IMPORTANT TAX DEDUCTION NOTICE

The CCASAPE accountant has reaffirmed that the portion of membership dues which supports direct lobbying activities is not tax deductible for the individual member. During 2006, CCASAPE contributed $5,250.00 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 1.02% of CCASAPE’s annual dues is utilized to support lobbying activities. The 1.02% of the $420.00 annual dues for each administrator is $4.30. 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 various interim legislative committees, attending the Legislative Committee on Education meetings in Carson City , testifying on behalf of CCASAPE members during legislative hearings in Carson City , and interacting with legislators as needed.

CCASAPE REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL PLANS ANNUAL RETREAT

On March 9, 2007 , the CCASAPE Representative Council will hold its annual all day business meeting at the CasaBlanca Hotel in Mesquite . Agenda items for this year’s meeting will be finalized at the February Representative Council meeting. Tentative topics for this year’s retreat include 2007 Welfare Trust actuarial review, 2007 Nevada legislative session, 2007-2009 contract negotiations, CCASAPE legal activities, 2007-2008 CCASAPE budget development, CCASAPE office staff salary and benefits negotiations, and region leadership, region issues, and District issues. The March 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 March Unifier.

SHELTERING VACATION PAYOFFS

As you know, upon retirement or separation from the school district, administrators who are 55 or older or who will turn 55 during the calendar year they retire or separate from the District will automatically have some or all of their vacation payoff deposited into the 403(b) Vacation Pay Plan. Up to $44,000 may be sheltered, but the 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, if applicable, and will postpone and possibly reduce the payment of federal income tax.

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 or separating from the District and 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 may be 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 or separation can be sheltered if these accounts do not exceed the maximum contributions during the plan year coinciding with retirement or separation. Staff in the Benefits Office can assist administrators with establishing these accounts. Administrators are encouraged to meet with a tax professional prior to making changes that may impact their tax obligation.

If you have questions or would like additional information 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. CCASAPE has scheduled quarterly information meetings regarding the sheltering of vacation payoffs. Remaining meetings are scheduled to occur on February 6, 2007 , and April 3, 2007 . Please RSVP your attendance to the CCASAPE office.

ADMINISTRATORS' ADVISORY COUNCIL

Article 19 of the Negotiated Agreement between the CCSD and CCASAPE provides for the establishment of an Administrators' Advisory Council. The purpose of the Advisory Council is to:

Provide advice to the superintendent and cabinet regarding procedures, practices and programs which will result in a better educational atmosphere in the CCSD;
Improve the morale of all employees;
Apprise the superintendent and staff of actual or potential problems involving the school district;
Improve communications between the Association and the superintendent and staff;
Secure maximum productive and constructive involvement of all employees in their primary goal, which is the educational process of the CCSD; and
Serve as the Contract Maintenance Committee.

CCASAPE representatives to the Administrators' Advisory Council include Executive Board members Bart Mangino, Charles Anderson, Cathy Conger, Bonnie Ballard, and Sue Daellenbach. Also on the Administrators' Advisory Council is Karen Smallwood, President of the Clark County Association of Elementary School Principals, and Jeff Geihs, President of the Clark County Association of Secondary School Principals. Jeff Hafen is the non-licensed representative to the Administrators’ Advisory Council and also represents the Professional-technical Employees. CCASAPE staff, Allin Chandler, Mark Coleman, and Stephen Augspurger, also participate in the meeting.

The following topics were discussed with Dr. Rulffes, Dr. Kohut-Rost, and Dr. Rice at the January 3, 2007, meeting. District responses to those topics are summarized for your information:

Administrative Selection Process –CCASAPE continues to express a number of long standing concerns in this area. Previously expressed concerns include: (1) principal and supervisor input into the process does not always occur and region administrators frequently make selection decisions that should be made by the building principal; (2) the selection process is inconsistently administered from region to region; (3) the process is not always consistent with the requirements of Regulations 4111 and 4142; and (4) there is the perception that the process is not always fair. An additional concern previously expressed is the misuse of the Confidential Reference Profile of a candidate who has applied for an administrative position. The abuse in this area occurs when an administrative supervisor completes a Confidential Reference Profile in a manner that is not consistent with the content of previously written evaluations. CCASAPE also expressed concerns that the results of the Confidential Reference Profile do not always remain confidential.

Dr. Rice reviewed the status of proposed changes in Regulation 4111 that would address the concerns associated with the Confidential Reference Profile. She will establish a committee of administrators to review selection process issues and identify recommendations for change. The first meeting was tentatively set for Friday, January 19, 2007. The recommendations will be provided at the next Advisory meeting scheduled for February 28, 2007.

Assignment of Administrators to Schools –This topic was previously discussed at the September 2006 meeting. CCASAPE again stressed the need to assign the team of administrators and support staff to new schools much earlier than the present practice. CCASAPE also expressed the need for a formula for the assignment of elementary assistant principals and an enrollment trigger that would allocate additional elementary assistant principals to large elementary schools.

Dr. Kohut-Rost articulated her support for each of these issues but stated that funding issues are important concerns. Dr. Rulffes indicated that the currently used enrollment figure of 500 students does not necessarily equate to the allocation of an elementary assistant principal, but rather is used for funding purposes.

Teacher / Administrator Salary Comparison – CCASAPE provided updated salary comparisons to Dr. Rulffes and Dr. Kohut-Rost and reiterated its concerns that the growing discrepancies between the teacher and administrator schedules must be addressed. The superintendent was informed that an administrator compensation committee is currently formulating compensation and benefit proposals. Additionally, in calendar year 2006 there was approximately a 10% turnover of administrators due to retirements, resignations, LOA’s, and return to licensed status. It is clear that retention of administrators is becoming as critical as is teacher retention. This agenda item was intended as an information item for the superintendent and no response was requested.

School Safety Issues –A number of school safety issues were discussed. Topics of concern include school police and their cooperation and responsiveness to school issues. Specific concerns were expressed regarding elementary school issues and the lack of responsiveness and concern by school police. Additional safety issues included school security personnel and proposed changes which will impact hall monitors, school security cameras that often do not work and are difficult to repair, lack of permanent expulsions and the resulting impact on school safety, the movement of students from school to school by region administrators when parents and students have problems in a school, the lack of a central tracking system for monitoring parent trespass warnings, and continued problems associated with aggressive parents and their treatment of administrators and other school personnel.

Dr. Kohut-Rost stated that Chief Garcia wants to make a difference and has demonstrated a willingness to work cooperatively to resolve issues. Dr. Kohut-Rost will communicate police related concerns to Chief Garcia and will forward to the Chief the minutes of administrative meetings that contain police/security related issues. Dr. Kohut-Rost will also request the Education Services Division report cumulative trial enrollments in each school and will discuss the potential for a central trespass tracking system.

School Zoning – CCASAPE expressed concern that principals do not have sufficient input into zoning decisions made by Facilities Division staff that directly impact their schools. Principals must receive the zoning information earlier and have meaningful input. Frequently, principals receive no response from Facility Division staff regarding input that is submitted regarding school enrollment issues. It was suggested that Paul Gerner work with a committee of principals to develop a procedure that is more responsive.

Dr. Kohut-Rost suggested region administrators get involved in prioritizing issues and refer them to Sharon Dattoli for reconsideration. In addition, she suggested that principals work with their AZAC member. Northeast Region Open Enrollment Pilot –CCASAPE requested a status report on the proposed pilot.

Dr. Kohut-Rost stated that implementation of the pilot is contingent on appropriate funding from the legislature for transportation. If funding is provided, implementation will occur in the 2008-2009 school year. If approved, open enrollment options will be limited to schools in the Northeast Region.

2007 Legislative Session – CCASAPE expressed its general support of iNVest 2007, but expressed concern regarding the recommendation for an ending fund balance for school districts of over 8%. CCASAPE requested increased communication with the school district during the forthcoming legislative session. CCASAPE expressed concern over the recent bill draft requesting a Teacher Bill of Rights. CCASAPE also requested information regarding the Governor’s funding for raises during each year of the biennium, as well as full-day kindergarten.

Dr. Rulffes expressed his desire to have CCASAPE and the CCSD work closely together during the upcoming legislative session. He stated that at a recent superintendent’s meeting he voted against increasing the ending fund balance contained in iNVest. However, smaller districts feel they need more savings at the end of the year, and voted for the increase. Dr. Rulffes believes the governor will not support full-day kindergarten and will request a 3% raise each year of the biennium.

Employee Investigations –CCASAPE reiterated its previously stated concerns regarding attorney driven employee investigations. Specifically, CCASAPE expressed concern regarding a board member’s request to the chief legal counsel for the status of an investigation of an administrative employee. The request was made in a public board meeting. By statute, the Board supervises, evaluates and if necessary, disciplines only the superintendent. The Board has no authority to investigate or discipline an administrative employee. That is a task that is the responsibility of the supervising administrator.

Dr. Rulffes stated that there was a misunderstanding of the facts associated with this incident and that it had been resolved.

JANUARY REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING

On January 11, 2007 , 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 Welfare Trust Unused Sick Leave / Retiree Medical Projected Payouts – Revisions of the projected January payouts for unused sick leave and retiree medical assistance for retired administrators were reviewed and approved;

B. Employee Management Relations Board (EMRB) Complaint – Stephen indicated the EMRB complaint filed against CCASAPE by CCSD attorneys, Bill Hoffman and Steve Demaree, was favorably resolved;

C. School Administrators’ and Professional-technical Employees’ Welfare Trust – The restated trust document was approved with the stipulation that necessary editorial changes could be made by CCASAPE staff and the Trust attorney.

3. New Business:

A. Employers Insurance Company of Nevada (workers compensation) – Stephen reviewed plans provided by the Employers Insurance Company of Nevada to convert from a private company to a publicly traded company. EICN provides the workers compensation insurance for the CCASAPE employees. If the conversion is approved, qualifying employers will receive cash payouts or stock options. Authorization was provided by the Representative Council to vote for the proposed change and to request a cash payout as the result of the change. The conversion process and cash payouts should be completed during the first quarter of 2007. This change will not impact the premiums and workers compensation coverage that is provided by EICN;

B. CCASAPE Dues / Lobbyist 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;

C. Sierra Health Insurance – Changes associated with the addition of the First Health Network were reviewed. The changes impact retirees in the out-of-area plan and college students enrolled in Plan 1 and attending school out-of-state. Additionally, the negotiations between Sierra and HAC (the parent company for Sunrise , Mountain View , Sunrise Childrens’ and Southern Highland Hospitals) were reviewed;

D. CCASAPE Scholarship Program – The CCASAPE scholarship program for 2007 was reviewed. Authorization was provided to limit the scholarship to seniors of active members who are attending a Clark County School District school;

E. Administrator Retirement and Resignation Summary – A six year summary of administrators leaving the CCSD was provided to the Representative Council;

F. CCASAPE / CCSD Negotiations – A letter notifying the District of CCASAPE’s intent to open negotiations for the 2007-2009 school years was provided to the members of the Council. Proposals for negotiations will be finalized at the March retreat;

4. Committee Reports:

A. CCAESP – no report provided;

B. CCASSP – no report provided;

C. Legal Committee – Charles Anderson, CCASAPE President-elect, indicated there was no legal activity to report; and

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.

NEGOTIATION INPUT FOR 2007

The November and December Unifiers solicited member input regarding the 2007 negotiations between the CCSD and CCASAPE. An input form was previously provided by the CCASAPE Negotiating Team in the November Unifier. Administrators are encouraged to submit their recommendations to the CCASAPE office as soon as possible or to any member of the Negotiating Team. Team members include Jerry Boles, Bart Mangino, Cathy Conger, Jeff Hafen, Jamey Hood, Ron Montoya, Joe Murphy, Jessie Phee, and Charles Anderson.

	MEMBERSHIP
CCSD	ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES	1052
CCSD	PROFESSIONAL-TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES	232
CCASAPE	MEMBERS	1251
CCASAPE	AFFILIATES (RETIREES)	268