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Wednesday, Nov. 21, 2012 | 4:45 p.m.
CARSON CITY — The initiative petition by the state teachers union to impose a business tax for education has cleared another hurdle on its way to the 2013 Legislature. The Secretary of State's Office said Wednesday the Nevada State Education Association gathered 152,703 signatures statewide on its petition, or more than double the required 72,352 names. "The raw count is sufficient," said Scott Gilles, deputy secretary of state for elections. And the count shows that there are more than the 18,088 signatures of registered voters in each of the four congressional districts. Gilles said the counties in each of the districts must now ...
Sure the public elected this union to set tax policy.
DOWN WITH THE THUG UNIONS.
"The tax would raise an estimated $800,000 a year to go into the state's school support formula."
False
The law proposed does not require the state to spend the tax increase on schools or whatever.
They could spend on anything they want to.
"...the 150,000 signatures are a "clear mandate" that Nevadans back a tax...". But "Clark County voters earlier this month rejected by a 66-34 percent margin a proposal to raise the property tax..." is a much stronger mandate.
We don't need teachers' unions dragging down our educational system.
"What will the money be used for?
Funds raised through the Education Initiative will go directly to the Distributive Schools Account-the education budget-in the state's general fund.
This funding can be used to reduce class sizes, more tools and technology, early childhood education, a safe and supportive learning environment, and the ability to attract and retain quality educators."
http://www.nsea-nv.org/home/500.htm
DISTRIBUTIVE SCHOOL ACCOUNT
The funding that supports Nevada's public elementary and secondary schools is a shared responsibility with state, local and federal sources contributing to the school
districts' and charter schools' operating funds. It is important to recognize that the DSA budget does not include the entire funding for K-12 education, but rather includes
only the state's portion of the school district and charter school operating funds that provide the basic support guarantee and other state-supported programs.
http://www.leg.state.nv.us/Division/fisc...
On a more sane note, let's hope the state legislature takes this petition seriously and passes a well reasoned and deliberative 2%+ tax policy on businesses making more than a million dollars. It's almost certain that they won't and that the petition will be on our next ballot, but let's be optimistic like Governor Sandoval always is!
That's great that the union is so helpfull, but seriously who's running this educational "show" around here? Who are we paying to do what? Look out CCSD if the union gets this one through, you'll never live it down.
"The tax would raise an estimated $800,000 a year"
$800K a year? All you need to do is lay off a few administrators and you could save a lot more than $800k a year in salary and benefits.
I wouldn't call 150,000 signatures from a state with a population of 2.7 million a mandate. Hopefully these teachers aren't teaching statistics.
As a Nevada resident and citizen, I would much rather see a state-wide SALES TAX of 1 penny per taxable good or service, rather than adding further burden to property owners or businesses. This way, EVERYONE equally pays and shares the load, as ALL of society benefits from an "educated citizenry."
Blessings and Peace,
Star
education needs to be DE-FUNDED and all the state laws mandating education REPEALED.
education in this state is socialized DAYCARE. you don't need teachers to learn. schools don't teach, they supply welfare breakfasts and lunches, provide supervised kickball in the schoolyard, and afterschool babysitting serives called latchkey.
even now, advanced degrees can be had with a computer from home online. HOMESCHOOLING produces self-reliant, independent thinking, and BETTER RESULTS.
education has becomed fomenting grounds for COMMUNIST thinking and methods.
and yes the KGB has known this and infiltrated the democrat party with communist sympathizers and card carrying memebers. watch this video or search online or youtube for YURI BEZMENOV communist KGB defector. he outline how education is to be INFILTRATED by communists - which is exactly what we have now
http://www.utahsrepublic.org/yuri-bezmen...
are recently survey of high school graduates showed that 49% have a favorable view of SOCIALISM and only 45% have a favorable view of LIBERTY.
no more money for communist education. this so called petition is an ILLEGAL attempt to SMOKESCREEN more tax money into the communist teaching education slush fund
For once I am going to agree with Star on this one. Let everyone chip in here.
The problem with this bill is that the state can cut back on their current funding of schools so this does not make for an increase in money for our schools.
Another thing is that most of the money will be collected from Clark county but does not mean that Clark County Schools will receive most of the money. The small counties will get a better percentage than Clark county does as in the past.
Last but not least is any business grossing over One Million Dollars per year will have to pay this tax even if their business loses money. Just more of a loss for them which could me them making a choice of paying the tax and laying off workers.
This bill is not as good as it sounds on the surface. The devil is in the details.
I think Nevada citizens should be taxed 100% and what the unions don't use they can give back!
Actually the article is incorrect on the amount of money raised by this tax per year. The actual amount is 800 MILLION. The petition requires that the legislature take action within 40 days of the beginning of the session. If the legislature fails to take action, or doesn't pass the bill, it would be put to a state-wide ballot in the 2014 election. I don't see how this is a union legislating. All this does is present the question to our elected representatives and if they fail to act to a vote by the registered voters in Nevada.
I would point out, that none of the profit made tonight and tomorrow by Wal-Mart Target, Ross, and any other national corporation is subject to tax in Nevada. Yes, some businesses may suffer because of this proposed tax, but the money raised from the national corporations would go a long way toward paying their fair share of services provided by Nevada to those businesses.
@Truthserum. I am a teacher. Does that make me a "communist indoctrinated teacher'? How do teachers become "communist indoctrinated"? Are you saying that all teachers are communists then?
Every teacher in Nevada has to execute the following oath. This is from the application for a Nevada Teaching License.
"OATH
I,(your name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support, protect and defend the constitution and government of the United States, and the constitution and government of the State of Nevada against all enemies, whether domestic or foreign, and that I will bear true faith, allegiance and loyalty to the same, any ordinance, resolution or law of any state notwithstanding, and that I will well and faithfully perform all the duties of the office or position on which I am about to enter, (if an oath) so help me God. (if an affirmation) under the pains and penalties of perjury."
This is the link to the application.
http://nvteachers.doe.nv.gov/Forms/FD_TL......
Please explain to me why you think that teachers are "communist indoctrinated"? I don't oversee breakfast, lunch, kickball or latch key programs. I teach math and history. by the way, I am a retired Army officer and a West Point graduate. How does that make me a communist? Please provide the links for the statistics you cite, because I have not found that data.
The 2011 Barrick Mining annual report is out. This is a link to the Barrick Annual Report for 2011.
http://www.barrick.com/theme/barrick/fil...............
Barrick Mining either owns outright, or is a partner in a joint venture in 7 gold mines in Nevada. To determine my estimate a profits for 2011, I assumed the price of gold at $1500 per ounce, or less. The current price for gold is in excess of $1750 per ounce. The first four mines listed are totally owned by Barrick Mining. In 2011, according to their own figures, Barrick Mining produced almost 97 TONS of gold from their Nevada Mines. That is same weight as 16 full size, original HUMMERS. Barrick Mining has reported record profits and dividends in both 2010 and 2011. Barrick paid a total of $47,300,000 in local and state taxes last year.
The Cortez Hills Mine produced 1.42 Million (44.375 tons) ounces of Gold at a cost of $245 per ounce. If you assume a conservative profit of $1000 per ounce, you get a profit for the Cortez Hill mine of $1,420,000,000.
Bald Mountain Mine produced 93,000 ounces (2.9 tons) at a cost of $558 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $900 per ounce for the Bald Mountain Mine, you get a profit of $83,700,000.
The Gold Strike mine produced 1.09 MILLION ounces (34.0625 Tons) at a cost of $511 per ounce. Again assuming a profit of $900 per ounce for the Gold Strike mine, you get a profit of $981,000,000.
Ruby Hill mine produced 127,000 ounces (3.96875 tons) at a cost of $334 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $1000 per ounce for Ruby Hill, you get a profit of $127,000,000.
Barrick Mining is involved in three joint ventures in Nevada.
Barrick owns 33% of the Marigold mine. Barrick's share of production was 51,000 ounces (1.59675 Tons) at a cost of $761 per ounce. For the Marigold mine, assume a profit of $700 per ounce. The total profit would be $35,700,000.
Barrick owns 50% of the Round Mountain mine. Barrick's share was 178,000 ounces (5.5625 Tons) at a cost of $612 per ounce. Assuming a profit of $800 per ounce for the Round Mountain mine, we get a total profit of $142,400,000.
Barrick owns 75% of the Turquoise Ridge mine which produced 135,000 ounces (4.21875 Tons) at a cost of $569 per ounce. Finally for the Turquoise Ridge mine, assume a profit of $700 per ounce. This would give a profit of $ 94,500,000.
Barrick is actively exploring in the Carlin Trace in Nevada. The Carlin Trace is one of the richest gold deposts in the world. Barrick's annual report shows that 44% of the companies income comes from North America. Don't forget that Barrick is also mining silver along with the gold in Nevada. If you add all of the projected and conservative profits, the total is $2,884,300,000. The mining industry in Nevada is also actively mining silver, copper, lithum and many other minerals. Of course mining pays it's fair share. The entire mining industy will pay less than $100,000,000 in state taxes. Compare that to the over $425,000,000 gaming pays.
The Teachers union and teachers should be reimbursing the local governments for the costs of all this petition work. There is NO CHANCE that this nonsense will pass. CCSD, 51st in results yet very average in funding--teachers in CCSD are paid an AVERAGE of $74K a year for 184 7-hour days. CUT compensation already.
Nevada does NOT have a revenue problem. Nevada has a spending problem BECAUSE Nevada is sanctuary to soooooo many illegals--50% of K-12 is now Hispanic with a good portion of those illegals. SECURE the border and send these invaders home. Problem solved. ENFORCE employers to NOT employ illegals. Upwards of 12% of employees in Nevada are illegals. (See LVSun and AP coverage, search engine above.) Eliminating 25%-35% of K-12 would leave plenty of funding of K-12 for American students.
@Roslenda. I have used search engines and have found no data to support your claims. As you have been asked many times before, please provide the links to support your claims. Public schools are NOT allowed by a decision of SCOTUS to ask about immigration status.
The CCSD website has two phone directories on line. One is a school directory and the other is a directory of the administrative offices in CCSD. I used both of those directories and the Transparent Nevada salary and benefit data for CCSD from 2011. This was the latest year that data was available. I feel that the salaries and benefits for 2012 would be at least equal to the 2011 figures, if not slightly higher. There may have also been some turn-over but the costs would be roughly the same.
The first directory that I looked at was the administrative directory. The first thing that I did was to eliminate duplicate names that appeared in more than one listing in the directory. After I did that, I had a listing of approximately 2072 names. After I listed the salary and benefit information for each name from Transparent Nevada, the total was $170,736,957.79. That works out to an average salary and benefit in 2011 for each name of $82,203.64. For a teacher to earn that much in pay and benefits, the teacher would have to have a master's degree with 32 additional credits and be on step 10. For that teacher, the salary and benefits package would total $82,014. The current CCSD contract with CCEA has a salary schedule that has remained the same since the 2008-2009 school year. The salary schedule shows that a teacher with a bachelor's degree and maximum experience makes a total of $57,563 including salary and benefits. The same schedule shows a teacher with a master's degree and maximum experience earns a total of $71,919 with salary and benefits included.
An examination of the administrative listing shows that 1603(77.18%) names make more than the teacher with the bachelor's degree. Of those names, 1229 (59.17%) make more than a teacher with a master's degree.
In the listing, I then looked at positions with titles such as Director, Coordinator, Facilitator, Academic or Program Manager, Principal, Assistant Principal, Dean, or Regional Trainer, as well as Superintendent, Deputy/Associate/Assistant Superintendent. There are 595 positions with those titles. That is approximately 28.7 % of the names on the list. That doesn't include positions listed as supervisors, mentors, or other non-academic positions. To put that number in perspective, if you add the number of elementary school assistant principals, the number of middle school administrators (principals, assistant principals, deans) and high school administrators (principals, assistant principals, and deans) the total is 572. The administrative phone directory shows 495 names with the titles Director, Coordinator, or Facilitator. That is 95 names more than the total number of middle school and high school administrators (principals, assistant principals, and deans). If you just look at the number of directors, coordinators, and academic managers, the total is 352. The total number of administrators (principals, assistant principals, and deans) in high schools is 209. To reach that total of 352, you would also need to include the assistant principals and deans in middle schools. If you included those numbers, the total would be 342, or slightly less than the number of directors, coordinators, and academic managers. The administrative listing makes up approximately 5.46% of the 38,000 CCSD employees.
If you look at the 2012-2013 school year budget, the personnel cost is approximately 1.7 Billion. The 2011 cost of the administrative directory was $170,736,957.79 or just over $10% of the budget for 2012-2013. Those salary and benefit costs are 2011 costs. The actual cost for 2012 will probably be the same if not higher.
The second directory is the School Directory. This lists the principal, assistant principal, dean and office manager of every school in CCSD. The ESD schools and/or other alternative schools are listed in both directories, and have been included in the administrative directory totals. There are 217 elementary schools listed in the directory. There are 211 elementary school principals and 172 assistant principals. There are 216 office managers listed. Some people hold multiple positions or some positions are currently vacant. The 2011 salary and benefits information on Transparent Nevada shows a cost of $58,575,079.88. There are 59 middle schools listed with 58 principals, 70 assistant principals, 63 deans, and 58 office managers. The 2011 salary and benefits listed is $24,470,969.09. There are 47 high schools listed with 41 principals, 100 assistant principals, 68 deans, and 39 office managers. Transparent Nevada shows a salary and benefit cost of $27,527,996.39. The total 2011 salary and benefit cost is $110,574,045.36 for 310 principals, 342 assistant principals, 131 deans, and 313 office managers, or a total of 1096 names, or 2.88% of the approximately 38,000 employees of CCSD. This is approximately 6.5% of the 2012-2013 personnel budget. Again, the 2012 salaries and benefits will likely be the same if not higher. Using the same comparisons to teachers with bachelor's degrees and master's degrees, there are 1022 (93.25%) people who make more than a teacher with a bachelor's degree and maximum experience. There are 816 (74.45%) people who make more than a teacher with a master's degree and maximum experience.
The number of assistant principals and deans for high schools is misleading. While the total number doesn't seem large when viewed against the total number of schools, the distribution is uneven. The number of assistant principals varies from 0 to 5. The number of deans again varies widely, ranging from 0 to 3. In some schools, the total number of assistant principals and deans is 6, while in other schools the total number is 2.
Combining both directories, the number of people totals 3168 or 8.33% of the approximately 38000 CCSD employees. After combining the 2011 salary and benefits costs for both lists, the total comes to $281,311,003.15 or approximately 16.55% of the 2012-2013 personnel budget. The cost for 8.33% of the personnel comes to 16.55% of the personnel costs. Totaling, the administrative personnel from the administrative directory and the principals, assistant principals, and deans from the school listing, you get a total of 1378 administrators. Using a total of 18000 teachers employed by CCSD, you get a teacher to administrator ratio of just over 13 teachers to 1 administrator.
I hope that this analysis serves as a beginning point for a discussion on the number and pay of senior CCSD staff when compared to the number and pay of support staff, teachers, and police officers. As I looked at the data in Transparent Nevada, a number of interesting facts emerged. The Superintendent's office has a total of 5 secretaries, including the two highest paid secretaries. Elizabeth Carrerro had a total pay and benefits in 2011 of $143,720.44, which included $44,487.69 in overtime/call back pay. The next highest was Debra Eloi whose pay and benefits in 2011 totaled $98,583.43. This total also included $17,736.94 in overtime/call back pay. For all 5 secretaries in the Superintendent's office, the overtime/call back pay totaled $67,624.56. Why is all of this overtime/call back pay necessary with 5 secretaries? That total is more than the pay and benefits of a teacher with a bachelor's degree and maximum experience. It is only slightly less than the pay and benefits of a teacher with a master's degree and maximum experience.
Of the 174 names listed as admin secretaries, 151 made more than a teacher with a bachelors degree and maximum experience. Of those 151 people, 62 made more than a teacher with a masters degree and maximum experience.
For all of the 174 names the overtime/callback pay totaled just over 88K. Of the 88K, over 66K or 75% was earned by the secretaries in the office of the Superintendent.
@Roslenda. Any comments on my salary data for administrators and secretaries. We haven't looked yet a CCSD police salaries, or the maintenance staff. Don't you agree that the problem is not just the teacher's salaries. Using a figure of 305,000 students and 17,000 teachers, we get a student to teacher ratio of 17.9 students per one teacher. Apparently, teachers require more supervision, 13 teachers per administrator than students do.
Tanker - Awesome job, fantastic research. Thanks.
Tanker1975,
What expertise & experience do you have in school district organizational design? What are the national ratios for admin/teachers?
@MooTheCow. I am a retired Army officer, have worked in both private and public arenas including as a city manager. I have been a teacher for over 15 years. My data is just a reporting of facts, what it means is up to each individual to decide. I would ask you the same question. There are only 6 states with higher ratios than Nevada's state wide average of 18.5 to 1. This is the link.
http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2003/snf_report03...
Tanker1975,
What is the relevance of secretary pay to effective organizational design?
The job of secretary to a school district can be extensive providing administrative and secretarial support
to assigned administrator; communicating information on behalf of administrator to school and district staff, other districts, public
agencies, etc.; ensuring compliance of department/program activities with financial, legal and administrative requirements; and
acting as liaison between the Administrator and other parties, providing information and addressing issues.
The job is much more than a typical secretary job.
@MooTheCow.
According to the current CCSD phone book, these are the people who work in the Superintendent's Office. The pay data, which include benefits, came from Transparent Nevada and are the 2011 figures.
Superintendent, Dwight Jones, $396,202.83(including $38,954.15 in other pay)
Secretary to the Superintendent, Elizabeth Carrero, $143,720.44(including $44,487.67 in overtime/callback pay and $1,839.43 in other pay)
Administrative Secretary III, Joyce Pistone, $88,633.98(including $1,733.58 in overtime/callback pay)
Administrative Secretary II, Debbie Eloi, $98,583.43(including $17,736.94 in overtime/callback pay and $8,071.49 in other pay)
Administrative Secretary I, Carmen West, $75,587.00(including $3,238.00 in overtime?callback pay)
Secretary III, Pamela Banaszynski, $61,262.93(including $427.55 in overtime/callback pay).
According to the current CCSD pay scale for teachers, which has been the same since 2008, the pay and benefits for a teacher with a bachelors degree and 5 years experience with CCSD is $57,563. A teacher with a masters degree and 9 years teaching experience with CCSD would have a salary and benefits package of $71,919.
This is a link to the CCSD teacher salary schedule.
http://ccsd.net/employees/resources/pdf/...
All of the secretarial staff made more than a teacher with a bachelors degree and 5 years experience with CCSD. Four of the 5 made more than a teacher with a masters degree and 9 years experience with CCSD.
My first question is why it is necessary to pay the secretarial staff $77,534.68 in overtime/callback and other pay. I would also point out that the Superintendent has a number of deputy/assistant superintendents that serve as his executive cabinet, and report directly to him. I'm not sure that secretarial staff would serve those functions in a large school district.
This is a link to the CCSD Administrative Phone Book. There are approximately 2100 names in that directory.
http://ccsd.net/district/directory/resou...
The first 5 people listed on Transparent Nevada for CCSD include the Superintendent, the General Counsel, the Director of Employee Management Relations, Chief Financial Officer, and the Associate Superintendent for Community relations. The total salary and benefits for that group in 2011 totaled $1,160,733.93. With that administrative staff and others, I'm not sure that the secretarial staff would have the duties and responsibilities that you describe. According to Transparent Nevada, Elizabeth Carrero ranks 103rd in the Tranparent Nevada listing of CCSD from highest to lowest.
This is the link to Transparent Nevada.
http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/cl...
@MooTheCow.
This is the link to the job description for the Secretary to the Superintendent for CCSD.
http://ccsd.net/employees/resources/pdf/...
POSITION SUMMARY:
Under administrative review, is responsible for initiating and coordinating the clerical and secretarial functions required in effective implementation of administrative policies of the superintendent's office. Provides administrative assistance and management support requiring a high degree of awareness, tact, creativity, and initiative in directing or completing projects and resolving problems.
@MooTheCow. This is the second part.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
This list of Essential Duties and Responsibilities is not exhaustive and may be supplemented.
1. Responsible for managing internal operations of the Superintendent's Office.
2. Plans, organizes, implements, and supervises secretarial/clerical work for the Superintendent.
3. Responsible for preparation of reports and compilation of agenda items for Board meetings.
4. Responsible for compiling agenda items and appropriate backup information for submittal.
5. Provides leadership, supervision, direction, and daily oversight to department staff for a smooth flow of information and delivery of services, and to ensure that procedures are implemented.
6. Compiles data based on research techniques and on statistical compilations involving an understanding of operation unit programs, policies, and procedures.
7. Researches, compiles, and analyzes data from a variety of sources.
8. Establishes procedures that implement operational policies.
9. Independently drafts financial, statistical, narrative, and/or reports as requested.
10. Performs independent research, prepares, and summarizes information for special projects as assigned.
11. Responsible for auditing payroll variances for accuracy and monitoring budgets to provide assistance.
12. Provides administrative support by researching questions, obtaining information, coordinating and disseminating information, and following up on the progress and status of projects.
13. Arranges, participates in, and implements conferences and committee meetings, as directed.
14. Demonstrates authority and ability to resolve issues at the lowest level.
15. Frequent contact with the public and employees at all levels, which requires that information be obtained and relayed to visitors on their needs, and when necessary, refers to appropriate administrative staff.
16. Interprets rules, regulations, polices, and procedures to employees and the general public.
17. Gives explicit or general directions and routes correspondence to Board of School Trustees, administrators, and support staff.
18. Utilizes advanced microcomputer software skills to prepare correspondence, complex reports, charts, tables, and forms; prepares, maintains, and provides statistical information; may be required to write/create memos, correspondence, or reports as directed.
19. Reviews materials for administrative approval for typographical/grammatical accuracy, format, conformance with procedures, internal consistency, and ensures proper approvals have been obtained.
20. Attends meetings and provides agenda and minute support (dictation/notes/transcription).
21. Provides input for the evaluation of assigned support staff.
22. Conforms to safety standards as prescribed.
23. Performs other tasks related to the position as assigned.
Tanker1975,
Typically, secretaries to chief administrators has a higher pay grade than that of a teacher. The duties of a school administrator secretary is not the basic type, file and appointment scheduler. The skill level required is much higher and the knowledge required is wide ranging from financial/legal to administrative. If you look up average salaries for a secretary for chief executive officers versus a teacher, the pay, on average, will be higher for the secretary.
MooTheCow. If you search Transparent Nevada for Admin Sec, there are 174 names listed. Of those names, 151 make more than a teacher with a bachelors degree and 5 years with CCSD, or more than $57,563. Sixty-two make more than a teacher with a masters degree and 9 years service with CCSD.
This is a link to that list.
http://transparentnevada.com/salaries/se...
Everybody is complaining about excessive teacher salaries, but nobody seems uncomfortable with the 281 MILLION paid to less than 3200 people in 2011. That is almost 17% oc the current school year personnel budget for 5.5% of the CCSD employees.
Is an admin sec in Information systems and data processing more valuable than a teacher with a masters and 9 years in the district? What about an admin sec in accounting? How about in Curriculum and Professional Development? How about the Director of Purchasing? How about School User Support Group? How about Security Services? Is the admin sec in Facilities Administration more important and valuable than a teacher with a masters degree?
Teaching is an important job but so are other key positions that support the continuity of the school district every day. Human resource researches wage & salary information that are comparable to the duties and responsibilities of each job class. The pay scale and grades are then recommended and assigned to each job class. Perhaps it would be best to contact CCSD's HR department to discuss how the pay scale & grades are assigned to each job class.
Support Personnel Pay Scale & Grades
http://www.ccsd.net/employees/resources/...
Job Description ADMINISTRATIVE SECRETARY IV (Secretary to the Superintendent)
http://www.ccsd.net/employees/resources/...
MooTheCow:
Tankers research and precision overwhelms your apparent teacher incivility.
If this was a chess match it it tanker five times check mating you.
By the way, there were only five matches.
Many believe their job and what they do is more important than others. Tanker1975 has every right to believe his job is more important than a school administrator secretary. Unfortunately, Tanker1975 is not a school administrator and doesn't appear to understand how pay is determined because if he did he would not be dragging into his argument a job class that has a higher pay grade and step increases than that of teachers.