February 2006

VOL. 16 NO. 7

At the February 10, 2006, Representative Council meeting, the Representative Council authorized the CCASAPE staff to move forward with the posting of a position announcement for the full- time position of Deputy Executive Director for the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees.

The position announcement and job description are included as an insert in this Unifier. Applicants must currently be serving as an administrator in the Clark County School District or be a CCSD retired administrator. Previous Association involvement and experience is a preferred qualification.

Interested and qualified candidates must submit a letter of application and a professional resume to Stephen Augspurger at the CCASAPE office not later than April 10, 2006. The successful candidate will be notified by April 20, 2006. The individual selected will begin employment as Deputy Executive Director at a date to be mutually determined by the parties. The start date is flexible, but it is anticipated that the candidate will begin employment not later than January 2, 2007.

The Representative Council believes it is absolutely necessary and in the best interests of the CCASAPE membership to hire a second full-time CCASAPE staff employee at this time. During the last several years, CCASAPE has experienced unprecedented membership growth. When Stephen Augspurger, the current Executive Director, was selected as Deputy Executive Director in February 2000, there were 814 administrators, 794 members and 2 full-time administrative employees. By contrast, in February 2006, there are 1230 administrators and professional-technical employees, 1193 members and one full-time and one part-time administrative employee.

A 2004 actuarial study completed by Lebenson Actuarial Services, projecting 5% annual growth, predicts that CCASAPE membership will top 1500 members by the year 2010. It is likely that 1500 members may be reached within the next three years as current administrative growth exceeds 5% annually. Continued administrative growth will make heavy demands on CCASAPE staff time. Critical services will continue to include collective bargaining, contract enforcement, member benefits, including the comprehensive health benefits plan, and a broad range of retiree services. In addition to active administrators and retiree benefit issues, there are a number of other critical issues that must be
monitored and addressed by CCASAPE. These include, but are not limited to, legislative concerns, PERS issues, political influences by non-school groups, CCSD reforms, deconsolidation, and an interest by the Public Employees Benefits Plan (PEBP) to require non-state employees to join the State Health Insurance Plan. Each of these issues requires additional CCASAPE staff time to monitor, influence and manage. The job description for the new Deputy Executive Director illustrates the broad range of responsibilities required to provide services to active administrators and retirees.

Without a doubt, the size and complexity of CCASAPE will continue to increase. Over the years, CCASAPE has been committed to provide its membership with the highest level of service. In 1999, CCASAPE assumed responsibility for the comprehensive medical benefits plan. An ever increasing time commitment, on the part of CCASAPE staff, is allocated to member benefits which includes the negotiation and implementation of contracts with medical, dental, vision, long term care, long term disability and life insurance providers. This same commitment to service extends to those retirees who were Association members during the time they were active administrators, and continue to receive life and health insurance benefits as retirees. It is absolutely critical that CCASAPE maintain a commitment to providing benefits and assistance to its retirees. It goes without saying that the cost of providing these services and benefits to active administrators and retirees will continue to increase.

CCASAPE currently employs two part-time clerical employees. Debbie Cavin serves as the Office Manager and Sadie Tanaka is the Special Projects Coordinator. Allin Chandler, the former CCASA Executive Director, continues to work part-time for CCASAPE (generally three days per week). Currently, Stephen Augspurger, the Executive Director, is the only full-time employee. The increased work load in providing services to over 1200 administrators and knowing that Allin will not work forever, coupled with the reality that Stephen will ultimately retire as a full- time employee, makes the issue of CCASAPE leadership succession a critical concern. It is expected that the person hired as Deputy Executive Director will be an individual who has an interest in ultimately serving as the Executive Director of the Association, thus ensuring leadership succession for CCASAPE.

CCASAPE encourages those who are qualified, interested in the position, and committed to meeting the expectations of the Association to complete and submit the application materials to Stephen Augspurger at the CCASAPE office as soon as possible.

CCASAPE CONSTITUTION AMENDMENT PROPOSAL

At the February 10, 2006, Representative Council meeting, various Articles in the CCASAPE Constitution were reviewed. As a result of the review, the Representative Council approved a proposed change in Article II - Purposes, Section 5.

Article II outlines the purposes which have been established for CCASAPE. Section 5 of Article II currently requires CCASAPE to provide special speakers or consultants who shall conduct in-service activities for the development and interest of the membership.

For many years, the Association fulfilled this requirement by sponsoring the Administrators’ Leadership Network. Through ALN, CCASAPE provided a full day of workshops and speakers for participating administrators. The venue was typically a hotel and lunch was provided. There was significant expense and time required to plan and facilitate the conference. Because of escalating expenses, increasing time required to put on the conference, declining participation from administrators and increased CCASAPE staff time being devoted to other member issues, the Representative Council authorized CCASAPE staff to discontinue the annual ALN activity three years ago. Since that time, CCASAPE has not been providing training programs or in-service activities for administrators.

Because of the continued growth of the Association membership, the CCASAPE staff spends an ever increasing amount of time dealing with membership issues related to benefits and collective bargaining. The increasing number of retirees each year places additional work requirements on the CCASAPE office staff. It is believed that these activities are being uniquely provided by CCASAPE and that training and staff development for administrators is being provided by an increasing number of professional organizations and state agencies, as well as, the CCSD.

The Representative Council action on February 10, 2006, if approved by the membership, will delete Section 5 from Article II and make the stated goals of the Constitution consistent with CCASAPE practice.

The complete procedure for amending the CCASAPE Constitution is found in Article XIV of the CCASAPE Constitution and may be viewed at www.ccasa.net. In order to effect a change in the Constitution, the CCASAPE Representative Council must submit the proposed amendment to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to the date of balloting. Adoption of the proposed amendment(s) shall be by written ballot with a two-thirds (2/3) approval of the members voting.

The proposed amendment to Article II is provided below for your review. The ballot with a return addressed envelope will be mailed to members in mid-March for voting.

BALLOT QUESTION: ARTICLE II – PURPOSES

When CCASA was first created in the late 60’s, membership dues were established at $10 per month. In 1989, with membership at 289 administrators, dues were increased to $25 per month, and in 1994, with membership at 565 administrators, dues were increased to $35 monthly. Since 1994, membership dues have remained at $35 monthly, even though the total number of administrators has increased to 1230. (CCEA has established dues for teachers at $53.78 monthly.)

As you know from reading this edition of the Unifier, CCASAPE intends to employ a full-time Deputy Executive Director. This new full-time position is absolutely critical to meet the requirements associated with continued membership growth and the political and legislative issues impacting the Association. A dues increase of $10 per month ($5.00 per pay day) is recommended by the Representative Council to provide revenue to fund the new position and to continue to meet the requirements associated with the membership growth and the political and legislative issues facing the Association.

Article IV in the CCASAPE Constitution provides that the annual membership dues are determined by the CCASAPE Executive Board and ratified by a simple majority of the members voting.

As previously reported in this edition of the Unifier, a Constitutional amendment is being proposed by the Representative Council. When the ballot for the proposed Constitutional change is mailed to each member, a ballot will also be included to seek member approval for the $10 per month dues increase. Approval for the dues increase does not require a constitutional change, but does require member approval. A simple majority is required for the dues increase to be approved.

IF APPROVED, THE DUES INCREASE WILL BECOME EFFECTIVE WITH THE AUGUST 10, 2006, PAYCHECK. THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE PROPOSED DUES INCREASE IS SCHEDULED FOR THE FIRST PAYCHECK IN AUGUST 2006 TO COINCIDE WITH THE 4% SALARY INCREASE BEGINNING JULY 1, 2006, FOR 12-MONTH ADMINISTRATORS AND ON AUGUST 1, 2006, FOR 10- AND 11-MONTH ADMINISTRATORS RESPECTIVELY.

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.

On February 10, 2006, the CCASAPE Representative Council held its regular monthly meeting and retreat in Mesquite, Nevada. 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. Health and Life Insurance Benefits for Retirees – Stephen reviewed the status of certified letters that 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 members 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. These changes were outlined in detail in the January Unifier;

3. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Scholarships – Application materials were provided to the members of the Representative Council. Materials will be distributed to schools during the week of February 13, 2006. Completed applications are due to Gretchen Crehan, Foothill High School principal and chair of the CCASAPE Scholarship Committee, by April 3, 2006;

B. Administrative Summary – A historical analysis of administrative growth in the Clark County School District since 1989 was reviewed;

C. Administrator Retirements and Resignations – A summary of administrator retirements, resignations, and leave of absences was provided for the calendar year beginning January 1, 2005. Additionally, this same information was reviewed for 2006;

D. Administrator / Teacher Salary Comparison – Annually, the CCASAPE staff completes a comparison of teacher and administrator hourly and annual salaries. This year’s comparison illustrates the hourly salary of a teacher at Step 15, Class G on the Teacher Salary Schedule is $45.36. To exceed this hourly rate, an administrator must have an eleven month contract at Range 43, Step G ($47.34). In 2005, the highest step on the Teacher Salary Schedule was Step 14. A teacher at Step 14, Class G had an hourly rate of $43.51. In 2005, an administrator must have had an eleven month contract at Range 42, Step G ($44.48) to exceed the teacher hourly rate. In many schools the teachers at the top of the Teacher Salary Schedule make more money per hour than the principal. CCASAPE is concerned about this disturbing trend illustrated by the salary comparisons in the last two years. This trend will continue and the difference will be further reduced when Step 16 is added to the Teacher Salary Schedule next school year. This year’s Teacher / Administrator Salary Comparison has been posted on the CCASAPE website;

E. Administrative Training Programs – Discussion centered around the efforts of the RPDP and Bill Hanlon to coordinate training that is offered to administrators by the District and other various outside groups;

F. Health Reimbursement Account for Retirees – Article 13-9 of the Agreement between CCASAPE and the District established a medical reimbursement account for retiring administrators. The status of the District’s RFP process and vendor proposals was discussed; and

G. Life Insurance Summary – CCASAPE provides a $100,000 policy to each administrator. Each administrator has an additional $50,000 policy through the CCASAPE Health Insurance Plan, including $2,000 coverage for each dependent. Both of these policies are provided by Standard Life Insurance Company. An overview of claims paid and premiums collected since the initial contract was executed with Standard on January 1, 2004, was provided;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – No report provided;

B. CCASSP – No report provided; and

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. Additionally, CCASAPE investment safeguards for the School Administrators Welfare Trust and the General Operating Account were outlined.

The following items were discussed during the retreat portion of the meeting:

1. Current and Future Critical Issues Impacting CCASAPE – An overview was provided of the key political and membership issues impacting the Association. Topics discussed included TASC (Tax and Spending Control of Nevada), Citizens for a Better Nevada and CARE, CCSD Reforms, Deconsolidation, Collective Bargaining, PERS, Public Employees Benefits Plan, School Finance Adequacy Study, Legislative Committee on Education, CCASAPE Legislative Effort, CCASAPE Health Insurance Plan, District Growth / Administrator Retirements, CCSD Legal Department, and CCASAPE Leadership Succession;

2. CCASAPE Constitution and Policies – Article II (Purposes), Article III (Membership), Article IV (Dues), Policy 8 (Group Life Insurance), and Policy 10 (Group Health Insurance) were reviewed and discussed. It was approved by the Representative Council that Section 5 in Article II would be deleted. Additionally, the Representative Council approved a $10.00 monthly increase in membership dues in accordance with the provisions of Article IV (Dues);

3. Administrative Reclassification – A statistical summary of school based and non-school based positions which have changed since the inception of reclassification was provided;

4. CCASAPE Legal Expenses and Related Legal Issues – An overview of legal expenses thus far in the 2005-2006 contract year was provided;

5. 2006-2007 CCASAPE Budget Development – Article VII in the CCASAPE Constitution stipulates that the Executive Board is charged with the responsibility for developing the annual budget. Stephen outlined the steps to be taken in developing the budget for the next contract year;

6. CCASAPE Office Staff – The Representative Council approved the 2006-2007 salaries for the CCASAPE office staff;

7. CCASAPE Deputy Executive Director (new position) – The Representative Council approved an additional full-time CCASAPE staff position. The salary and benefit package was approved and authorization was given to include the position announcement in the February Unifier;

8. Region Leadership / Region Issues / District Issues – Council concerns regarding region and District issues were identified; and

9. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – Agenda items for the March 22, 2006, meeting with Dr. Rulffes were identified. Topics included substitutes and staff development, District planning, school reform and Dr. Rulffes’ initiatives, development of school calendars, principal training programs, evaluation of principals, testing calendar, building utilization, and teacher evaluation.