June/July 2006

VOL. 16 NO. 11

On June 1, 2006, CCASAPE held its annual general membership meeting at the Palace Station Hotel.  Prior to the CCASAPE business meeting, the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals and the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals held brief business meetings.

During the CCASAPE business meeting conducted by Cathy Conger, CCASAPE President, David Harcourt, Chairman of the Nominations and Elections Committee, presented the proposed slate of officers for 2006-2007.  CCASAPE members in attendance were provided an opportunity to make additional nominations.   Cathy also provided an overview of the CCASAPE activities for the 2005-2006 school year. The previously approved 2006-2007 CCASAPE budget was provided to those in attendance.  A copy of the budget is included in this edition of The Unifier.   Additionally, Cathy Conger, CCASAPE President, recognized and honored the 2005-2006 retirees.

Administrators attending the general membership meeting seemed to enjoy the eating, drinking, and socializing.  The CCASAPE Representative Council extends a special thank you to all who attended

CCASAPE election results for 2006-2007 are as follows:

Incoming President, Charles Anderson; President, Bart Mangino;  Past  President,   Cathy  Conger; Secretary,  Sue Daellenbach; and Treasurer, Bonnie Ballard will serve on the Executive Board for the 2006-2007 school year.   Ken Fowler, Pat Hayden, Ron Montoya, and Doug Wilson will begin their second year as At-Large members of the Representative Council.       

On behalf of the entire CCASAPE membership, we would like to thank Susan Steaffens, Jose Delfin, Beverly Mathis, Carey Roybal-Benson, John Barlow, Bob Bennett, Pat Painter, Dave Smith, Tim Stephens, and George Ullom for agreeing to their nomination for this year’s election.  Additionally, the efforts of the Nomination Committee composed of David Harcourt, Mark Gums and Dave Erbach are greatly appreciated.

The President of the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals (CCAESP), Karen Smallwood, and the President of the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals (CCASSP), Jeff Geihs, will represent their respective associations as members of the CCASAPE Representative Council.   

A special thank you is extended to Joe Murphy, John Barlow, and Karen Smallwood for their service as Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer, respectively, for the 2005-2006 school year.  In addition, Tom Barberini, Mark Coleman, Sue Daellenbach and David Mendelson have completed their two (2) year term on the Representative Council.  Additionally, Bob Gerye, Charles Anderson, and Jeff Hafen are completing their term on the Representative Council as professional association representatives.  The contributions and service of these individuals to CCASAPE have benefited all members and their commitment is very much appreciated.

CCASAPE / CCSD MEDICARE ELIGIBLE HEALTH BENEFIT PLAN

All current CCSD administrators and eligible CCSD retired administrators are eligible to enroll in the CCASAPE Trust’s Classic Retiree Health Benefit Plan (Medicare Eligible Plan) if the administrator, retired administrator, or the spouse of the administrator or retired administrator is 65 years of age and is eligible for Medicare, Parts A and B.  Enrollment in the CCASAPE Trust’s Medicare Eligible Plan will result in coverage that equals or exceeds the current benefit levels in the CCASAPE Trust’s Health Benefit Plan and at a significantly reduced cost.  Enrollment can occur at any time once eligibility is established. Those eligible and interested should contact Nick Venturini at 799-5418 in the CCSD Benefits Office to complete enrollment.

As you are aware, administrators who are younger than 55 during the year they retire or separate from the District are not eligible to participate in this 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan.  Many administrators retiring younger than 55 have expressed concern that they are not able to participate in the 403(b) Plan, but yet would like to shelter a portion or all of the final vacation payoff. 

Administrators younger than 55 are still eligible to shelter all or part of the vacation payoff by establishing a voluntary 403(b) account or a 457 account through the District benefits office.  Administrators 50 or older can shelter up to $20,000 in a voluntary 403(b) account and an additional $20,000 in a 457 account ($40,000 total).   Administrators under 50 can shelter up to $15,000 in each account ($30,000 total).  In this manner, some or all of  the vacation payoff at retirement can be sheltered if these accounts do not exceed the maximum contributions during the plan year coinciding with retirement.  Staff in the Benefits Office can assist administrators with establishing these accounts.

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 all or some of his or her 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. 

If you have questions regarding 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 21-8 of the negotiated agreement provides that the District contribute $6.65 per administrator, per month, to the “School Administrators’ Welfare Trust Fund” for unused sick leave reimbursement.  Eligible retired administrators and professional-technical employees receive $10.00 per day for up to 250 days of unused sick leave in either June or January following their separation from the District.  In June, the CCASAPE Trust distributed $35,260 to eligible retired administrators for unused sick leave. 

With the June 2006 payouts, the CCASAPE Trust has paid out cumulative amounts of $813,600 for retired medical financial assistance and $1,017,530 unused sick leave reimbursement for a combined total of $1,831,130 since these payouts were begun in 1990 and 1987, respectively.

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 and the CCASAPE Trust to ensure that you receive their 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.  ALL ADMINISTRATORS ARE ALSO REMINDED THAT ADDRESS CHANGES MUST ALSO BE COMMUNICATED TO THE MEDICAL, DENTAL, AND VISION PROVIDERS. THESE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBERS ARE PRINTED IN THE UNIFIER FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE.

On June 8, 2006, the CCASAPE Representative Council held its regular monthly meeting.  The major items discussed, reviewed, and/or actions taken during the regular meeting included the following:

1. The revenue, expenditures, and balances within the CCASAPE Association and Trust Fund Accounts were reviewed;

2. The status of:

A. General Membership Meeting – The general membership meeting was held June 1, 2006, at the Palace Station Hotel.  Stephen summarized the activities that took place at the meeting;

B. May 23 Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – Agenda items for the May 23, 2006, meeting were reviewed and discussed as necessary;

3. New Business:

A. CCASAPE Trust Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Payouts – The revised June payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical assistance were approved;

B. CCASAPE Elections – The slate of candidates was presented and the procedure and timeline for the completion of the election process were outlined;

C. CCSD Health Trust Contribution – Stephen reviewed the $13.78 increase in the District health insurance contribution that became effective July 1, 2006;

D. CCASAPE Trust Retiree Life Insurance – Retiree life insurance bills for the $100,000 policy are mailed out annually on May 1, with a return date of June 1.  Stephen reviewed the billing process;

E. Administrative Selection Process – Stephen reviewed a number of concerns with the current process.  Concerns included the principal or supervisor not being provided the required input into the process, inconsistencies in the selection process from region to region, the process not always being consistent with the requirements of the regulation, and the continuing perception that the process is not always fair.  CCASAPE will continue to monitor the process and work with Dr. Rulffes and Dr. Kohut-Rost to make needed improvements.

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – Charles Anderson, CCAESP President, reported   on   the    status   of   discussion   items   with Dr. Kohut-Rost and reviewed the May social held at the Bahama Breeze restaurant.  

B. CCASSP –   No report provided; and

C. Legal Committee – Stephen Augspurger reported there was no Legal Committee activity.

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.