NOTE: The term administrator as used throughout the newsletter refers to administrators and professional-technical employees.
Inserts: Click on the links below to downland the Acrobat (PDF) files
2007 Legislative Update
CCASAPE Active Employee Health Benefit Premiums
CCASAPE NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS COMMITTEE
John Barlow, Chairperson of the CCASAPE Nominations and Elections Committee, along with committee members Beth Howe and Andrea Klafter-Phillips 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:
John Barlow ....................................... 799-6830
Beth Howe .......................................... 799-0920
Andrea Klafter-Phillips ......................... 799-0690
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 2007 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 a secondary 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 two (2) year terms.
CCASAPE encourages members to run for office. The Executive Board and the Representative Council are the decision-making bodies of CCASAPE.
YEAR ROUND PRINICPAL CONTRACTS
Since a number of elementary schools are converting from year round to nine months, the following procedure is being provided for administrators at this time.
A multi-track year round principal who is administratively transferred to another school has a contractual right to his/her
12‑month contract and the $3000 year round school stipend and will maintain the contract and stipend indefinitely, unless the principal requests to be placed in a nine-month school or there is a District wide reduction in force.
A principal assigned to a multi-track year round school that converts to a single track or nine-month school has a contractual right to his/her 12-month contract and the $3000 year round stipend. If the principal wants to remain on his/her 12-month contract, the District may transfer the principal to another year round school at the same range or the District may elect to have the principal remain at the newly converted single track or nine‑month school and continue to provide his/her 12-month contract at the same range and also provide the $3000 year round school stipend.
If the principal requests to remain in the newly converted single track or nine-month school, there is no right to his/her 12-month contract or the $3000 year round stipend. The principal will receive a one-month contract at the same range in July followed by a new 11-month contract beginning in August. The principal will be entitled to a pro-rated year round stipend for July and August. The range of the 11-month contract will be determined by the classification criteria.
A multi-track year round principal who is selected to open a new school will receive no less than his/her current salary range, including stipend, for a minimum period of three years. If after the three year period, the salary range of the new school, based on the classification criteria, is less than the salary range of the principal and the principal wants to remain on his/her 12-month contract, the District may transfer the principal to another year round school at the same range or the District may elect to have the principal remain at the new school and continue to receive his/her 12‑month contract at the same range, including the $3000 year round school stipend. If the principal requests to remain in the new school and the school has a lower salary range than the principal’s current salary as determined by the classification criteria, there is no right to his/her 12-month contract, the $3000 year round stipend, or his/her current salary. The range of the 11‑month contract will be determined by the classification criteria. If you have questions regarding year round school contracts, please contact the CCASAPE office at 796-9602.
REMINDER – HEALTH BENEFIT
COSTS WILL INCREASE JULY 1, 2007
As previously reported to the membership in the September 2006 Unifier, a 9% increase will be applied to the Sierra Health medical rates effective July 1, 2007 . Additionally, provider contracts for dental, life insurance (both the $50,000 and $100,000 policies), and long term disability will renew on January 1, 2008 . It is anticipated that additional premium increases may occur at that time. A 5% increase in vision rates will occur on January 1, 2008 , as previously agreed to. It is anticipated that the increases for dental, life insurance, LTD, and vision will be relatively small as these benefits account for a small part of the overall health benefits premium.
It is the goal of the School Administrators’ and Professional‑technical Employees’ Welfare Trust to always cover the full cost of health benefits for the employee only. Employees with dependents will have a yet undetermined increase in their out‑of‑pocket costs. It is hoped that additional state health insurance money will be available on July 1, 2007 , to offset the increased cost of health benefits for active administrators with dependents. State health insurance money cannot be applied to salaries. State health insurance money and the negotiated health benefit contribution from the District are not applied to the cost of retiree insurance.
Health benefit premiums effective July 1, 2007 , through December 31, 2007, for active administrators and retirees are included as an insert at the top of this Unifier.
REMINDER – RETIREE HEALTH BENEFIT SUBSIDY ENDS JUNE 30, 2007
The School Administrators’ and Professional-technical Employees’ Welfare Trust reminds all retirees that the current retiree health benefit subsidy for Plan 1 that has been in effect since January 1, 2006, will end June 30, 2007. Subsidy amounts are listed in the table below. Since January 1, 2006 , through June 30, 2007 , it is estimated that $73,000will have been paid from the Welfare Trust to subsidize retiree health care. Additionally, as previously stated in this Unifier, retirees and actives will see their current Sierra Health medical premium increase by 9% on July 1, 2007 .
MONTHLY PLAN 1 RETIREE SUBSIDY |
Retiree only |
$16.79 |
Retiree/spouse |
$32.96 |
Retiree/children |
$31.25 |
Retiree/family |
$47.10 |
RETIREES IN THE CLASSIC RETIREE PLAN (MEDICARE ELIGIBLE) WILL NOT HAVE A PREMIUM INCREASE FOR THEIR MEDICAL BENEFITS.
ADMINISTRATORS' ADVISORY COUNCIL
Article 19 of the Negotiated Agreement between the CCSD and CCASAPE provides for the establishment of an Administrators' Advisory Council.
he following topics were discussed with Dr. Rulffes, Dr. Kohut-Rost, Martha Tittle, and Jeff Weiler at the March 21, 2007, meeting: administrative selection process, school zoning, ERP/2007-2008 budget access, substitute teachers, teacher recruitment, reporting of conditional and trial enrollments, and the 2007 legislative session. Due to space limitations in this Unifier, only a general summary of selected topics is provided below.
Martha Tittle, Associate Superintendent for Human Resources, outlined her interest and desire to ensure that the long standing CCASAPE concerns related to substitute teachers and teacher recruitment are addressed to meet the needs of all schools to the greatest possible extent. Mrs. Tittle indicated that operational processes and procedures related to these two areas will be reviewed to determine necessary changes. Mrs. Tittle will also continue the effort begun earlier this year with regard to the administrative selection process. Specific concern in this area is to ensure there is not a disconnect between the confidential reference and the final appraisal report for the administrative employee.
Regarding the topic of school zoning, Dr. Kohut-Rost reported that region administrators will work with principals to address school concerns regarding enrollment projections and will be responsible for communicating principals’ concerns to the Facilities Division for review and response. CCASAPE previously expressed concern that principal input regarding zoning issues was not utilized.
The issue of ERP and 2007-2008 budget access received the greatest amount of discussion during the Advisory Council meeting. Bramby Tollen, Director of Purchasing, and Jeff Weiler, Chief Financial Officer, were present to outline the ERP transition process. A significant change within the ERP procedure is that the new system cannot have two budget years open at the same time. This will require numerous changes for schools. Mr. Weiler committed to working closely with principals to ensure that the necessary training is provided and to ensure that school needs for critical supplies, textbooks and equipment will not be lost in the transition to the new procedure.
CCASAPE expressed concern that the July 9, 2007, date for accessing the 2008 budget will create an inequity and hardship for 11-month principals and support staff who now have additional required responsibilities in JULY. During the meeting, CCASAPE expressed concern that over the past three years additional required activities continue to be expected of principals on 11-month contracts. These activities include the required July completion of AYP reports, required principal work in July to complete staffing, and now the completion of ERP budget requirements. Compensatory time was offered for the completion of AYP reports and staffing and is again being offered for the July work required for accessing the 2008 budget. CCASAPE expressed concern that the District cannot continue to expect 11-month administrators to work during the non-contracted month of July for compensatory time. CCASAPE’s position is simple. It is time to extend the contract work year for 11-month administrators. CCASAPE has notified the District of its intent to pursue a longer contract year for the 11-month principals during negotiations.
The only real mistake is the one from which we learn nothing.
John Powell
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MARCH REPRESENTATIVE COUNCIL MEETING AND RETREAT
On March 9, 2007 , the CCASAPE Representative Council held its regular monthly meeting and its annual all day business meeting in Mesquite , Nevada . The major items discussed and/or actions taken during the regular Representative Council meeting included the following:
1. The revenue, expenditures, and balances within the CCASAPE Association and Trust Fund Accounts;
2. Old Business:
A. School Administrators’ and Professional-technical Employees’ Welfare Trust – Stephen provided a status report on the operational tasks remaining to be completed for the Trust to become a free standing entity from the Association. The proposed investment guidelines for Welfare Trust assets were discussed and recommendations for appointments to the remaining trustee seats were reviewed;
B.74 th Nevada Legislative Session – CCASAPE staff reviewed specific areas of concern coming out of this year’s legislative session and outlined specific bills of interest. CCASAPE’s legislative effort to date was reviewed;
3. New Business:
A. CCASAPE General Membership Meeting – The general membership meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 5 , 2007 , at the Palace Station Hotel;
B. CCASAPE Statistical Documents – Stephen provided an overview of the various statistical documents maintained by CCASAPE. Documents included legal fees to date, long term disability claims history, life insurance claims history, medical reimbursement account payout history, administrative reclassification summary, CCASAPE sick leave pool balances, administrative retirement, resignation and termination history, CCASA/CCASAPE salary increase history, administrator growth summary, and teacher / administrator salary comparison;
C. 2007 CCASAPE Trust Fund Actuarial Review – The results of the trust fund actuarial review were outlined. As a result of the actuarial review, the Representative Council authorized the payouts for unused sick leave and retired medical to remain unchanged for June 2007 and January 2008;
D. CCASAPE Health Benefits Plan – Stephen reviewed the 9% increase in the Sierra Health medical benefit scheduled to go into effect on July 1, 2007 . This increase was previously reported to the membership in the September 2006 Unifier. The Representative Council reviewed premiums for health benefits for actives and retirees. Additionally, Stephen reported that the current health benefits subsidy for CCASAPE retirees will end on June 30, 2007 . Also, the redistribution of the CCASAPE health benefit premium was reviewed. This redistribution provides a built in subsidy to administrators with dependents utilizing money that cannot be used for salaries;
4. Committee Reports:
A. CCAESP – Karen Smallwood, CCAESP President, provided an overview of a new award program being developed by the Association;
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.
The following items were discussed during the retreat portion of the meeting:
1. CCASAPE / CCSD Negotiations – The proposed topics for negotiations were reviewed and finalized by the Representative Council;
2. CCASAPE Policies Review – The Representative Council approved changes to Policy 4 (Unused Sick Leave), Policy 8 (Group Life Insurance), Policy 9 (Sick Leave Pool Request), and Policy 10 (Group Health Insurance). The approved changes removed unnecessary and/or out dated language, made the policies consistent with the recent settlement agreement with the CCSD, and made the policies reflective of changes in the Negotiated Agreement;
3. 2007-2008 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 year;
4. CCASAPE Office Staff – The Representative Council approved the 2007-2008 salaries and benefits for the CCASAPE office staff;
5. Region Leadership / Region Issues / District Issues – Council concerns regarding region and District issues were identified and discussed; and
6. Administrators’ Advisory Council Meeting – Agenda items for the March 21, 2007 , meeting with Dr. Rulffes and Dr. Kohut-Rost were identified. Topics included administrative selection process, school zoning, ERP / school budget access, substitutes, teacher recruitment and retention, conditional enrollments, and the 2007 legislative session;
2005-2007 NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN CCASAPE AND THE DISTRICT
In preparation for negotiations with the District, the CCASAPE staff has completed a comprehensive analysis of the current contract to identify required language changes and tentative topics for negotiations. This analysis, along with the member input that has been received, was presented to the Representative Council in March. Meetings will soon be scheduled with the CCASAPE Negotiations Committee. Negotiations will not begin with the District until some time in May and will not be concluded until after the legislature makes final decisions regarding money issues.
When one door closes, another opens, but we often
look so long and regretfully upon the closed door;
we do not see the ones which open for us.
Alexander Graham Bell
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RETIREMENT
Please be reminded that any administrator planning to retire on or before June 30, 2007, must schedule a meeting with the CCASAPE staff and complete the form to participate in the Welfare Trust’s retiree unused sick leave payout, retiree health coverage assistance payout, retiree health benefit programs, and retiree life insurance / retiree long term care programs. THE FORM MUST BE COMPLETED AND FILED WITH THE CCASAPE OFFICE PRIOR TO MAY 1, 2007 , IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE IN THE JUNE 2007 PAYOUT. Please call the CCASAPE office at 796-9602 if you have any questions.
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MEMBERSHIP |
|
CCSD |
ADMINISTRATIVE EMPLOYEES |
1075 |
CCSD |
PROFESSIONAL-TECHNICAL EMPLOYEES |
230 |
CCASAPE |
MEMBERS |
1281 |
CCASAPE |
AFFILIATES (RETIREES) |
271 |
