May 2005

VOL. 15 NO. 10

In the April Unifier, administrators with dependents and all retirees were reminded that insurance premiums for medical coverage will increase by 8% on July 1, 2005, and that their out-of-pocket costs will increase. As outlined in the April Unifier, this 8% increase in medical premiums actually went into effect on July 1, 2004, but was not passed on to actives with dependents or retirees due to the CCASAPE Representative Council approving a twelve month subsidy from the Administrators’ Welfare Trust Fund. It is projected that approximately $126,000 will have been paid from the trust fund to cover the negotiated 8% increase in the medical premium between July 1, 2004, and June 30, 2005.

The April Unifier contained tables illustrating the new premiums and out-of-pocket costs for active District administrators with dependents and for retirees on the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan.

All administrators and retirees on the CCASAPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan are also reminded that an additional 9% rate increase on the medical premium only will go into effect on January 1, 2006. Additionally, the current contracts for dental, vision, and life insurance will expire on January 1, 2006, as well. The CCASAPE staff will begin negotiating in July with the various providers who submit proposals for each of these plans.

It is anticipated that prior to the close of the 2005 Nevada Legislative session that additional
employee health insurance money will be allocated that can be used to offset a portion of the increased cost for the comprehensive health benefits plan for active employees. Unfortunately, there is no way to offset any increased cost of insurance for retirees on the CCSASPE / CCSD Health Insurance Plan.

Future rate increases for retirees on the Classic Retiree Plan (Medicare Eligible) have not been determined. It is our belief that there will be no increase to participants in this plan.

The current Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees establishes a pool of sick leave days available to administrators who have no other available leave. The pool of days is created by administrators who voluntarily designate a half day or a full day of vacation for which they would otherwise be compensated under Article 18-4.

It is our belief that this pool of days will grow each year until it contains a hundred or more days. A form letter is provided in this edition of the Unifier for your use if you would like to designate a half day or a full day to the sick leave pool. Administrators must have in excess of 85 vacation days on June 30 to be eligible to donate days to the sick leave pool. YOUR GENEROSITY TODAY WILL BE A CRITICAL PIECE IN THE WELFARE OF A CCASAPE MEMBER IN THE FUTURE.

Click here to download the sick leave pool form.

With the writing of this Unifier, the 73rd Session of the Nevada Legislature is just a few days from being over. The session opened on Monday, February 7, 2005, and is expected to conclude on June 6, 2005.

CCASAPE continues to spend a considerable amount of time tracking and monitoring bills and providing testimony for bills which are of interest to administrators. During the final days of the session, the bill tracking becomes more difficult because decisions are made quickly and without regard for established rules. A primary goal for CCASAPE throughout the session is to prevent or at least amend bills which we believe will negatively impact education in general and administrators and professional-technical employees in specific. Thus far during the session, CCASAPE and the CCASAPE / NASA lobbying team have had a great deal of success in influencing the outcome of a number of bills which would have negatively impacted the CCASAPE membership. CCASAPE / NASA lobbyists, Frank Brusa and Lonnie Shields, have worked diligently throughout the session to establish effective working relationships with legislators that ensure access and exchange of information. During the final few days of the session, CCASAPE staff and Frank and Lonnie will continue to closely monitor and attempt to influence the outcome of legislation which will impact education and administrators.

All of the bills that CCASAPE is tracking are posted on the CCASAPE web site (www.ccasa.net). In addition to the index of bills and a brief summary, the entire CCASAPE analysis of each bill that is being tracked is also posted on the web site. The CCASAPE bill analysis is updated daily throughout the session and forwarded to CCASAPE lobbyists Frank Brusa and Lonnie Shields in Carson City. The web site information is updated weekly. Interested administrators are encouraged to visit the web site to review bills of interest.

Following are a few of the bills that CCASAPE is tracking that will be of interest to administrators.

AB60 Expanded the retirement credit program to principals, assistant principals, and deans working in at risk schools. This bill was amended to delete the retirement credit provision for administrators.

AB222 Requires the review of financial management principals of selected school districts every six years. The oversight committee created by this bill DID NOT have representative school administrators despite the inclusion of all other interested parties. CCASAPE was opposed to this bill in its original format. This bill was amended to add an administrator to the local oversight committee for each school district.

AB279 Establishes a required program of career and technical education. This bill requires a school district not to require pupils to attend school prior to 8:00 am. THIS BILL AMENDS EXISTING LAW TO PROVIDE THAT TEACHERS EMPLOYED AT A SCHOOL MAY SUBMIT AN EVALUATION FOR INCLUSION IN THE FORMAL EVALUATION OF THE ADMINISTRATOR. CCASAPE continues to oppose this bill.

AB335 Establishes a task force to review academic standards and the high school proficiency exam, but did not include an administrator on the committee. This bill has been amended and the task force now includes an administrator.

AB397 Makes significant changes for the granting of diplomas and the high school proficiency exam. CCASAPE opposes this bill.

SB212 This bill would prohibit required classes for graduation from being held prior to 8:00. (Introduced by Senator Beers) CCASAPE opposed this bill. This bill is now dead.

SB268 Requires administrators that are employed or re-employed by a district to have served as a classroom teacher for at least one semester in the 5 years immediately preceding the date of employment. This bill does not apply to administrators not having a license to teach. This provision applies to district and school level administrators, although there is no specific mention of the dean of students. (Introduced by Senator Beers) CCASAPE opposed this bill. This bill is now dead.

SB284 Protects the ending fund balance of school districts from arbitrations for up to 8.3%. CCASAPE opposes this bill.

SB403 Requires that a report be submitted to the Dept. of Education and organizations outside of Nevada regarding each teacher and administrator that is disciplined. School districts will be able to obtain a copy of the report for prospective employees. This bill would not be necessary if districts were honest with each other. (CCSD bill) CCASAPE opposed this bill. This bill is now dead.

SB461 Authorized the principal to set the salary of teachers and to immediately suspend, demote, or dismiss a licensed employee, other than an administrator. This bill also provides for school choice. CCASAPE opposed this bill. This bill has been amended to delete some provisions of concern to CCASAPE.

On May 12, 2005, the CCASAPE Representative Council held its regular monthly meeting. The major items discussed and/or actions taken during the regular monthly 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. Negotiations – The status of negotiations with the District was provided. Articles to be addressed during negotiations include:
• Article 1 - definitions
• Article 3 - fair practices
• Article 4 - grievance and arbitration procedure
• Article 5 - mileage
• Article 9 - length of investigations / use of conference summary
• Article 15 - compensatory time
• Article 16 - work year
• Article 18 - vacation
• Article 19 - Administrators’ Advisory Council
• Article 20 - salary schedule / year round stipend / movement on the salary schedule / responsibility pay
• Article 21 - health insurance contribution
• Article 22 - PERS contribution
• Article 27 - unprofessional conduct definition / conference summary
• Article 28 - employee representation / investigatory conference notification
• Article 32 - term of agreement
• Editorial changes throughout

B. Education Services Principals / Activity Stipend Resolution – The resolution of the contract violation that occurred when the $2,000 secondary activity stipend was paid to three Education Services principals was reviewed;

C. Legislative Update – An overview of bills that CCASAPE is currently tracking was provided to the Representative Council;

D. General Membership Meeting – The general membership meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2005, at the Palace Station Hotel. Details of the meeting were reviewed with the Representative Council; and
E. Reclassification Grievance (Article 20) – An update was provided regarding the resolution of the grievance that was filed against the District.

3. New Business:

A. Projected USL / Retiree Medical Payouts The Representative Council approved the payouts as listed;

B. Proposed 2005-2006 CCASAPE Budget - The proposed budget was approved and will be distributed at the general membership meeting scheduled for June 22, 2005, at the Palace Station and through the June / July Unifier;

C. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting Agenda items for the May 25, 2005, meeting with Mr. Garcia were identified; and

D. 401(a) Plan Changes – Stephen outlined IRS tax code changes that have resulted in the Internal Revenue Service discontinuing the 401(a) plan. As a result of IRS tax code changes, the tax deferred plan for the final vacation payoff has been replaced by the IRS with a 403(b) special pay plan which will work similar to the 401(a) plan. Vacation payoffs for administrators turning 55 in the plan year they retire will continue to be placed in the qualified tax plan. The transition to the new plan will be seamless and will not negatively impact current or former retirees. Additional information regarding the sheltering of the vacation payoff for eligible administrators will be provided as soon as it is received.

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Marilyn Miks provided an overview of discussions recently held with Dr. Orci regarding topics of interest to elementary principals and announced that a social was currently being planned for elementary administrators on May 17, 2005;

B. CCASSP – Beth Howe, CCASSP President, reported there was no new business;

C. Legal Committee – Cathy Conger, committee chairperson, reported there was no Legal Committee activity; and

D. Special Education Committee – Joe Murphy, CCASAPE President, reported on the status of the June 20 and 21 special education workshop which is being jointly sponsored by the Special Student Services and CCASAPE.

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

Emilio Fernandez, Chairperson of the CCASAPE Nominations and Elections Committee, along with committee members David Harcourt and Kim Grytdahl are seeking candidates to run for the CCASAPE Executive Board and/or the Representative Council.

Members interested in serving on the Executive Board and/or Representative Council may contact one of the individuals on the Nominations and Elections Committee or the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

This committee will propose a slate of candidates for nomination at the June 22, 2005, general membership meeting to be held at the Palace Station Hotel. Whenever possible there will be a minimum of two (2) candidates for each office to be filled. Additional nominations, with the consent of the person being nominated, may be made at the June general membership meeting.

Executive Board offices to be filled during the election include President Elect (must be an active CCASAPE member who is a secondary school administrator), secretary and treasurer. The offices of secretary and treasurer are open to anyone who is an active CCASAPE member. Candidates receiving a majority of votes cast by mail ballot shall be elected to the office. These positions are for a one year term.

Four (4) Representative Council positions are elected each year. The four (4) at-large positions are filled by the four (4) at-large candidates receiving the greatest number of votes. These positions are for a two (2) year term.

CCASAPE encourages members to run for office. The Executive Board and Representative Council are the decision making bodies of CCASAPE.

On June 20 and 21, CCASAPE and the Student Support Services Division will jointly sponsor a training program regarding the reauthorized IDEA / Improvement Act of 2004. Mr. Art Cernosia, Esq., will be the presenter both days. The workshop will be held at the Gold Coast Hotel in the Arizona Room from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Interested administrators should select either the 20th or the 21st and enroll on CCSD / Pathlore. If you have questions regarding the workshop, please contact Josh Loehr at 799-1023.

The CCASAPE general membership meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 22, 2005, from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Palace Station Hotel. The CCASAPE business meeting will begin at approximately 4:45 p.m.

During the CCASAPE meeting, members will:

1. Be provided a review of the highlights of 2004 2005;
2. Receive the proposed slate of candidates for the June election and be provided an opportunity to nominate additional candidates;
3. Receive a copy of the 2005-2006 CCASAPE budget;
4. Participate in the recognition of retiring administrators; and
5. Have the opportunity to socialize with their current colleagues, as well as, those who have retired.

The Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals and the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals will hold end of the year business meetings at the same location beginning at 4:00 p.m.