PITTSBURG STATE UNIVERSITY
CLASSIFIED SENATE

Next Meeting…
July 11, 2007
1:30 p.m.
Balkans Room/Student Center

AGENDA

1. Review of Meeting Minutes
2. Treasurer’s Report
3. Committee Reports
   1. Position Paper
   2. Election
   3. Legislative
   4. Public Relations
   5. Advocacy
   6. SB 74
   7. Other University Committees
4. Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant
5. Legislative Update by Dr. Howard Smith
6. Old Business
7. New Business
   1. State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission Update
   2. Election of Officers
   3. Committee Assignments
8. Good of the Order
9. Adjournment

Please send your agenda items to your Senator! A list of senators can be found on the Classified Senate website at http://www.pittstate.edu/csen/senators.html.

All Classified Senate meetings are open to any interested PSU employee. You do NOT have to be a Senator to attend.

President Kathi Lunday called the June 13, 2007 meeting of the Pittsburg State University Classified Senate to order in the Governors Room of the Overman Student Center.

Senators Present: Jill Allen, Sue Ann Barnes, John Bartels, Kathy Benard, Dee Buffalo, Wylie Degruson, Jerry Duvall, Tina Gregory, David Hartman, Pam Henderson, Dave Hornback, Kathi Lunday, Leigh Ann Martin, Tracey Mussa, Kathy Neely, Mike Paasch, Wendy Peterson, Josh Tucker, Marty White, Heather Winzer, Mary Wolfe, Stacy Wolownik

Senators Excused: Treva Sherman, Sondra Wood

Senators Absent: John Foster, Debbie Sullins

Non-Senators Present: Mr. John Patterson, Dr. Howard Smith

Guest Speaker: Mr. Patterson addressed questions regarding employee pay raises, vacation leave and SB 375. A handout entitled “Preliminary Items for Report to COPS Regarding Implementation of SB 375 Provisions” was distributed (copy provided at the end of these minutes). Classified employees will receive a 2% cost of living raise on their first paycheck of the fiscal year and will be given an $860 bonus in December. The bonus will not be included in base pay due to the financial outlook and the awaiting results of the state salary study. Fiscal years 2008 and 2009 appear to be looking good at the state level, but it’s hard to predict the future and future revenues. Wichita State and Fort Hays State are considering going unclassified still (Fort Hays votes in October on the issue). Regent universities are working to reach a resolution on the vacation leave issue before the September Board of Regents meeting. On June 25th, state employees will have the opportunity to address the State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission meeting and PSU will have a representative attending. The Kansas Joint Council of Classified Senates had requested a classified employee be placed on this commission, but that request was unsuccessful.

Minutes: Motion was made, seconded and passed to accept the minutes for the May meeting.

Treasurer’s report: June budget account had a beginning balance of $1021.28, with no expenditures for an ending balance of $1021.28. Donation account had a beginning and ending balance of $30. Unused funds may be rolled over if they are not all used.

Position Paper: Kathi Lunday, David Hartman, John Bartels and Dee Buffalo will be attending the Kansas Joint Council of Classified Senates June meeting to present PSU’s proposals for the joint position paper.

Election Committee: Due to Dianne Nutt’s retirement from the university, Wylie Degruson was moved to represent the Physical Plant’s General Services, Central Power and Administration area. Tina Gregory will fill the Custodial Services vacancy. All senate positions are filled at this time. Election of officers for the upcoming year will take place at the July meeting.

Legislative Committee: Heather Winzer reported on three bills dealing with KPERS that were signed. They are: 1) HB 2385 – Transfers administration and oversight of the Kansas Public Employees Deferred Compensation Plan to KPERS from the Department of Administration effective January 1, 2008; 2) SB 362 – Establishes new defined benefit plan design for KPERS-covered employees first employed on or after July 1, 2009; and 3) Sen Sub for Sub for HB 2457 – Prohibits the investment of KPERS funds in companies with certain business operations in Sudan, and it clarifies Kansas income tax exemption for certain lump-sum retirement payments from KPERS and specifies that such lump-sum payment shall retain tax-exempt status when rolled over into qualified retirement accounts.

Public Relations: No report.

Advocacy Committee: No report.

Senate Bill 74 Research Committee: No report.

Other University Committees:
1) Director of Student Recreation Center – Candidates will be on campus for interviews. Please try to attend and give your input.

Senate President’s Report from Meetings with Dr. Bryant: None.

Legislative Update: Dr. Smith reaffirmed Mr. Patterson’s earlier comments and explained the obstacles we are up against. Dr. Smith also sent a letter, via campus mail, to all classified employees on June 14th explaining the June 25th State Employee Compensation Oversight Commission meeting and telling employees how they could submit their input.

Old Business: None.

New Business: New senators, Tina Gregory and Wylie Degruson, were elected to their respective areas.

Good of the Order: None.

Motion to adjourn was made, seconded and passed.

Respectfully submitted,

Pam Henderson
Recording Secretary

Preliminary Items for Report to COPS Regarding Implementation of SB 375 Provisions

1. Council of Presidents should recommend the Board continue to advocate for passage of legislation comparable to S.B. 21 as introduced in the 2007 Legislative Session.
2. The Council of Business Officers submits the following listing of Advantages to recommending the Board implement provisions of 2006 S.B. 375.
   1. Allows eligible institutions to immediately provide selected benefits improvements to classified employees
      1. These are employees generally outside the scope of Regents/University ability to impact salary or benefits improvements.
   2. Depending upon the level of improvement, the additional benefits have relatively little cost
      1. In most instances the cost can be absorbed as opportunity lost. In only a few instances will actual cash outlay be required.
3. The Council of Business Officers submits the following listing of Disadvantages to recommending the Board implement provisions of 2006 S.B. 375.
   1. May impede passage of S.B. 21
   2. Would represent implementation of Legislation, for which the Regents did not advocate.
4. Should the Council of Presidents resolve to recommend implementation of the 2006 authority contained in S.B. 375, the following proposal is recommended:
   1. Phase One. Employees who have been in state service more than 10 years, would earn annual leave at the rate of 6.7 hours per pay period. (Note: This would replace the current schedule in which those having over 10 years of service earn leave at the rate of 18 days per year and those having 15 years of service earn leave at the rate of 21 days per year.) Implementation of phase one is estimated to have a cost of $x, of which $x would require cash financing and the remainder would be absorbed as cost of opportunity lost.
   2. Phase Two. Employees who have been in the state service over 5 years but not more than 10 years would earn annual leave at the rate of 5.5 hours per pay period (18 days annually, the rate which is now earned by those having more than 15 years of service). Implementation of phase two is estimated to have a cost of $x, of which $x would require cash financing and the remainder would be absorbed as cost of opportunity lost.