Note:
The term administrator as used throughout the newsletter refers
to administrators and professional-technical employees.
INSERT:
Committee Assignments 2004-2005 - Click here to download PDF file
ADMINISTRATORS' ADVISORY COUNCIL MEETING Article
19 of the Negotiated Agreement between the Clark County School District
and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical
Employees provides for the establishment of an Administrators' Advisory
Council. The purpose of the advisory council is to:
•
Provide advice to the superintendent and cabinet regarding procedures,
practices and programs which will result in a better educational
atmosphere in the CCSD;
• Improve the morale of all employees;
• Apprise the superintendent and staff of actual or potential
problems involving the school district;
• Improve communications between the Association and the
superintendent and staff; and
• Secure maximum productive and constructive involvement
of all employees in their primary goal, which is the educational
process of the CCSD.
During
the four years that Mr. Garcia has been superintendent, regularly
scheduled advisory meetings have been held. For the 2004-2005 school
year, advisory meetings have been scheduled for October 26, 2004;
December 14, 2004; February 15, 2005, and April 20, 2005. CCASAPE
representatives to the Administrators' Advisory Council include
Executive Board members Jerry Boles, Joe Murphy, Cathy Conger, Bart
Mangino, and Barbie Holmes. Also on the Administrators' Advisory
Council is Marilyn Miks, President of the Clark County Association
of Elementary School Principals and Beth Howe, President of the
Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals. Jeff Hafen
is the non-licensed representative to the Administrators’
Advisory Council and also represents the Professional-technical
Employees. CCASAPE staff, Allin Chandler and Stephen Augspurger,
also participates in the meeting.
The following topics were discussed at the October 26, 2004, meeting.
Mr. Garcia's responses to those topics are summarized for your information:
1.
Substitutes for Teachers and Support Staff – CCASAPE's concern
in this area was the continued inability of substitute service to
meet the needs of schools. This topic has been discussed at seven
previous advisory council meetings. CCASAPE's belief is that the
system is not user friendly, is too cumbersome, deletes current
subs from the system, and is not responsive to schools. Substitutes
utilized in conjunction with District training programs that take
place during the instructional day place an overwhelming burden
on the system.
Mr.
Garcia agreed that staff development is placing a burden on the
system that cannot be met. Dr. Orci read a memorandum that will
be sent to principals and department heads that announced that all
staff development will occur outside of the school day. Trainings
which have already been scheduled will not be impacted by this change.
Additionally, Dr. Rice outlined a number of initiatives in the special
education area that the District anticipates will make additional
substitutes available. Dr. Rice indicated that substitute service
procedures which are not conducive to securing and/or maintaining
a sufficient number of substitutes will be identified and changed;
2.
Support Staff Surplus Procedures – At many previous advisory
meetings, CCASAPE has expressed concern with the current support
staff surplus procedure which is outlined in Article 25 of the ESEA
contract. The current procedure often works to the detriment of
schools. It results in the surplus procedure beginning in April
and extending through October each year. This process results in
school vacancies being frozen too early and for too long. CCASAPE
has previously recommended that significant changes be negotiated
to make the process more responsive to schools. These changes should
include reducing the length of time of the surplus procedure, establishing
a transfer season similar to that of teachers, and freezing only
those positions where there is a support staff employee that needs
to be placed. Mr. Garcia previously requested that Dr. Rice establish
a committee of principals to identify the necessary revisions and
for her to take the recommendations to the ESEA Contract Maintenance
Committee. CCASAPE expressed concern that this committee had not
yet been established and that no contract changes have yet been
recommended regarding the surplus procedure that is so detrimental
to schools. CCASAPE asked for a status report from Mr. Garcia.
Dr.
Rice reported that for this year, the surplus procedures “were
tweaked” and as a result the process worked very smoothly
with little disruption to schools. All surplus employees were placed
more quickly and the process was completed in a much shorter period
of time. It is anticipated that these changes will impact future
surplus procedures in a similar manner;
3.
Student Teacher Training Model – CCASAPE reiterated its concern
that the current model for the training of student teachers is in
need of revision to better meet the demands associated with high
stakes testing and increased accountability measures that are facing
all schools. The current practice of turning over a class to a student
teacher and having the student teacher work more and more independently
from the master teacher must be changed. CCASAPE expressed concern
that this item was first discussed last October, and while a principal
committee has met, that no final decisions have been made to improve
the process.
Mr.
Garcia will schedule a meeting with UNLV, District administrators,
and principals to discuss areas where the current student teaching
procedure can be strengthened;
4.
Year Round School Calendar Development – CCASAPE requested
that the year round school calendar and the 9-month calendar be
developed simultaneously, rather than as two separate activities.
Dr.
Rice and Dr. Orci stated that the development of the two calendars
will be more closely coordinated. Dr. Rice will meet with year round
administrators to secure their input regarding calendar development;
5.
2005 Legislative Session – CCSD / CCASAPE Cooperation –
CCASAPE repeated its long-standing request that there be a higher
level of cooperation between the Association and the District during
the legislative session. CCASAPE requested regular information sharing
meetings between Allin, Stephen, and the District lobbying team.
Mr.
Garcia stated that he would discuss CCSD / CCASAPE legislative communication
with the District lobbying team;
6.
Budget and Statistical Report – 2004/2005 Ending Fund Balances
– CCASAPE expressed optimism that this year’s Budget
and Statistical Report indicated a much improved budget outlook.
Ending fund balances have improved significantly. CCASAPE expressed
the belief that these increases must be utilized to increase resources
to schools, especially in the area of elementary assistant principals,
elementary ECS positions, elementary counselors, and school support
staff positions.
CCASAPE
staff will schedule a meeting with Dr. Rulffes to further discuss
the improved ending fund balance and other budget related concerns;
7.
Allocation of Elementary Assistant Principals – CCASAPE reiterated
its long standing concern regarding the lack of budgeted funds to
provide an assistant principal in every elementary school and the
lack of a formula driven process to ensure the allocation of elementary
assistant principals. CCASAPE also expressed concern regarding the
additional need for elementary counselors and ECS positions.
Dr.
Rulffes stated that 10 to 15 additional elementary assistant principals
will soon be authorized. This District request for additional elementary
assistant principals will be subject to board approval on December
8, 2004;
8.
Promotion Sequence for Secondary School Based Administrators –
CCASAPE expressed concern that recent administrative appointments
to secondary assistant principal positions have circumvented the
dean’s position. It is CCASAPE’s belief that the dean’s
position is an essential step in the training of secondary assistant
principals and should not be bypassed.
Dr.
Orci stated that generally the sequence to the secondary assistant
principal position would include experience as a secondary dean.
He indicated that this long standing practice was not being changed,
but that in certain situations that it was necessary for the District
to have the flexibility to bypass the dean’s position in the
promotion sequence;
9.
Curriculum and Professional Development Services to Schools and
Regions – CCASAPE outlined principal concerns regarding CPD.
Concerns included information coming directly to principals and
bypassing the region administration, roll out dates for programs
and materials being either late or not available, length of time
that documents are in draft form, and poor communication between
CPD, the regions, and schools.
Dr.
Orci indicated that the elimination of the TOSA positions during
the last round of budget cutting has created a situation where CPD
is unable to accomplish the required work in a timely manner. He
agreed that communication must be improved and agreed to establish
a committee of region administrators and CPD staff to determine
where improvements can be made; and
10.
Working Conditions for Employees – CCASAPE outlined a number
of concerns that are negatively impacting working conditions for
all administrators. These concerns include too much work and not
enough help, supervisory micromanagement and region inconsistencies.
CCASAPE also expressed concern that CCSD attorneys are driving employee
discipline decisions. CCASAPE expressed concern that decisions regarding
employee discipline should be made by administrative supervisors
and that advice regarding school related issues should come from
the region administrators. CCASAPE also expressed concern that the
attorneys are again insisting that a disciplinary document result
in an automatic unsatisfactory evaluation. This item was previously
discussed with Mr. Garcia with the outcome being that a disciplinary
document DOES NOT automatically result in an unsatisfactory evaluation.
Mr.
Garcia agreed to review the CCASAPE concerns related to attorney
driven decision making. Additionally, Mr. Garcia announced that
in an effort to assist all administrators with work load issues,
that no new initiatives or programs will be initiated. He stated
that he is concerned with the work load issues and the impact of
“too much work” on the employee. Additionally, Mr. Garcia
reiterated his belief that a disciplinary document will not automatically
result in an unsatisfactory evaluation, although it may depending
upon the circumstances.
OCTOBER
REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING On
October 7, 2004, the CCASAPE Representative Council held its regular
monthly meeting. The major items discussed included the following:
1.
The revenue, expenditures, and balances within the CCASAPE Association
and Trust Fund Accounts;
2.
A review of the status of:
A.
CCASAPE Retreat – The Representative Council approved the
annual retreat for Friday, February 11, 2005;
B. Professional-technical Employees – An overview was provided
of the status of bringing additional professional-technical employees
into the CCASAPE bargaining unit;
C. Health Insurance Open Enrollment Meetings – Six health
insurance open enrollment meetings have been scheduled to be held
in various parts of the valley during the months of October and
November. Separate meetings have been scheduled for actives and
retirees. Open enrollment meetings will provide information regarding
plan enhancements, the new stand alone HMO plan, and how benefit
election changes may be made. Meeting dates have been previously
published in the August and September newsletters. E-mail reminders
will be sent for the remaining meetings;
D. Humana Dental - Information was provided regarding the correction
of continuing problems with Human Dental. These issues dealt with
claims associated with preventive care (teeth cleaning) and oral
surgery. Approximately 500 claims for preventative care were balance
billed. Humana will make the necessary corrections. These two
areas of concern were outlined in the September newsletter and
members were asked to contact the CCASAPE office for assistance
in correcting claims, if necessary;
E. September 22 Meeting with George Ann Rice Items discussed included
HRMS, substitutes, and the flying of support staff positions.
CCASAPE concerns and recommendations in these areas were reviewed
with Dr. Rice. Dr. Rice agreed to explore what can be done to
make the desired changes. The lack of substitutes continues to
be a major challenge. Teacher training, lack of central training
coordination, and rigorous sick leave review must be addressed.
This item will be included for discussion on the Administrators’
Advisory Council meeting with Mr. Garcia scheduled for October
26, 2004. Progress on the HRMS concerns will also receive follow-up
from CCASAPE;
F. Administrative Reclassification – The District analysis
of all principal positions will be completed by October 8, 2004.
Those principals having changes in the point factors will be notified.
Pay changes will occur on the October 25 pay check and will be
retroactive to the first day of the contract. CCASAPE is working
with the District to verify those administrators who are entitled
to the 4% reclass bonus which is payable on or about November
24, 2004. Administrators receiving the bonus payment are in POSITIONS
that did not receive salary increases through the reclassification
procedure when it was first implemented;
3.
New Business:
A.
CCASAPE Web Site – Internal difficulties at Cox Communications
resulted in the CCASAPE web site being off line for approximately
two weeks. Problems have been corrected and the web site has been
restored. CCASAPE staff is currently examining the web site to
ensure that all information was retrieved;
B. Potential Legislative Issues – Areas of concern for the
2005 legislative session were outlined. Areas discussed include:
• Testing irregularities and administrator discipline
• Cap on the number of administrators in Clark and Washoe
• Assault on PERS
• Assault on collective bargaining
• AB286
• Democrat’s education agenda
• Open Meeting Law
• Insurance Issues
CCASAPE will continue to request that greater cooperation occur
between the District and CCASAPE regarding all legislative issues;
C. Article 20 (Reclassification) Contract Violations – Three
grievances have been filed with the District for the District’s
failure to follow the reclassification agreement outlined in Article
20 of the Negotiated Agreement. CCASAPE is concerned that the
District is not following the Negotiated Agreement. The grievances
represent a District pattern of repeated contract violations.
Dr. Rice is currently developing a procedure to ensure that the
reclassification process is followed by the District. Additional
violations of Article 20 may result in the filing of an unfair
labor practice against the District;
D. CCASAPE Contract Analysis – In preparation for reopening
negotiations sometime after February 1, 2005, Allin and Stephen
are currently in the process of completing a review of the Negotiated
Agreement between CCASAPE and the District. This review will identify
areas where language changes in the contract are required. The
results of this analysis will be presented to the Representative
Council upon completion;
E. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – October
26, 2004 – Agenda items for the advisory council meeting
were identified and discussed;
F. High School Principals – Length of Contract – General
discussion was held regarding the lack of consistency in the length
of high school principal contracts throughout the District and
the time requirements related to travel that are required to supervise
and support the activity and athletic schedule for the outlying
high schools. Travel requirements for all outlying principals
are in need of review. Since a quorum was lost, the item will
be included for discussion on the November Representative Council
agenda;
G. “At Will” Attorney Positions – A grievance
was recently filed against the District for violating Article
16 of the Negotiated Agreement. This article specifies the titles
of positions which have been determined to be “at will.”
Changes to this article can only occur through negotiations between
the District and CCASAPE. When the District recently announced
that an assistant general counsel position was “at will,”
the contract violation occurred. Additionally, CCASAPE expressed
concern that the District is choosing not to follow the Negotiated
Agreement.
4.
Committee Reports:
A.
CCAESP – No report was provided;
B. CCASSP – Beth Howe, CCASSP President, reported on the
progress of the association with regard to identifying member
needs and the planning and scheduling of a fall social;
C. Legal Committee – There was no activity of the Legal
Committee to report; and
5.
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. |
