December 2005

VOL. 16 NO. 5

Because a number of new, year round school principal appointments were recently made, CCASAPE is reprinting the procedure regarding year round school contracts previously agreed to by the District and CCASAPE. A multi-track, 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 or there is a District wide reduction in force.

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 $3000 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 the District may elect to have the principal remain at the newly converted single track or nine-month school and continue to provide a 12-month contract at the same range and provide 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 July and August. The range of the 11-month contract will be determined by the classification criteria.

A multi-track, year round principal who is selected to open a new school will receive no less than his/her current salary range, 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 the District 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 the 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.

Administrators, especially newly appointed administrators, are reminded that Article 17-2 in the Negotiated Agreement between CCASAPE and the District stipulates that all administrators shall be granted five personal leave days each contract year. Personal leave must be utilized during the contract year that it is allocated. Personal leave may not be used when an administrator is on a supplemental contract and personal leave days not used by the end of your contract year will be deleted. Elementary assistant principals assigned to year round schools are reminded that they have an eleven month contract and a one month supplemental contract issued in July. Personal leave cannot be utilized during the supplement contract in July by elementary year round assistant principals. CCASAPE encourages administrators to utilize allocated personal leave prior to using vacation.

CCASAPE continues to be concerned that at times disciplinary documents issued to administrators by administrative supervisors are not in compliance with contractual and statutory requirements and are not always legally sufficient documents.

Documents which violate the Agreement between CCASAPE and the District or which are not consistent with the provisions of Nevada Revised Statues and are brought to the attention of CCASAPE within 20 days of its issuance will result in the filing of a grievance.

All administrators are encouraged to carefully review the contract and related NRS statutes when writing disciplinary documents. CCASAPE continues to be concerned that the District does not always provide the best advice to administrators in the development and review of disciplinary documents.

All administrators and retirees will receive new dental insurance cards from Standard Dental prior to January 1, 2006. Your previous dental cards from Humana must be discarded and no longer used after December 31, 2005. Additionally, those administrators and retirees who changed medical plans during the recently completed open enrollment period will receive new cards from Sierra Health prior to January 1, 2006. Administrators and retirees not receiving cards by January 1 should contact member services at Standard and Sierra. The telephone numbers are contained in this Unifier, and are reprinted frequently throughout the school year.

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. Students who have been enrolled in an accredited school during this school year, completed this requirement last September. Students, age 19 through 26, who WERE NOT enrolled during the first semester, but who will enroll in an accredited program for the second semester must provide this information to the Benefits Office immediately to establish eligibility for health benefits for the remainder of the 2005-2006 school year. Students who will be continuing their enrollment during the second semester are not required to complete the verification process until the beginning of next school year.

Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before June 30, 2006, 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 MAY 1, 2006, IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNE 2006 PAYOUT. Please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 if you have any questions.

Also, as a reminder, any retiring administrator who is 55 or older or who will turn 55 in the calendar year of his/her retirement will automatically have the final vacation payoff deposited in the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. Up to $42,000 may be sheltered, but the exact amount to be sheltered may not exceed plan year income. The amount eligible to be sheltered will also be reduced by the amount already sheltered in your 403(b) voluntary tax shelter plan. Participating administrators will avoid the payment of Medicare tax and will postpone and possibly reduce the payment of federal income tax.

CCASAPE, in conjunction with staff at AIG-VALIC, has scheduled a series of information meetings regarding the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. Mr. Paul Larson in the local AIG VALIC office will be present at the meetings and will provide information regarding the various investment options associated with the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. Additionally, Mr. Larson will review how the 403(b) voluntary plan and the 457(b) plan coordinate with the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. Remaining meetings are scheduled for January 24, 2006, and April 25, 2006. All meetings will be held at the CCASAPE office at 3:45 pm. Contact the CCASAPE office to reserve your seat. Seating is limited, so call as early as possible. Please mark your calendars now to attend one of the information meetings!

If you have questions regarding the scheduled meetings or any aspect of the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan, please do not hesitate to contact the CCASAPE office or Paul Larson at VALIC, 796-0047.

Article 21-5 of the negotiated agreement between CCASAPE and the District provides that the District contribute $5.93 per administrator, per month, to the “School Administrators’ Welfare Trust Fund” for health insurance assistance for retired administrators. CCASAPE pays $450.00 annually in June or January to each eligible retired administrator for the first five years following retirement. This January CCASAPE will distribute $65,250.00 to eligible retired administrators for retiree health insurance assistance.

Article 21-8 of the negotiated agreement provides that the District contribute $6.80 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 retirement from the District. This January CCASAPE will distribute $69,985.00 to eligible retired administrators for unused sick leave.

With the January 2006 payouts, CCASAPE will have paid out a cumulative amount of $982,270.00 in unused sick leave and $783,900.00 in retiree health insurance assistance for a combined total of $1,766,170.00 since these payouts were begun in 1987 and 1990 respectively.

Retirees in the CCASAPE Classic Retiree Health Plan (Medicare Eligible) recently received the new CCASAPE Sierra Choice (POS) identification card along with a new CCASAPE Classic Retiree Prescription Drug Card.

All retirees on the Classic Retiree Plan are advised to use only the CCASAPE Sierra Choice (POS) card when you go to the doctor, lab, pharmacy, or other medical service providers. It is not necessary to carry the new prescription drug card. The Medicare Modernization Act requires that the new drug card be provided to you. This card should be filed or placed in another suitable location. It SHOULD NOT be used to secure medical or pharmacy services.

Retirees on the Classic Retiree Health Plan are reminded to begin using the new CCASAPE Sierra Choice (POS) card on January 1, 2006 and destroy any member cards previously sent to you by Health Plan of Nevada.

If you have questions regarding the Medicare Eligible Plan or the new cards, please contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

On December 8, 2005, 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 Retreat – The CCASAPE all day business meeting will be held in Mesquite, Nevada, on February 10, 2006. Stephen outlined the tentative arrangements that have been made thus far. A tentative agenda was distributed. The agenda will be finalized at the January Representative Council meeting;

B. Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Payouts Revisions of the projected January payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical assistance for retired administrators were reviewed and approved;

C. Article 20-12 (Pay for Performance) - Stephen provided an update regarding CCASAPE efforts in working with the District and with the CEA to finalize the grant application which is being submitted to the Nevada State Department of Education. The grant addresses the pay for performance legislation which was passed during the 2005 Nevada Legislative Session (AB580). The legislation was passed to enhance the recruitment, mentoring and retention of new teachers. The grant, if approved, will provide performance stipends for teacher mentors and participating principals. Additional information will be provided once the grant is finalized;

D. Year Round School Principals’ Stipend - Authorization was previously provided by the Representative Council for CCASAPE to sign a memorandum of understanding with the District that memorializes agreement regarding the eligibility criteria for the year round school principal stipend. To qualify for the year-round school stipend the principal must be assigned to a school operating on, or expected to operate on, a multi-track, year-round schedule. This agreement was developed based on the past practice and previous agreement by the District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees. The language will be placed in the Agreement during the next contract negotiations. Stephen provided an update of these discussions with the District;

3. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Constitution Policy #8 (Group Life Insurance) Proposed language changes to Policy #8 were reviewed. This policy describes the group life insurance provision and specifies how the benefit is applied to retirees who were not members of CCASAPE. The changes will make future retirees who were not CCASAPE members when they were active administrators ineligible to maintain the $100,000 life insurance policy as a retiree. It provides a transition that will allow all current non-members to become members and protect their right to maintain the life insurance at retirement. Specific information will be forwarded to administrators who are not currently members of CCASAPE regarding these changes. Language changes to the Group Life Insurance Policy #8 were approved;

B. CCASAPE Constitution Policy #10 (Group Health Insurance) - Stephen outlined the provisions of the newly developed Policy #10. This policy describes the group health insurance provision and specifies that the benefit is available to retirees upon retirement. The policy will make future retirees who were not CCASAPE members when they were active administrators ineligible to maintain the program of comprehensive health benefits which includes for retirees a $50,000 life insurance policy, and medical, dental, and vision coverage. The policy provides a transition that will allow all current non-members to become members and protect their right to maintain the group health insurance in retirement. Specific information will be forwarded to administrators who are not currently members of CCASAPE regarding these changes. The policy was approved by the Representative Council;

C. School Safety Issues - Issues related to school police jurisdiction and the lack of permanent expulsions for dangerous students were discussed;

D. CCASAPE Office Staff - Salary and benefit proposals for the CCASAPE office staff for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2006, were presented and discussed;

E. CEA Climate Survey - An overview of the school climate survey which was negotiated by CEA during 2005 negotiations was presented. Article 10-8 in the Agreement between CEA and the District outlines how the survey will be utilized;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Charles Anderson, President, provided an overview of the monthly meetings held with Dr. Orci. Charles also reported that a joint social with the CCASSP members is scheduled for January 18 at 4:00 pm at Bahama Breeze;

B. CCASSP – No report provided;

C. Legal Committee – Bart Mangino, President-elect, reported there was no activity of the Legal Committee;

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

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.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Between July 1 and December 31, 2005, forty-six administrators retired from the Clark County School District. Retirees include Lorecia Alston, Margaret Appuglise, William Appuglise, Mary Blanchard, Teddie Brewer, Bernadine Brunson, Carlyle Button, Karin Camilli, Allen Coles, Judye Conner, Glenn Cooper, Dorothy Dickens, Jeff Dwyer, Emilio Fernandez, Maurice Flores, Liz Fraser, Carlos Garcia, Sara Gardner, Alfred Gilchrist, Jayceine Gilmour, Verna Givens, LaDonna Gordon, William Hanlon, Noel Kullen, Mark Lange, Gladys Laughlin, Mary Lehmann, Steven McCoy, Gary Namba, Linda Nehl, Cenie Nelson, Karen Phillips, Virginia Redd, Carolyn Reedom, Sherry Ross, Carol Rubel, Steve Rudish, Darlene Russell, James Shrader, Patricia Smith, Sylvia Tegano, Ken Trujillo, Marie Wakefield, Viola Washington, Faye Welch, and Mary Ellen West. 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.