March 2006

VOL. 16 NO.8

David Harcourt, Chairperson of the CCASAPE Nominations and Elections Committee, along with committee members Dave Erbach and Mark Gums are seeking candidates to run for the CCASAPE Executive Board and the Representative Council. School telephone numbers for the members of the CCASAPE nominating committee are as follows:

David Harcourt – 799-1899
Dave Erbach – 799-3020
Mark Gums – 799-5850

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 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 an elementary 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 offices are for a one (1) 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.

The Administrators’ Advisory Council will hold its third meeting of the school year with Superintendent Rulffes on April 5, 2006.

The Administrators’ Advisory Council consists of the CCASAPE Executive Board (Cathy Conger, Bart Mangino, Joe Murphy, John Barlow, and Karen Smallwood), presidents of the CCAESP and CCASSP (Charles Anderson and Bob Gerye), the non-licensed representative on the Representative Council (Jeff Hafen), and the CCASAPE staff (Allin and Stephen).

Agenda items for the April 5 meeting include CCSD reform initiatives, Community Alliance for the Reform of Education (CARE), communication to principals, administrator training programs, principal evaluation, teacher evaluation, school testing calendar, development of nine-month and year round school calendars, CCSD master plan for the use of substitutes, and support staff hiring procedures.

On March 9, 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 Constitutional Amendment – At the February retreat, the Representative Council approved a change to Article II of the CCASAPE Constitution. This change, if approved, will delete the requirement for CCASAPE to conduct inservice activities for administrators. The CCASAPE Constitution requires the proposed amendment to be submitted to the membership at least 10 days prior to the date of the balloting. This requirement was met as the February Unifier notified members of the proposed constitutional change. Stephen reviewed the ballot for the proposed change with council members. The ballot will be mailed to the membership on March 16 and is due back to the CCASAPE office by March 31, 2006. A 2/3 majority of those voting is required to approve the proposed change to the Constitution;

B. CCASAPE Dues Increase – Stephen reviewed the status of the proposed dues increase that was approved at the February 10 meeting. If approved by the membership, the increase of $10 per month will begin with the August 10 paycheck. Stephen reviewed the ballot for the proposed dues increase. The dues increase ballot will be included with the March 16 mailing of the ballot for the proposed constitutional change to Article II. Approval of the $10 monthly dues increase requires a majority of those voting; and

C. CCASAPE Scholarships – Application materials were 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. The two Scholarship recipients will be selected in April. Cathy Conger, CCASAPE President, will announce the recipients and present their $1000 checks at the May 25 Board of School Trustees meeting;

3. New Business:

A. Article 16 / Work Year – Authorization was provided for CCASAPE staff to begin discussions with the District regarding contract language changes that will permit the development of additional supplemental contracts for administrators. Currently, supplemental contracts may be granted to elementary and secondary administrators working in summer schools programs, elementary assistant principals working in year round schools, and principals who are selected to open new schools. Additionally, authorization was provided to discuss language that will allow the District to increase the length of contract for administrative positions that are currently less than 12 months;

B. March 22, 2006, Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – Agenda items for the March 22, 2006, meeting were identified;

C. Standard Dental Insurance – Operational issues related to the dental insurance provider were reviewed and discussed;

D. Superintendent Initiatives – An overview was provided of the proposed reform initiatives and the superintendent’s reorganization; and

E. Community Alliance for the Reform of Education (CARE) – This group, which over involved themselves in the superintendent selection process, is now calling for a total reform of CCSD. The group has provided no specifics of what is meant by a “total reform” but has published a timeline for having a plan in place by February 2007. A CARE representative recently provided testimony to the Legislative Committee on Education regarding their proposed reform agenda. CCASAPE has expressed concerns regarding the level of influence this group is exerting and will carefully monitor its activities;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Charles Anderson, CCAESP President, provided a review of recent association activities;

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.

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 assistance 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.

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 vacation payoff deposited in the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. You may shelter into your 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan a total of $44,000 minus the amount that you have contributed to your 403(b) voluntary tax shelter plan as long as the amount sheltered in the Vacation Pay Plan does not exceed your plan year income. 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. The meeting 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.

If you have questions regarding the scheduled meeting 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 18 of the Negotiated Agreement between the Clark County School District and the Clark County Association of School Administrators and Professional-technical Employees allows for the annual payment for up to five vacation days in excess of 85 as of June 30. The following procedure is being provided for your information.

Administrators will be compensated at the administrator’s daily rate of pay for up to five (5) of the vacation days in excess of 85 as of June 30. Payment will be made in the July 25 check and it is not subject to PERS payment. Administrators not desiring to be compensated for these days may stop the payment by notifying Dr. Rice on or before July 1, 2006.

Vacation days in excess of 85 as of June 30 for which compensation is not provided must be used on or before August 31, 2006, or these days will be deducted from the total vacation days on September 1, 2006. The vacation days earned in July 2006 and August 2006 are not deducted on September 1, 2006.

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.