the CCASAPE Officers and Directors Liability Insurance was reviewed. Competitive bids are being requested from various providers;
D. Resolution / Signature Cards for CCASAPE accounts – Resolutions were approved which authorize the CCASAPE President (Joe Murphy), CCASAPE Treasurer (Bart Mangino), CCASAPE Past President (Jerry Boles), CCASAPE staff (Allin Chandler and Stephen Augspurger) to transact business for the CCASAPE Association and Trust Fund accounts;
E. CCASAPE Database and Membership Update – An overview of current efforts to update member beneficiary information for the $100,000 life insurance policy which is provided to all administrators was outlined;
F. 2004 Member Survey – The analysis for the 2004 Member Survey is completed and was shared with the Representative Council. Results will also be shared with Mr. Garcia and the deputy superintendents. Survey results will be mailed to the membership in late August or early September;
G. 2005 Legislative Session – Over 250 bills have been introduced for the 2005 session which will begin in February. CCASAPE is monitoring the bills related to education, insurance, and other items of interest to the Association;
H. Professional-technical Employees – An update was provided on the status of current support staff positions which have been identified for professional-technical status in the CCASAPE bargaining unit. Fifteen current support staff positions representing 42 employees have been identified. All positions require a four year degree;
I. CCSD Regulation 5114 – Agreement has been reached with the District regarding language changes to Regulation 5114. Specifically, the agreed upon language will permit 2 days of school to be missed when a student is issued an RPC;
J. CCASAPE Sick Leave Pool – During this past June, approximately 40 administrators submitted letters which authorized the donation of a half day or a full day of vacation, for which the administrators would otherwise be compensated, to the CCASAPE sick leave pool. Unfortunately, due to a technical problem in the District payroll department, the administrators who wished to donate days of vacation were actually paid for the days, resulting in no vacation days being donated to the CCASAPE sick leave pool. CCASAPE expresses its appreciation for the intended donation to the sick leave pool.

6. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Marilyn Miks, President of the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals, provided an overview of activities for CCAESP. The focus will continue to be on increasing the number of elementary assistant principals;
B. CCASSP – No report was provided;
C. Legal Committee – Cathy Conger, CCASAPE President-elect, reported there was no legal activity.

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