January 2006

VOL. 16 NO. 6

Administrators are reminded that when contemplating a leave of absence from the Clark County School District, important consideration must be given to medical benefits and life insurance coverage. As a reminder, administrators participating in the collectively bargained CCASAPE Health Insurance Plan receive medical, dental, and vision benefits, a long term disability plan and a $50,000 life insurance policy. Additionally, CCASAPE provides an additional $100,000 life insurance policy and long term care coverage to all administrators.

During the first year of an approved leave of absence, administrators are able to continue, at their own expense, medical, dental, and vision benefits, as well as, both life insurance policies and the long term care policy. Administrators on an approved leave of absence are able to continue the long term disability coverage, but for only the first six months of the leave. When the long term disability coverage terminates after the first six months of the leave of absence, there will be a reduction of $13.97 in the premiums paid to the District for health insurance.

During the second year of an approved leave of absence, the administrator is not eligible to continue the $50,000 life insurance coverage provided through the medical benefits plan nor the additional $100,000 life insurance policy provided by CCASAPE. Premiums will not be collected for life insurance benefits during the second year of an approved leave of absence.

Administrators who return to the District after a leave of absence will be eligible for all medical benefits, both life insurance policies, and the long term disability and long term care plans.

If you have questions regarding medical coverage or life insurance coverage while on an approved leave of absence, please contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

The CCASAPE accountant, Neil Lewis, has reaffirmed that the portion of membership dues which supports direct lobbying activities is not tax deductible for the individual member. During 2005, CCASAPE contributed $10,000.00 towards direct payments made to the lobbying effort in Carson City. Lobbying expenses are jointly funded with the Nevada Association of School Administrators (NASA). It has been determined that 2% of CCASAPE’s annual dues is utilized to support lobbying activities. The 2% of the $420.00 annual dues for each administrator is $8.40. This represents the amount of dues money which is not tax deductible. Lobbyists in Carson City are utilized to assist CCASAPE with monitoring legislative bills, attending the Legislative Committee on Education meetings in Carson City, and testifying on behalf of CCASAPE members during legislative hearings in Carson City.

Each year CCASAPE provides two (2) scholarships in the amount of $1000.00 each. Each applicant must be a senior enrolled in the Clark County School District and a legal dependent of an active CCASAPE member.

The counselor assigned to scholarship information in each of the high schools will receive CCASAPE scholarship information during the month of February. The deadline for submission of applications is Monday, April 3, 2006. The Scholarship Committee will select recipients in April.

Gretchen Crehan, principal of Foothill High School, serves as the chairperson for the Scholarship Committee. Also serving on the committee are Richard Arguello, SNVTC principal, and Bob Gerye, Spring Valley High School principal.

Those administrators and retirees who changed medical benefit plans during the open enrollment period last fall are reminded to review the new benefit levels associated with the plan option that was selected. Depending upon plan selection, significant changes may occur in the pharmacy benefit, as well as, copays.

The plan options were fully outlined in the October and November Unifiers. If you have questions regarding your medical benefit plan, please contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.

As you know, the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees provides a $100,000 life insurance policy to all active administrative employees in the Clark County School District. This benefit is provided to all administrators at no cost and is provided irrespective of CCASAPE membership. CCASAPE serves as the policy holder of the $100,000 life insurance policy.

In addition to the $100,000 group life insurance policy, CCASAPE has negotiated a comprehensive group health insurance plan. All active administrators may participate in the collectively bargained group health insurance plan irrespective of CCASAPE membership. The plan provides medical, dental, and vision coverage, as well as, a long term disability policy and an additional $50,000 in group life insurance coverage. CCASAPE serves as the policy holder for each of the individual policies in the group health insurance plan.

As you can imagine, CCASAPE spends a considerable amount of time, on behalf of all administrators, both members and non-members alike, negotiating contracts with the various providers, trouble shooting participant issues, and overall management of the various contracts. There is considerable cost for this effort which is paid directly from membership dues. Both the health and life benefits provided to active administrators are also made available for retired administrators.

As you know from the December Unifier, the Representative Council recently approved revisions to the CCASAPE Policy #8 (Life Insurance) and developed a new Policy #10 (Health Insurance). These policies can be viewed on the CCASAPE web site.

The changes to Policy #8 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. This policy provides a transition that will allow all current non-members to become members and protect their right to maintain the life insurance at retirement.

The newly developed Policy #10 will make future retirees who were not CCASAPE members when they were active administrators ineligible to maintain the program of comprehensive health benefits, including the $50,000 life insurance policy. This policy also 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

Letters were recently mailed to each of the 36 administrators or professional-technical employees who are currently non-members informing them of the eligibility requirements for participation in life insurance and medical benefits upon retirement. Non-members must become a member of CCASAPE before June 1, 2006, and maintain their membership until retirement, to be eligible to continue participation in the group life and group health insurance programs at retirement.

CCASAPE completed extensive legal research in preparation for implementing these changes. The changes reflect CCASAPE’s belief that non-members who enjoy the benefits while employed, but are unwilling to contribute their fair share of financial support to the association, are not entitled to these benefits provided by CCASAPE upon retirement.

Administrators are reminded of the importance of periodically reviewing beneficiary designations for the Standard Life Insurance policies ($100,000 and $50,000 policies) and for CCSD payroll warrants. When life changing events occur which may necessitate a change in beneficiary designations, it is necessary for the administrator to contact the CCASAPE office to make the necessary changes to the $100,000 Standard Life Insurance policy. The administrator must contact the District benefits office at 799-5418 to make beneficiary changes to the $50,000 Standard Life Insurance policy which is part of the comprehensive medical benefits plan. Administrators wishing to make beneficiary changes to payroll warrants must do so by calling Administrative Personnel at 799-5484. When beneficiary designations are not periodically reviewed and updated, it is possible that the financial benefits from these policies and warrants will not go where they are desired.

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 $44,000 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. The final information meeting for this school year is scheduled for April 25, 2006. All meetings are 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.

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 AIG-VALIC, 796 0047.

On January 12, 2006, 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 agenda and itinerary for the CCASAPE business meeting to be held in Mesquite, Nevada, on February 10, 2006, were reviewed;

B. Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Payout – The January payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical assistance for retired administrators totaled $135,235. Checks were mailed to retirees on January 3, 2006; and

C. AB580 (Pay for Performance) – An update was provided on the status of the grant. The grant addresses the pay for performance legislation which was passed during the 2005 Nevada Legislative Session (AB580). The legislation was passed to enhance recruitment, mentoring and retention of new teachers and will provide performance stipends for teacher mentors and participating principals. Additional information will be provided as it is received.

3. New Business:

A. Retiree Medical and Life Insurance Benefits – Stephen reviewed the legal opinion related to the elimination of life insurance and medical benefits for non-member retirees. Additionally, the letter to be sent to non-members outlining these changes was reviewed;

B. Superintendent Selection Process – An overview of the six candidates was provided and the candidate interviews held on January 9 and 10 were reviewed. CCASAPE continues to be concerned with the influence being exerted on the selection process by various community groups;

C. January 25, 2006, Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – The meeting previously scheduled for this date will be canceled and rescheduled after the superintendent selection process is finalized;

D. CCASAPE Dues / Lobbying Funding – Stephen reviewed the CCASAPE accountant's opinion regarding the tax deductible status of that portion of membership dues which directly supports lobbying activities. This information will be outlined in the January Unifier;

E. ACR 10 / Public Employees Benefits Program – Stephen reviewed the activities of a legislative subcommittee to develop a health and welfare program for all of Nevada’s public employees. The new state- wide program, if approved by the legislature, will be administered by PEBP (Public Employees Benefit Program). CCASAPE is very concerned about this activity and will monitor the activities of this committee very closely. Prior to January 1999, all administrators received their medical benefits from the State of Nevada (PEBP). Because of many problems with the state plan, CCASAPE withdrew from the state plan and developed a collectively bargained plan that currently provides benefits to administrators and their dependents. CCASAPE is very concerned about participation in a health plan managed by PEBP; and

F. Standard Dental Insurance – Membership cards were mailed to participants prior to January 1, 2006. If you have dependents on the plan, only one additional card was included in the first mailing. Administrators with dependents will soon receive additional cards for dependents, although only the name of the primary insured will appear on the card. All administrators will soon receive a directory that lists participating dentists alphabetically. As soon as the certificate of coverage is finalized, it will also be mailed to the membership. It is anticipated that the additional cards, the new directory, and the certificate will be included in the same mailing.

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Charles Anderson, President, indicated that monthly meetings were continuing to be 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 – Bob Gerye, President, outlined the details of the January 18 joint social and reviewed efforts to determine staff development needs for secondary principals;

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

D. 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.

On February 10, 2006, the CCASAPE Representative Council will hold its annual all day business meeting at the CasaBlanca Hotel in Mesquite. Tentative topics for this year’s retreat include administrative reclassification, region and District issues, CCASAPE legal activity, CCASAPE comprehensive benefits program, Administrators’ Advisory Council meeting agenda, teacher / administrator salary review, CCASAPE Constitution and Policy review, future direction for CCASAPE, and CCASAPE budget development for 2006-2007. The February Representative Council meeting will be held as part of the retreat activities. A complete listing of topics discussed and actions taken at the Representative Council meeting and retreat will be provided in the February Unifier.

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.