10.1 The unit member benefit package shall include mandatory medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance for those who do not have coverage by another source. New unit members shall select a program and process required documents for unit member benefits within thirty (30) days of their date of employment or such benefits may be lost until the next available open enrollment period. It is the District’s responsibility to inform the new employee of the available options. Unit member benefit monies remaining after selection of options may be used for other programs available through District payroll deduction except as restricted in Article 10.2. The effective date for these benefits will be the first of the month following the first day of service, provided that ten working days in the month prior have been satisfied.
10.1.1 The District shall contribute for the current contract enough to fund the 2001-03 coverage for unit members and their dependents for medical insurance. The District shall provide monies for the same dental and vision coverage as in the 2001-03 contract. Any change of provider or level of coverage for medical, dental, or vision insurance will be brought, upon recommendation by the District’s Insurance Committee to the Association for approval by its members.
Changes in the agreement between the District and the District’s medical provider that increase current benefits or clarify language, but do not decrease the level of current coverage, will be deemed accepted by the Association and the District. Representatives of the bargaining units will be provided with the language changes. The District will not assume the responsibility for any decrease in the level of coverage initiated by the provider after agreement is reached on the fringe benefit package.
10.1.2 All tax shelter amounts previously created through use of excess allotments shall be maintained at no more than the 1981-82 level ($71.00), except as indicated in Article 10.2
10.2 For employees who have medical coverage elsewhere, there shall be funds available and apportioned as follows: the same allotment as in 10.1.2, plus 20% of the single party HMO rate, in place in the current contract, contributed to the affected unit member’s tax sheltered annuity, and 80% to the District insurance programs.
10.3 The District shall provide each unit member term life insurance with a face value of $50,000 paid for by the District.
10.4 Each unit member shall be entitled to use, without qualification, three (3) days of regular sick leave as unspecified personal necessity leave with reasonable notice (three working days) to the appropriate Vice President.
10.5 Any unit member who holds an elected office in a statewide educational organization will be granted released time to fulfill the duties of that office. The unit member’s salary shall be reduced to that percentage of a full load that the unit member teaches. In order that the unit member receive full salary and benefits, the statewide organization shall be responsible to reimburse the District for the salary and benefits in proportion to the released time. Benefits shall include, but are not limited to, unit member benefits as defined in Article 10, retirement, unemployment insurance, workers compensation and social security/medicare costs.
10.6 The District shall provide medical, dental, vision, and prescription coverage for retired unit members, their spouses, and eligible dependent children enrolled at time of retirement which are the same as those provided to active unit members. This benefit shall be available to unit members retiring after reaching their fifty-fifth (55) birthday or retiring under the disability provisions of the State Teachers Retirement System provided said unit member has at least ten (10) consecutive years of service to the District. If a unit member permanently leaves the employment of the District under any circumstances other than retirement, these retirement provisions are not applicable. The coverage provided shall be coordinated with Medicare Parts A and B for those unit members who are eligible. A Board approved leave shall constitute a year of service for the purpose of computing eligibility for this benefit. A Board approved leave shall not constitute a break in consecutive service for the purpose of computing eligibility for this benefit.
10.6.1 To be eligible to retire with District paid medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance, the unit member must submit a letter of retirement to the Superintendent/President, or his or her designee, along with an “Application for Retirement Benefits” prior to date of retirement.
10.6.2 A unit member whose work assignment is for more than 60% of a regular assignment and meets the qualifications stated above shall be eligible for the pro rate share of the fully paid medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance. Unit members who retire after being on reduced load with full retirement benefits (Article 9) and who qualify under 10.6 shall receive the same paid retiree benefits as full-time unit members who retire.
10.6.3 Retirement Options. Each unit member may choose one of the following District-paid options for retirement medical benefits. The unit member must submit this decision on the "Application for Retirement Benefits" prior to date of retirement. The effective date of either option will be the first day of the month following the date of retirement.
Option A: District paid medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance for retirees shall become effective on the first of the month following the month of retirement, but not before the first month after the unit member’s 55th birthday, and shall continue until the end of the month in which the unit member reaches age 67, provided said unit member has at least ten (10) consecutive years of service to the district prior to retirement. For each additional ten (10) consecutive years of service to the district the unit member will receive one (1) more year of District-paid medical, dental, vision, and prescription insurance up to a maximum of two (2).
Years of Benefits
Consecutive Service Paid to Age
10 67
20 68
30 69
Unit members shall be allowed to pay their own, their spouse’s, and their dependent children’s membership fees and continue on the District’s medical, dental, vision and prescription plans after reaching 67, 68, or 69 years of age, whichever applies.
Option B: The District shall provide an annual amount for the life of the retiree depending on the length of service to the District from the following table. This amount shall become effective and payable on the first of the month following the month of retirement, but not before the first month after the unit member’s 55th birthday.
Years of Annual
Consecutive Service Amount
30 $2,500
25 $2,250
20 $1,875
15 $1,250
10 $1,000
A Board approved leave shall not constitute a break in consecutive service for the purpose of computing eligibility for these benefits.
10.6.4 The District will pay $5,000 as a bonus to a unit member (after the unit member’s 55th birthday, providing said unit member has at least ten (10) consecutive years of service to the District prior to retirement) if said unit member submits a retirement letter by August 30 of the last year of service.