Important DatesSeptember 13, 2011

CCEA Executive Board Mtg.

September 15, 2011National Hispanic Heritage Month

(Sept 15 - Oct 15)

September 21, 2011International Day of Peace

September 22, 2011CCSD School Board Mtg.

Teachers Health Trust Board Mtg.

September 23, 2011Fall Equinox/First Day of Autumn

Native American Indian Day

September 27, 2011CCEA Association Rep Council Mtg.

September 29, 2011Rosh Hashanah

(begins @ sunset on 9/28)

OCTOBER is National Breast Cancer and

Prostate Cancer Awareness Month

October 3, 2011Child Health Day

October 6, 2011CCSD School Board Mtg.

October 8, 2011National Children’s Day

Yom Kippur (begins @ sunset on 10/7)

October 10, 2011Columbus Day

October 11, 2011CCEA Executive Board Mtg.

October 13, 2011Sukkot (begins @ sunset on 10/12)

October 17, 2011National Bosses’ Day

October 20, 2011CCSD School Board Mtg.

Shemini Atzeret (begins @ sunset on 10/19)

October 22, 2011THT Health Festival @ Cox Pavilion

Inside This Issue: Pg 2 • A Word from the President | Pg 3 • FAQs on Disciplinary ProcedurePg 4 • Legal Corner | Pg 6 • Negotiations Red Alert | Pg 7-9, 12 • Member Benefits & DiscountsPg 10 • Welcome to Our Family! | Pg 13 • American Education Week | Pg 15 • Grants & Awards

Vol. 12, Issue 1 September/October 2011

Are you ready to use your voice?Participate in video campaign aimed at TrusteesMake your voice heard! CCEA haslaunched “What’s your number?” — avideo message campaign aimed at theSchool Board of Trustees. Whythe Trustees? They have theability to influence thecourse of negotiations.They can set fairparameters for theschool district’s chiefnegotiator. They have theobligation to advocate for ALLschool district employees.

The “What’s your number?” videomessage campaign will work on twofronts: 1) it will provide you aplatform to deliver a personal messageabout how the district’s negotiationsproposals will impact you personally,and 2) it will deliver your message tothe School Board of Trustees.

What is the school districtasking for at the negotiationstable? It is asking for concessions inexcess of $37.5 million in the form ofa salary freeze (both for experience

and education) for two years, as wellas for teachers to pay for one-half theincrease in PERS contributions.

As if these weren’t significantrequests, the school districtwants to replace the not-for-profit Teachers HealthTrust with a for-profitcarrier. What would thatmean to you? It would

translate to a reducedbenefit level, as well as a

reduced network of providers. (Pleasenote that the school district has notprovided information as to the benefitplan or company that would take overthe delivery of health insurancebenefits.)

Do you like what you arereading? No? Well, use your voice!Participate in the video messagecampaign and help us bring awarenessabout the impact these regressiveproposals would have on you.

(continues on page 3)

Presence at School Board MeetingsSave the date and show your support for CCEA

As reported at the ARC on August 23,CCEA will have a presence at allSchool Board meetings insupport of CCEA’s positionin negotiations on behalfof the 18,000 teachersserving Clark County’spublic schools.

Join us at themeetings from 4:30 p.m. -6:30 p.m. on ThursdaysSept. 22, Oct. 6, Oct. 20, Nov.10, and Tuesday, Nov. 29. We knowyou are very busy, so do what you do

on a daily basis... multitask! You needto grade papers or prepare lesson

plans? Bring them with you.Let’s demonstrate that weare dedicated to ourprofession andopposed to balancingthe budget on thebacks of teachers.Encourage your

colleagues to participateand please, WEAR RED in

support of teachers and education.For more info, go to www.ccea-nv.org.

Mark your calendar:September 22October 6October 20November 10November 29

“What’sYour

Number?”

A Word from the Presidentby Ruben R. Murillo, Jr.

They just don’t get it!

On August 30th, the Review-Journal printed an editorialentitled “Teacher contractnegotiations.”

The Review-Journal wrote,“… The school district wantsteachers to agree to termssimilar to those coveringadministrators and police: theelimination of raises based onexperience and graduateschool credits; theassumption of half of theincrease in the district’spension contributions; thereplacement of the teachers’self-governed health trust witha cheaper, for-profit healthinsurance provider; andmaking teacher seniority aless-significant considerationin layoffs.”

“That last demand hasbeen a problem for theteachers union,” stated theReview-Journal.

In their quest for anotherPulitzer Prize for reporting(oh, wait! That’s the LasVegas Sun), the R-J editorialmisstated the information.Better stated, the “facts” werejust plain wrong.

Teacher seniority was nota topic on the bargaining tableduring the first five meetingswith the school district. Infact, thanks to the 2011Nevada Legislature, teacherseniority is a new mandatorysubject of bargaining and willbe addressed soon. So, withthat being said, teacherseniority will be negotiatedand it is NOT WHAT ISDRIVING US TO ARBITRATION.

What is driving us toarbitration comes down tothree issues the schooldistrict is demanding:

1. A FREEZE of our salaryschedule for TWOYEARS, which includessteps for experience andeducation.

2.The elimination of theTeachers Health Trust.

3.Mandatory payment ofcost of living increasesin the Public Employees’Retirement System(PERS).

So, let’s take a look at thereasons CCEA is going toarbitration.

The school district hasnegotiated a contract with theadministrators’ union thatcalls for salary and benefitcuts for one year, instead ofthe two years it wants fromteachers. The school districtalso stated it needed $4.5million in concessions fromthe administrators and,instead, agreed to $1.8 millionin concessions. Who do youthink the school districtwants to pay the $2.7 milliondifference? It doesn’t take agenius to figure that one out.

As for the Teachers HealthTrust (THT)...the schooldistrict wants to take the not-for-profit THT to a for-profit,private insurance carrierwithout indicating what theplan would look like, or howmuch it would cost. The THTadministrative costs are 5.5%compared to the 15.5% to

16.5% for-profits pay. Do youthink the extra money wouldgo to teachers or to make theplan better? Yeah, right!They don’t call it for-profit fornothing. Does the schooldistrict care that by going to afor-profit insurance carrierthousands of teachers andtheir dependents would beprohibited from going toSunrise, Mountain View,Southern Hills, and SunriseChildren’s hospitals and theirdoctors? This is the Déjà Vufrom 2001, when the schooldistrict’s chief negotiator triedto take the THT away from theteachers.

Finally, on April 8, 2011,the school district tried tobypass negotiations by goingto District Court in order toget a judge to authorize theimplementation of the 1.125%PERS cost of living increase.When that failed, the schooldistrict ignored the contractand unilaterally reducedteacher salaries to account forthe increase. That was a slapin the face to teachers. A veryclear message was sent by theschool district: We’ll balancethe budget on the backs ofour teachers!

There is a rapid-growingbelief, based on the schooldistrict’s actions—or ratherthe Board of Trusteesinactions—that it is intent oneliminating the collectivebargaining process and CCEAin representing teachers’interests.

(continues on page 3)

Page 2 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 3

They just don’t get it!(continued from page 2)

So, who’s to blame at the school district forthis negative change in bargaining? EdGoldman, Dwight Jones, Lorraine Alderman,Chris Garvey, Linda Young, John Cole, CarolynEdwards, Deanna Wright, and Erin Cranor.

If ever there was a time for the Trustees tostand up for teachers and the collectivebargaining process, it is now! They have thepower to deliver a message to the schooldistrict’s chief negotiator and theSuperintendent, to change the course ofnegotiations! While the Trustees say theydon’t interfere in the Team negotiations, theyare entrusted to know the details, vote onparameters and, eventually, ratify the contract.

We elected them to lead, so who’s going todo it? Chris? Linda? John? Carolyn?Deanna? Erin? Lorraine? We’re waiting… butnot for long.

Are you ready to useyour voice?(continued from front page)

The 20 to 30-second video messages willbe sent to the School Board of Trustees, andthe media, on specific days every week. Weneed these images ingrained into theTrustees’ minds as they listen to their chiefnegotiator’s report. They need to know thatthey will impact your livelihood.

How can you take part in the “What’syour number?” campaign? Record your 20to 30-second video message, sign a consentform, and send them to CCEA. (The formgrants CCEA permission to use the videoclip.) We will also offer recordingopportunities when our staff visits yourworksite.

Get started! Record your video messageand encourage your colleagues to participate.There is just too much at stake to not useyour voice.

Notary Public ServicesDid you know that CCEA offers notarypublic services FREE of charge to allCCEA members? That’s right, NO chargeregardless of the number of documents.

Take advantage of this benefit. Simplystop by the CCEA office with yourdocuments and your picture ID — Mondaythru Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Frequently AskedQuestions

By Kathy Wilson CCEA Interim Executive Director

Topic: Article 36 Disciplinary Procedures

When do I have the right to a union representative at a meeting?Pursuant to Article 36-4, an employee about to undergo aninvestigatory interview has a right to representation if theteacher reasonably believes the result of the interview canresult in discipline.

Furthermore, Article 36-6 provides that an “employee’sright to representation during the course of an interviewarises if the supervising administrator takes any stepsbeyond merely informing the employee of a disciplinaryaction.”

How do I determine if I am being investigated and need arepresentative present?An employee about to undergo an investigatory meetingmust be given reasonable notice. Reasonable notice isdefined as prior day notice and the subject of theconference.

Are there many investigatory interviews held?CCEA representatives attended 871 investigatory interviewswith members during the 2010-2011 school year. Educatorshave a 184-day contract, making this an average of nearlyfive (5) investigatory interviews per day.

To recap:� Written notice must be received� Prior day notice (does not mean 24 hours notice)� Notice shall include the subject of the conference (i.e.incident on the playground, failure to complete lessonplans, alleged use of corporal punishment, etc.)

Who is responsible to schedule an association representativeonce notice has been given?It is the member’s responsibility, once the district has givenprior notice, to schedule a representative to attend theinvestigatory meeting. If you receive a notice of aninvestigatory meeting you should contact CCEA immediately.As you can see from the large volume of investigatorymeetings attended during the 2010-2011 school year,immediate scheduling is of the utmost importance.

What does an association member need to do to schedule anassociation representative?Call CCEA at 733-3063 to schedule a representative toattend the investigatory meeting with you. Please informthe front desk that you have a meeting and need immediateassistance. DO NOT E-MAIL that you need arepresentative, the e-mail may not be read in time.

Page 4 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

Arbitration Process As you are all aware, on August 10, 2011 the ClarkCounty Education Association declared impasse innegotiations with the Clark County School District(CCSD) after it became quite clear that no agreement

could be reached. Now, we will embark in this arduous process andneed for you to know what is involved as this process can be lengthy.

The information in this article is intended to provide you with anoverview of the steps that go into an impasse arbitration process. If,after reading the synopses you have any questions, please e-mail us atWebmaster@ccea-nv.org and a CCEA representative will be in touchwith you.

�WHAT IS IMPASSE ARBITRATION?Impasse arbitration is when the parties cannot agree. Impassearbitration is governed by Chapter 288 of the Nevada Revised Statutes.Before either party can declare “impasse,” the parties must have metfour times. CCEA and the District had their fourth meeting on August 10,2011 and impasse was declared at that time. Thus, the dispute will bebrought to an arbitrator to resolve whether the district has the financialability to grant monetary benefits and to assess the reasonableness ofthe parties’ proposals.

� HOW IS THE ARBITRATOR CHOSEN?The parties may mutually agree on the arbitrator. The parties have notagreed upon an arbitrator at this time. This type of arbitration takesspecialized knowledge and both parties will want to research anarbitrator’s credentials before making their selection. If the parties areunable to agree on an arbitrator, the parties may request a list of sevenpotential arbitrators from either the American Arbitration Association orthe Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. If the parties cannotagree on which service to use, the parties must use the FederalMediation and Conciliation Service. Once the list is provided to theparties, each party takes a turn striking the name of an arbitrator on thelist until only one remains. The arbitrators on the list will also beresearched in order to make educated strikes.

�WHEN WILL THE ARBITRATION BE HELD?Once an arbitrator has been selected, the parties, together with thearbitrator, will schedule the hearing date. There is a lot of preparationthat goes into the arbitration hearing; thus, CCEA is preparing for thehearing already, gathering, reviewing, and analyzing information. Thehearing may last several days, potentially even weeks.

�WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATOR CONSIDER?The arbitrator must consider all existing available revenues within thelaw, and the District’s obligation to provide an education to the students.If the parties are proposing a multi-year contract, the arbitrator mustdetermine the ability to pay over the life of the contract.

Volume 12, Issue 1 September/October 2011The CCEA Express is an official publication of theClark County Education Association (CCEA), 4230McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121. It is published8 times a year (September through August). Thepublication’s goal is to keep Association membersabreast of issues affecting public education and toprovide economic benefits.

Ruben R. Murillo, Jr. PresidentRobert Benson Vice PresidentSharon Lynne Flick SecretaryCassandra W. Bell TreasurerKathy Wilson Interim Executive Dir.

Letty Elias Editor/Layout/DesignRon Lopez Contributing EditorRuth Serrano Contributing EditorA. Sanchez & S. Whalum Contributors

During the hearing, the arbitrator may recommendthat the parties enter into further negotiations, andthe arbitrator may adjourn the hearing for a period ofthree (3) weeks. If an agreement is reached, it issubmitted to the arbitrator who shall certify it as finaland binding. If no agreement is reached, the hearingwill be reconvened and finalized. Thirty-days afterthe conclusion of the hearing, the parties mustsubmit their last best offer to the arbitrator to pickfrom. The submission is blind, thus CCEA will notknow what the District’s last best offer is and viceversa. The arbitrator cannot “split-the-baby,” i.e., heor she must choose only one last best offer and thearbitrator’s decision is final and binding on theparties.

�WHAT WILL THE ARBITRATOR’S DECISIONINCLUDE?The arbitrator must include in his or her decision, thereasons for accepting the final offer that is the basisof the arbitrator’s award, and give the arbitrator’sestimate of the total cost of the award.

�WHAT HAPPENS PENDING THE ARBITRATION? The arbitrator’s decision is retroactive. Thus, if theDistrict prevailed with their last best offer as it istoday, any payments made for step and educationalincrements would be deducted from teacherpaychecks. There would be no impact to the claimsincurred by the Teachers Health Trust up to thatpoint, but it would affect who provides the healthinsurance from that point forward.

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 5

Sick Leave Pool Enrollment FormI hereby authorize the Clark County School District to deduct one (1) sick leave day*from my accrued sick leave and transfer the day to the sick leave pool as establishedin Article 18-11 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. I understand that this day isto be used for the maintenance of the sick leave pool and shall not be refunded unlessthe pool fails to become operable.

• ALL FIELDS ARE REQUIRED TO BE COMPLETED ON ENROLLMENT FORM — PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY •

* Pool participants must have a minimum of six (6) days of accrued sick leave as of September 1st of the year ofenrollment.

Sick Leave Pool Committee Guidelines can be viewed online at www.ccea-nv.org

PLEASE RETURN THIS FORM TO CCEA VIA SCHOOL MAIL OR U.S. MAIL.

SIGNATURE DATE

In 1998 your CCEA Negotiations Team bargainedwith the school district to create the Sick LeavePool—giving teachers withcatastrophic illness or injuryaccess to additional sick leavedays above those they hadaccrued.

Enrollment in the SickLeave Pool is voluntary. Theopen enrollment period isSeptember 1 throughSeptember 30 of each schoolyear. Enrollment is open to anyteacher who has accrued six (6)days of unused sick days as ofSeptember 1. One (1) sick leaveday is deducted from eachteacher who joins the pool. You need only enrollin the pool once. If you have not previouslyjoined the pool and would like to now, please fillout the form below and mail it to CCEA—schoolmail or U.S. mail (4230 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas,

NV 89121). Remember, the deadline toRECEIVE your form is September 30, 2011.

Not sure if you have previouslyjoined the pool, please call CCEAat 733-3063 and we will be happyto check enrollment for you.

Teachers with a catastrophicillness or injury and who haveenrolled in the Sick Leave Pool canapply to the oversight committeefor days once their own sick andpersonal leave is exhausted.Immediate family members are notcovered under this provision andlifetime usage of the pool is limitedto 100 days maximum per person.

For more information about theSick Leave Pool, please visit the CCEA website atwww.ccea-nv.org and click on “MemberResources” at the top of the home page – oncethere, please click on the “Forms” tab located inthe far left column.

Sick Leave Pool EnrollmentOpen from September 1st through September 30th

Did you know...that since the SickLeave Pool’s inceptionthe Committee hasawarded 13,916days to teachers withcatastrophic illnessor injury.

LAST NAME FIRST NAME MI

SOCIAL SECURITY # SCHOOL NAME EFFECTIVE SCHOOL YEAR

2011-2012

September ___, 2011

Page 6 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

Keeping you abreast of the latest information surrounding contract negotiations is of paramountimportance to all of us at CCEA. Your CCEA Negotiations Team held a meeting with CCEAmanagement and leadership to create a center where you, our members, could go to obtain thelatest information on a variety of issues surrounding current negotiations with the Clark CountySchool District.

Below is an outline of the categories you will find when you enter the Negotiations Red Alertbanner on the home page of the CCEA website — www.ccea-nv.org. On page 7, we have printedan overview of the contents for each button.

Please note that these buttons represent the areas currently active. Additional sections may beadded throughout the negotiations process.

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 7

Save Money with Section 125!If there were a way you could save 20 to 30%*in taxes on medical and dependent day care expenses, would you take advantage of it? Clark County School District offers such a wayto its employees, and it’s through the Flexible Spending Accounts. Flex Accounts are availableunder your Section 125 Plan and are free – all youhave to do is sign up!

Flexible Spending Accounts, serviced by American Fidelity AssuranceCompany, allow you to direct a part of your pay, on a pre-tax basis,into special accounts that can be used to reimburse yourself for out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or dependent day care expenses.Contributions go into your accounts before federal income taxes arewithheld, helping you keep more of your paycheck and spend less intaxes.

How do the Flexible Spending Accounts work? It’s easy to participate in Flex Accounts. Simply follow these threesteps:

1. Determine the annual amount you expect to spend on out-of-pocket medical expenses and/or dependent day care expensesduring the plan year. This amount is then divided by 24, deductedfrom each paycheck and placed into the account(s) you elected.

2. As you incur a qualified medical and/or dependent day careexpense, simply submit the appropriate claim paperwork toAmerican Fidelity for reimbursement. There are separateaccounts for medical and day care expenses, so you can chooseto participate in either one or both accounts.

3. Receive reimbursement! You can choose to have a paper checkmailed to your home or have reimbursements directly depositedinto your checking account.

Are There Contribution Limits?You can contribute up to $5,000 to your Medical ExpenseReimbursement Account for expenses incurred on you, your spouse,your dependent(s), and/or your adult child(ren) who has not reachedage 27 by the end of the tax year. This can include prescriptions, co-pays and deductibles, orthodontia expenses, and other eligible out-of-pocket medical expenses. The Dependent Day Care Account allowsreimbursement up to $5,000 per plan year in day care costs fordependents under age 13 or adults who are unable to care forthemselves.

Contact American Fidelity to receive additional information and to beput on the mailing list for next year’s enrollment. Enrollment packetsare mailed in October for the January 1 plan year. You may contactAmerican Fidelity by calling our Las Vegas office at 433-5333,ext. 0 or via e-mail at Donna.Sciulara@af-group.com.

American Fidelity FSAs are notional accounts. Funds for each participant are notsegregated into individual bank or trust accounts.* Your savings will be determined by your individual tax bracket.

CCEA PROPOSAL — Here you will seeCCEA’s formal proposal to CCSD. You canalso download a PDF of the documentpresented to the school district.

SCHOOL DISTRICT PROPOSALS — Inthis section you will see the manyproposals submitted by CCSD, as well astheir wish list. All the proposals contain alink to a downloadable PDF file.

FACTS — Legal counsel has prepared anoutline of the facts surroundingnegotiations. This section will be updatedas the arbitration process continues. Thispage provides you with an outline of talkingpoints.

YOUR NEGOTIATIONS TEAM — A list ofthe members who comprise theNegotiations Team is presented, along withan e-mail address to communicate with theTeam.

CCEA PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE —CCEA President Murillo responds to attacksand speculation and sets the recordstraight regarding the Association’sposition in contract negotiations.

ARBITRATION PROCESS — Legal counselhas prepared a detailed outline of theprocess we will undergo in impassearbitration.

COMMUNICATIONS: RED ALERT/THEMONDAY REPORT — Here you will findcopies of the messages the Association hassent surrounding negotiations. We haveused two primary formats, the Red Alertand The Monday Report.

WHAT CAN I DO? ACTIVITIES — Thispage is of great importance to you. Itprovides you a list of activities in which youcan participate and get involved tostrengthen the Association’s position.

JOIN THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THEHEALTH TRUST — This button links youto the Teachers Health Trust website. Itprovides you with information on the “KeepYour Trust” campaign. If you haven’talready sign the petition, please do it now.

WHAT’S YOUR NUMBER? VIDEOMESSAGES — This button links you towhat will become a vital component inreaching the School Board of Trustees.Participate in the campaign by recording a20-30 second message and encourage yourcolleagues to do the same.

Page 8 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

TERRY FATORTEACHERS’DISCOUNT

Special offer extended to CCEA members:

* 25% off all ticket levels (no discount on MVPpackages)

* All tickets can be ordered over the phone orin person, but a valid CCEA membership cardmust be presented when picking up tickets.

* The discount is off the base ticket price,however, this cannot be used in conjunctionwith any other discount or promotion.

* There are NO blackout dates, but they arebased on availability.

For tickets,Call 702-792-7777

Visit www.Mirage.comOr stop by the Mirage Box Office

(open daily from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.)

Five Star Hobbies, an independent new hobby store in Las Vegas, isproud to partner with CCEA to offer members discounts on most items.

* Supplies, tools, and kits for hobbies and arts & crafts. * Educator packs of many items at discount prices. * No charge to special order any item and we can get most anything

in 1 or 2 business days.* Educators receive a 5%-10% discount on most items. * Need supplies for a class project? We will help find economical

supplies and assemble student kits at no additional cost.

FIVE STAR HOBBIES 4343 N. Rancho Drive (Rancho & Craig), Las Vegas, NV 89130

www.FiveStarHobbies.com | 702-981-1939

WE

AR

E O

NE

! UN

ITE

D W

E S

TAN

D, D

IVID

ED

WE

FALL! S

OLID

AR

ITY

! WE

AR

E O

NE

! UN

ITE

D W

E S

TAN

D, D

IVID

ED

WE

FALL! S

OLID

AR

ITY

!

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 9

CCEA is proud to bring you savingsfor your Thanksgiving holiday andFamily celebrations!

Order your HoneyBaked Ham or HoneyBaked Turkeyby November 14th and enjoy these savings:

Special Avg. CCEASize of the CCEA Counter PricingHoneyBaked Ham Pricing Pricing Savings

5 lb Mini Ham $32.00 $46.00 $14.003.5 lb Boneless Half $30.00 $38.00 $8.007.5 lb Boneless Whole $66.00 $76.00 $10.008 lb $45.00 $56.00 $11.009 lb $50.00 $63.00 $13.00

10 lb $55.00 $69.00 $14.003 lb Smoked Turkey Breast $23.00 $25.00 $2.003 lb Roasted Turkey Breast $23.00 $25.00 $2.00

10-12 lb Roasted Whole Turkey $37.0010-12 lb Smoked Whole Turkey $37.00

To place your order you must contact:Sharon Whalum at 733-3063 or 473-1009

Method of payment: Payroll deduction only. The deductionwill take place on the December 10, 2011 paycheck.

To pick up your order, stop by the CCEA office(4230 McLeod Drive, LV 89121)

Monday, November 21st from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

No order will be placed without a completed payroll deduction form, which must be received

by CCEA no later than November 14th.CCEA is not responsible for unclaimed hams and/or turkeys.

Sorry, payroll deduction will still take place on unclaimed orders.

Meet & GreetZone 5

CCEA Executive Board members in Zone5, Loretta Harper & Shirley Webb, inviteyou to a meet & greet. This is a greatopportunity to get acquainted with themembers that represent your interests onthe CCEA Executive Board and learnabout the work CCEA is doing on yourbehalf. So, mark your calendarand join us!

Date: Friday, September 30Time: 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.Place: Ichabod’s Lounge

3300 E. Flamingo Rd.Suite 13Las Vegas, NV 89121

• Cash Bar •• Door Prizes •

Please RSVP by Tuesday, September 27.E-mail LHarper@ccea-nv.org.

Special CCEA member offer:• Come in for an introductory 1-Hour Massage Session for $49 or a Murad

Facial for only $59.• Discount on Wellness Plan dues. Discounted corporate rate is $54

monthly. It includes a monthly massage session, plus many otherbenefits.

• Massage Envy is now offering Murad facials at select locations.www.MassageEnvy.com

Page 10 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

Asst. Supt. Student ServicesWilliam Bailey MSRex Bell ESJohn Bonner ESKermit Booker ESJoseph L. Bowler ESJim Bridger MSArturo Cambeiro ESCanyon Springs HSCimarron-Memorial HSEileen Conners ESBrian & Teri Cram MSCynthia Cunningham ESDesert Pines HSRuben Diaz ESHarvey Dondero ESRuby Duncan ESDurango HSEarly ChildhoodEast CTAElbert Edwards ESFrank & Victoria Fertitta MSFoothill HSRobert Forbuss ESRuth Fyfe ESFrank Garside MSC.V.T. Gilbert ESTheron & Naomi Goynes ESKenny Guinn MSFay Herron ESHalle Hewetson ESLiliam Luhan Hickey ESHyde Park MSIndian Springs JHSWalter Jacobson ESLorna Kesterson ESMartin Luther King Jr. ESK.O. Knudson MSLas Vegas AcademyLied MSAnn Lynch ESJerome Mack MSJack & Terry Mannion MSRoy Martin MS

Reynaldo Martinez ESQuannah McCall ESJohn Mendoza ESSandy Searles Miller ESAndrew Mitchell ESIrwin Molasky MSMario & Joanne Monaco MSWilliam Moore ESMorris Behavior Jr/Sr HSMountain View ESUlis Newton ESNorthwest CTAMike O’Callaghan MSWilliam Orr MSPalo Verde HSClaude & Stella Parson ESRancho HSRed Rock ESDell Robison MSBertha Ronzone ESSteve Schorr ESMarvin Sedway MSC.T. Sewell ESShadow Ridge HSSilverado HSJames E & A Rae Smalley ESHal Smith ESSoutheast CTAC.P. Squires ESEthel Staton ESSunrise Mountain HSWayne Tanaka ESValley HSVirgin Valley JR/SR HSFredric Watson ESWest PrepWestern HSEva Wolfe ESEnglish Language LearningCCEA Executive Board

If your worksite was not represented at the monthly meeting,encourage your AR(s) to participate. If a conflict of scheduleexists, you can volunteer to attend on your site’s behalf. If yoursite doesn’t have an AR, you can step right up and take charge.Simply call CCEA Vice President Rob Benson at 733-3063 to getstarted.

AR CouncilCCEA sends a big THANKS to the Association Representatives(ARs) from these work sites for attending the August 23 ARCouncil meeting. We appreciate your commitment to keeping themembers at your site well informed — it makes the Associationstronger.

Article 10 of the Negotiated Agreement between CCEAand CCSD states that the deadline to form a TeacherAdvisory Council (TAC) is November 1 of each year. Italso states:“TAC objectives include:

• Improve morale of the professional staff;• Apprise the principal of actual or potential problems

involving the professional staff of the school; • Secure the maximum productive and constructive

involvement of members of the professional staff in theprime goal of the school, namely, the education of thestudents enrolled there;

• Improve communications between the principal andmembers of the professional staff; and

• Provide input on the school's budget. • At the beginning of the school year, principals shall work

with TAC to develop an equitable plan of assigningpersonnel in emergency situations when a substitute isnot available.”

If you have any questions about forming your TAC, or areinterested in holding a TAC training, please call theCCEA office at 733-3063.

Has your siteestablished

a TAC Committee?

Board VacanciesRetirements create opportunities forgreater Association involvement

The retirement of CCEA Executive Board member DougJydstrup, as well as NSEA Board members Tom Wellmanand Leola Brinker, has created vacancies and anopportunity for greater involvement in the Associations.

* CCEA Executive Board - Zone 1In accordance with CCEA Bylaws, the election of this seatshall be conducted during the Association Rep Council(ARC) meeting. Nominations for this seat opened at theAugust 23 ARC meeting. Nominations will close during theSeptember 27 ARC meeting, at which point the election willbe conducted. Only members in Zone 1 schools are eligibleto run for this vacated seat and must be present at theSeptember 27 meeting.

* NSEA Board of DirectorsIn accordance with NSEA Bylaws and CCEA ElectionProcedures, any vacancies that occur during the term shallbe filled by appointment. Vacated seats in the NSEA Boardof Directors are Seat D (held by Tom Wellman) and Seat J(held by Leola Brinker). Members interested in applying forthe appointment must submit a letter of interest and résuméto the CCEA Executive Board no later than 4:30 p.m., Friday,September 30.

For information on these vacancies, please contact RuthSerrano @ 473-1015 or RSerrano@ccea-nv.org.

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 11

TAHSONDRIA AFRIMHANZEL ALFAROJUDITH ALFAROKRISTIN ALLENTOMMY ANDERSONMATTHEW ANGELOTHEODORE ARONSONRORI BARDWELLTONYA BARNEYLAUREN BEATTIEJEREMY BEINJENNIFER BERMANASHLEY BLACKNAIMA BLAKESVIVI BOLOGNESEMICHAEL BOTTICELLIDAVID BRADBURYREBECCA BRUBAKERDARA BRUCEMISTY BURGESSMATTHEW BURKEMARY BURNETTQUINCY BURTSKRISTINA CADENAANGELA CALVINJOELLEN CAMPAGNAALETA CAMPBELLKATHRYN CANDELARENEE CAPPONIL SUE CARDUCCINATHAN CARNEYBECKY CASHCHRISTA CASILLASOLGA CERTASTEVEN CHALMERS JRJESSICA CHANDLERMARK CHENLINDSAY CLARKCHANELLE COHENDEBBY COLEELISABETA COMANLISA CONCEPCIONSHANTE CONTIIBRAHIM COSKUNERANTHONY COVINGTONGABRIELLE CRAWFORDAMANDA CRUSEGINA CUNNINGHAMJENNIFER DAVISJULIE DECKERKATIE DEKINGMIHAELA DEVINE-DARLAUANNE DIAZOLIVIA DIAZMARION DOBLEKELLY DORNELIZABETH DOUGLASSKELLY DOYLEBARBARA DREYERTENAY DURANDEREK EGGENPHYLLIS ESPIRITU-REGANAMY ETTERELIZABETH EWINGJENNIFER FARNESEDDIE FERGUSONCAROLINE FERNANDEZ

JANE FERNANDEZTONYA FIFECRISTINA FLORESMAY FLORESJORGE FLORES-BLANCOJONATHAN FOGLERJILL FORTNEYJULIE FOWLERKATHLEEN FOXLORI FRANKLLISA FRIGAARDELIZABETH FULKSMICHELLE GANTTSUSAN GEMMERANN GIESMARK GILMOREELIZABETH GOODMANFRANCINE GORDONSTEPHANIE GORTANTHONY GRATTINIAMY HADFIELDPERRYN HALE SRJULIE HALLJEFFREY HANDLINAARON HAREWOODMARY HARLANDJAMIE HARNIKERIN HASLEYDIANE HAWORTHDAWN HAYESSTEPHANIE HAZIMRITA HELMBRECHTMONETTA HENSONLYDIA HERNANDEZ-ADAMEJENNIFER HILLMICHELLE HINZHEIDI HOBBSPHILLIP HOFFMANKARLI HOGUECHRISTINA HOLMANCANDEE HULTENTRACY HUNSAKERMARDANA HUNTERCINDY IBERRIGIANNA IMBRIANIMERYNN ITOCALVIN JANUARYLINDSEY JOHNSONKRYSTINE JOLSTEADKATHERINE JONESRITA JURYLAURENCE KAMINSKABRADLEY KEATINGKARA KELLYLORRAINE KERRBUSHRA KHURSHEEDKATHERINE KITSUKIALICIA KLINGERTEESHA KNOXDEANNA KOETHERIC KORANDAKATHRYN KROLIKKARLANA KULSETHDAKSHAYANI KUMARGISELLE KYRIACOUNATASHA LACHKHRISTY LAIR-REIBEL

WENDY LANEANN LARACHANEL LAUGHLINAMY LEDIARDBONNIE LEFEVRESTEPHANIE LENTINIDEANNA LEWIS-KINSEYTERESA LOPEZYOLANDA LOWRYELENA LUACESSARA MACYBRIAN MAINSCATHY MALLORYELIZABETH MARTINANAY MARTINEZCHRIS MARTINEZYISCHELI MARTINEZ CARRILLOKAPUAALII MARUYAMAAMANDA MASSYSUZANNE MATHEWSFRANCES MCCLAINNIKKIA MCKINNEYTHAMESIA MCNEILWOSENYELESH MEKURIAMARTIN MELAERTSSILVIA MENDOZA-STOUTJANA MIHELICALEXANDRIA MILESAUGUSTA SAYO MIMOTOGREENHEAASHLEY MITCHELLMARCHELLE MITCHELLLYNNE MIYAHIRALINDA MONTANOLUCIA MOREAUTAMARRA MORGANRON MORRISKATHLEEN MORRISONALLISON MORVAYMARIA ESTHER MUNOZ-KILGONANCY MURPHY-RODGERSPORSCHA MURRAYKATHY NIEMCZEWSKISTEPHEN ODERKIRKBETSEY ODOMMONICA O'DONOGHUEANGIE OLIVEROSSAMANTHA ORREDDIE ORTEGAALBA ORTIZROSA OSMANREBECCA OWENJEANETTE PALMERCHERYL PANELOANGELA PASKOWSKIMICHELLE PERAZAYVETTE PINEDAMINDY PIROMICHAEL PITTMANMICHAEL POLUTNIKDANA POWERSDONNA RAMIREZKENDRA RAMIREZWILMA RANKINSMELANIE RATCLIFFELIZABETH RATHGEBERMARTHA REEVES

MICHELLE REILLYLARANNE REMLINGWAYNE RENDERMANBRYAN RENFROWRYAN ROBINSONKENNY ROBINSON, JR.MAGGIE ROELISANDRA ROJAS-REJESJANICE RUNYANELIZABETH RUSTONMICHAEL RYANLYNN SAHLINMAXIMINA SANTICYNTHIA SANTOSMARLENA SARVERPAUL SCHMIDTTAMRA SHANERJOE SHEPARDHENDRIK SHEPHERDMICHELLE SHEPHERDKAITLIN SIMONSONSANDRA SINGERSARAH SITALDALE SMITHSHERRY SMITHWENDY SMITHWILBUR SMITH IIIRACHEL SOLEMCHERAMEE SOUTHWICKRUTH A SPORYADJOA SPREWELLTYRHONDA STARKSGORDON STEWART, JR.KENDRA STOLEEAIMEE-LYN STRANDQUISTVERONICA SUDDUTHJOSEPH TAFLINGERROBYN TELLESCOURTNEY THOMSENKEITH THOMSEN IIAARON TOBEJESSICA TOMHEATHER TORREYDENISE TRACYCELESTE TRITZALEXANDROS TSIRONISMELISSA TSIRONISANDREW VAN BOCHOVEDARCEY VANDERHOEFFRANCES VANDERPLOEGSALVADOR VILLAKEVIN VOLCICFRANKLIN WALKERJACK WALSHTRACI WEATHERMANMEGAN WEBERAMY WELLSTONY WEST, JR.BRIAN ZAWIDANNA ZLOTECKA

Welcome to our family!The Clark County Education Association, the Nevada State EducationAssociation, and the National Education Association are pleased towelcome these members into our family. These memberships wereactivated from April 23 through September 2, 2011. Welcome aboard!

Members Only

FreeStudySessionNevada School Law ExamNevada Constitution ExamU.S. Constitution Exam

Date: Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Place: Teachers Health Trust BuildingSedway Conference Room2950 E. Rochelle Avenue(corner of Rochelle & McLeod)Las Vegas, NV 89121

Time: 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.

Seating limited to 125 participants.

Reserve your seat today, classes fillquickly. Call CCEA at 733-3063 to sign

up for the study session!

Study guides may be purchased at thestudy session or at UNLV’s bookstore.

•• Exam Information ••

IMPORTANT: You MUST pre-registerfor the exams. The registration link(http://www.unr.edu/educ/el/nvlaw/) isavailable approximately 5 weeks priorto the exam.

Date: Saturday, November 5, 2011

Place: Keller M.S. — Cafeteria301 N. Fogg Street(Stewart and Fogg)

Time: 10:30 a.m. (doors open at 9:00 a.m.)

All three exams are offered at both sessions.

Page 12 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

Get involved in CCEA’sStanding Committees...it’s aseasy as dialing 733-3063We encourage you to become involved in the Association—committee involvement is a great first step. Following is a briefdescription of each committee.

• The Awards Committee is responsible for recognizing theoutstanding efforts of CCEA members in four categories — DedicatedEducator Award, STAR Educator Award, Pam Chambers Service toCCEA Award, and Steve Cozine Leadership Award. Nominations forthe four awards are solicited and recipients are selected.

• The Budget Committee is responsible for the oversight of theoperating budget of the Association. The Committee meets monthlywith the CCEA Treasurer and Business Manager. The Treasurerpresents the Budget Committee’s report to the CCEA Executive Boardand the AR Council at its monthly meetings.

• The Bylaws Committee is responsible for recommending revisionsto the Bylaws for adoption by the AR Council.

• The Elections Committee is responsible for conducting all electionsand ratification of the Collective Bargaining Agreement. TheCommittee proposes the Standing Elections Procedures for adoptionby the AR Council.

• The Government Relations (GR) Committee is responsible forincreasing members’ awareness of the potential CCEA has to impactthe political arena.

• The Member Rights Committee is responsible for determining thegrievances that will go to arbitration.

• Membership Recruitment & Retention Organizing Committee(MRROC) is responsible for coordinating membership activities inCCEA, including AR trainings and the early enrollment program.

• The Ethnic Minority Affairs Committee (EMAC) reviews andassesses Association goals, objectives, programs, and long-rangeplans to ensure that ethnic-minority concerns are addressed.

• The Policy Committee is responsible for updating current policiesand proposing new or revised language to the AR Council for action.

• The Scholarship Committee is responsible for setting the criteriaand selecting the recipients of the CCEA Scholarships.

• The Special Education Committee is responsible for addressing theissues, needs, and concerns of the members working with theStudent Support Services Division through research, training, andcommunication of information.

American Education WeekNovember 13-19, 2011

National celebration spotlights individuals committed to public education

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 13

During American Education Week,November 13–19, 2011, Americans

nationwide will join the NationalEducation Association in raisingawareness about the need to provideevery child with a quality publiceducation. The celebration highlightsthe importance of bringing togethereducators, parents, students, andcommunities in a unified effort to buildgreat public schools. It also reflectsNEA’s vision of calling upon America toprovide public school students withquality schools so that they can growand achieve in the 21st century.

“Public schools are the foundationof our country’s prosperity andstrength,” said NEA President DennisVan Roekel. “We must honor allAmericans who are committed anddedicated to giving our nation’schildren a basic right to a great publiceducation.”

To further reinforce AmericanEducation Week’s theme, each day ofthe week will spotlight the differentpeople who are critical in building great

public schools for the nation’s 50 million K-12 students.American Education Week’s celebration days include:

• November 14: Kick Off Day.From national commemorations to local communityevents, millions of Americans will celebrate publiceducation.

• November 15: Parents Day.Schools will invite parents into the classroom for ahands-on experience of what the day is like for theirchild.

• November 16: Education Support Professionals Day.Individuals who provide invaluable services to schoolsare recognized for their outstanding work.

• November 17: Educator for a Day.Community leaders will be invited to serve as educatorsto get a glimpse of a day in the life of a school employee.

• November 18: Substitute Educators Day.This day honors the educators who are called upon toreplace regularly employed teachers.

To help plan American Education Week’s celebrationdays, NEA is offering a free, online toolkit, complete withpromotional materials, activity ideas, and downloadabletemplates. The toolkit is available at www.nea.org/aew.

During the August 17, 2011New Hire Orientation held atSouthwest Career & TechnicalAcademy, several of ourpartners raffled prizes. Thelucky winners are:

MICHELLE L. SHEPHERDof Clyde Cox E.S. has won aCoach purse from StuartFinancial.

JUDITH ALFARO of C.T.Sewell E.S. won a $25 giftcard to RESTAURANT.COMfrom NEA Member Benefits.

Also a winner from NEAMember Benefits is ALETACAMPBELL of ElizabethWilhelm E.S. Ms Campbellreceived a $25 gift card toTarget.

Congratulations to all!

LUCKY WINNERS...

Page 14 • CCEA Express www.ccea-nv.org

Each year, Americans observe National HispanicHeritage Month from September 15 to October 15, bycelebrating the histories, cultures, and contributionsof American citizens whose ancestors came fromSpain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the Spanish-speaking countries of Central and South America.

The observation started in 1968 as HispanicHeritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson andwas expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 tocover a 30-day period starting on September 15 andending on October 15. It was enacted into law onAugust 17, 1988, on the approval of Public Law 100-402.

The day of September 15 is significant because itis the anniversary of independence for Latin Americancountries Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala,Honduras, and Nicaragua. In addition, Mexico andChile celebrate their independence days on September16 and September 18, respectively. Also, ColumbusDay or Día de la Raza, which is October 12, fallswithin this 30 day period.

Following are links to sites that explore thecontributions of Hispanics, as well as, links toteaching materials—including lesson plans that canassist you with this celebration.

HISTORY & CULTURE» Hispanic Heritagehttp://www.gale.com/free_resources/chh/links/This site provides a list of links to Hispanic/Latinosites that provide resources and services such asSpanish languages, services to the Hispaniccommunity, links to the National Council of La Raza,Library of Congress Hispanic Reading Room, and theNational Hispanic Cultural Center.

» Hispanic Heritage Month RecommendedReading http://www.justreadfamilies.org/Reading/HHM.aspThe Florida Department of Education has compiled arecommended reading list which provides a variety ofsuggested books by grade level for children of all agesto increase students’ interest in the many aspects andcontributions of Hispanic culture.

» National Hispanic Heritage Month with Crayola http://www.crayola.com/calendar/detail.cfm?event_id=161&year=2005&extended=trueCrayola offers lesson plans, coloring pages, and crafts—tools to have fun while learning about thisobservance.

LET’S CELEBRATE HISPANIC HERITAGE!National Hispanic Heritage Month begins September 15

Jack Kent CookeYoung Artist AwardsClassical vocalists,instrumentalists, andcomposers ages 8-18

Each year, From the Top selectsapproximately 25 studentmusicians for the Jack KentCooke Young Artist Award. Thisunique scholarship opportunity,made available through supportfrom the Jack Kent CookeFoundation, assists talentedyoung musicians who havefinancial need.

Classical instrumentalists,vocalists, and composers (ages 8-18) who have not yet enteredcollege during the academic year2011-2012, are encouraged toapply. Applicants must beinterested in performing onNational Pubic Radio’s From theTop, and demonstrate (in order ofimportance): exceptional musicaltalent, unmet financial need, solidacademic achievement, andstrength of character.

The award includes:• National exposure throughan appearance on From theTop’s radio or televisionbroadcasts

• Up to $10,000 in financialsupport, which can beapplied to instrumentpurchases and summermusic camp travel expenses,tuition, and fees

• Participation in From theTop’s Arts LeadershipOrientation

• Design and implementationof an Arts LeadershipProject.

Applications are accepted ona rolling admission basis with thefollowing postmark deadlines:October 1, 2011; December 1,2011; and February 1, 2012.

Seniors in high school mustapply by the October 1 deadline.All other applicants may apply for

any of the three deadlines.For more information, visit the

From the Top website athttp://www.fromthetop.org/content/jack-kent-cooke-young-artist-award.

NEA Foundation-Nickelodeon Big HelpGrantsDevelop and implementapproaches to addressenvironmentalism, health,wellness, students’ rightto quality education, andcommunity involvement

The NEA Foundation-NickelodeonBig Help Grants are available inthe form of Student Achievementgrants to K-8 public schooleducators.

The Big Help Grants programis dedicated to the developmentand implementation of ideas,techniques, and approaches foraddressing four key concerns:environmental awareness, healthand wellness, students’ right to aquality public education, andactive community involvement.

The grants target these fourconcerns as areas of greatpromise in helping develop asense of global awareness in 21stcentury students that willencourage and enable them tomake a difference in their world.Both the NEA Foundation andNickelodeon are stronglycommitted to supporting thedevelopment of these skills andattributes for America’s students.

For more information abouteligibility and applying for thesegrants, visit the NEA Foundation-Nickelodeon Big Help Grantswebpage at http://www.neafoundation.org/pages/educators/grant-programs/nea-foundation-green-grants/.

The application deadline isOctober 15, 2011.

2012 Nevada Teacherof the YearRecognition program

“A teacher affects eternity;he can never tell where hisinfluence stops.”

~Henry Brooks Adams

Do you know of an outstandingteacher who deserves therecognition and nomination tobecome the 2012 Nevada Teacherof the Year?

This is an exciting opportunityfor a teacher to become part of aselect group of teachers fromevery state who will attend aconference in Dallas, Texas withall their peers. By becomingNevada’s Teacher of the Year, youare automatically entered forselection in the 2012 NationalTeacher of the Year program.These teachers will then meet inWashington, D.C. for a dinner andpresentation by the President ofthe United States in a WhiteHouse ceremony. In addition tothe trip to Washington, D.C., thereare other recognition events,including Space Camp, and achance to attend several functionsto represent all the teachers ofNevada.

Applications and informationare available at http://nde.doe.nv.gov/Resources_TecherOfTheYear.htm or by e-mailingljohnson@doe.nv.gov.

Applications are due byOctober 25, 2011.

www.ccea-nv.org CCEA Express • Page 15

Clark County Education Association4230 McLeod Drive, Las Vegas, NV 89121Tel. 702-733-3063 • www.ccea-nv.org

Non-Profit Org.U.S. Postage

PAIDLas Vegas, NVPermit No. 57

HALLOWEEN is just around the corner...and CCEA brings you hair-raising $avings

on admissions and the convenience of payroll deduction.

Enjoy terrifying nights with this in-your-face liveHalloween experience. A 160-acre living horror moviefilled with terrifying mazes, re-themed rides, shockinglive shows, 1,000 blood-thirsty monsters lurking in thefog, and much more.

1-Day tickets available for:September 23, 24, 30 $31.00October 1, 7 $36.00October 8, 14, 21, 28, 29 $41.00October 15, 22 $46.00

Park Hours: 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. most days.

WARNING: Halloween Haunt is a scary event rated PG-13 andnot recommended for children under 13. There are no costumesor re-entry privileges allowed.

Horror legends come to life at Universal Studios’Halloween Horror Nights. Six maze experiences,Scream 4 Your Life Terror Tram, Bill & Ted’s ExcellentHalloween Adventure, five scare zones, and thrillingrides await you.

1-Day tickets available for:September 23 $37.00September 24 $41.00September 30 $46.00October 1, 7 $51.00October 8, 14, 21, 28, 29 $56.00October 15, 22 $62.00

The event will begin nightly at 7:00 p.m., closing hoursvary by night throughout the season.

WARNING: Not recommended for children under 13. Nocostumes or masks allowed.

Mark your calendar forSaturday, October 22 and join us at the JAZZ UPYOUR HEALTH festivalsponsored by your TeachersHealth Trust.

Preregistration for theannual wellness event beginsSeptember 26. Visitwww.teachershealthtrust.orgfor dates and locations.

See you there!