ARTICLE XIX INSURANCE AND OTHER BENEFITS

Foster School District

A. Insurance

The School Committee shall provide for all teachers a term life insurance policy of $10,000 The policy would contain the following provisions:

1. Level term to age 65,

2. Reduce to 112 benefit from 65-70,

3. Conversion possibility upon retirement at the retiree's expense, Subject to the rules and regulations of the insurance carrier

B. Health and Dental Insurance.

1.   Health and Dental  Insurance Coverage

The School  Committee shall provide  health and dental  insurance (subject  to the co-share) to each  teacher.  The health  insurance  plans provided  to teachers  will provide student coverage  as established by Rhode Island state law.  The School  Committee shall use all available resources to intentionally provide medical  and dental coverage  that equitably meets the healthcare need of the FTA membership in line with revised and current RI State Regulations.  Insurance coverage  will align as closely  as possible to benefits provided in the July  1, 2008  to June 30, 20 ll contract. The School Committee agrees to provide notification to the FTA before making changes  in healthcare provider(s).

2.   Joint Health Care Committee

The parties shall establish a joint healthcare  committee.  The committee shall be comprised of two (2) members designated  by the school  department and two (2) members designated  by the FTA Presidents. Prior to any change  in healthcare insurance  providers, and on an as-needed basis  thereafter,  this committee shall meet in order to:

*Review  the mix of health  and dental insurance  benefits  made available  to the membership.

*Explore cost saving  measures, benefit enhancements, and alternative plans and
providers.

*Meet with representatives of healthcare  insurance providers  and review  proposals.   All increases  or reductions in health or dental  benefits  and any increases  or reduction in employee costs must be clearly  identified  in a healthcare  provider's submittal  to the School  Committee and Make  recommendations with respect  to healthcare  insurance  to the School  Committee and Association.

The School  committee agrees  to provide the joint Healthcare Committee with information relevant  to its function  upon request.   The School Committee further agrees to request  of any healthcare  provider,  any relevant  information  requested  by any member of the Joint Healthcare Committee pertaining  to its function, benefits, etc.

Buyback

If a teacher elects not to have healthcare coverage and is not covered by any other healthcare paid for by the Town of Foster, that teacher may receive an amount equal to:

Employees who are eligible for medical and dental insurance and choose not to receive coverage shall receive a payment of One Thousand Two Hundred Dollars ($1,200) for single health and dental.

This amount  shall not be reduced by any applicable  co-share for which the teacher would have been responsible had the teacher elected  to have insurance coverage.  Said  payment  will be made after July 1 of the year in which no health and/or dental coverage  has been received.   Should  the teacher at any time feel the need for inclusion  in the health and/or dental  plan, the teacher shall give the School  Department notice at least one (1)  month prior to the date on which the health and or dental coverage  is to begin.  The teacher shall receive a prorated payment  of the buy back amount  of the health and/or dental payment  described  above,  for the time the teacher has not been covered  by the health and/or dental plan.

The School  Committee will allow teachers  who elect  the buyback provision  to enroll in an offered  plan at a date other than the annual enrollment date if all of the following conditions  are true:

1.   They  had been covered  by another  plan while receiving  the buyback.

2.   That plan is no longer able to continue  coverage  for the teacher at no cost (if COBRA  is a cost to the employee  then this condition  is met).

3.  Any reimbursement to the District or payment due to the teacher are reconciled  at the date of enrollment on a pro-rate basis.

C. The Committee may change  medical insurance carriers  with prior written  approval  of the Association.

D. Share of Healthcare Premium

Teachers receiving healthcare and dental insurance from the District shall remit to the District a co-share of 20% of the Premium,  pro-rated  by Full-Time Equivalent for all employees,  effective 2012-2013 capped at an increase  of 10% over the prior year's  co-share, on a pre-tax basis by payroll deduction.

Teachers who receive only healthcare or dental insurance from the district shall pay a reduced amount that is proportionate to the relative costs of the healthcare or dental insurance received to the sum total cost of both.

E. Part-Time Teachers

Teachers who teach :3/5 or more of a full schedule shall qualify for full benefits under this Article. Teachers who perform teaching services on a regular basis, but who are assigned less than :3/5 of a full schedule, shall be afforded pro-rated coverage of all benefits provided they opt to assume the balance of the cost.

F. Retiree Healthcare Cover age

Current retirees already receiving Classic Blue shall have the option of continuing to do so Current retirees and those who retire by June 30, 2007 shall not contribute to healthcare Those who retire after June 30, 2007 shall contribute to healthcare the cost share sum they were required to pay in the last year of service to the District.

G. Use of Personal Auto

Employees  shall be reimbursed for use of their personal  auto for official  school  business at the current  rate established  by the Internal  Revenue Service. Payments  will be made in January and June upon the receipt of voucher designed  by the administration.