ARTICLE XIV FRINGE BENEFITS

Narragansett School District

A.  The Committee shall provide during the term of this agreement, for all professional personnel .6 FTE and above of the Narragansett School System and their families, a comprehensive medical care plan and dental plan equivalent to the plans in effect at the time of the execution of this agreement (Blue Cross Healthmate Coast to Coast and Delta Dental Premiere National Coverage).

Each member covered under the terms of this agreement will pay a co-payment for health benefits according to the following:

FTE  .75-1.0           20%

FTE           .6-.74           30%

B.  A Benefit Summary sheet will be provided to members outlining the details of the plan each year.

C.  The Committee agrees to continue the purchase of a dental rider which will permit students to the age of 23 to continue coverage.

D.  Teachers may elect another health plan of their choice.  However, the teacher shall pay any premium cost in excess of medical coverage being offered by the Committee.

E. If the premium cost is projected to increase more than 10% in a given year, a joint committee made up of the Superintendent of Schools, the Director of Finance, the Association President, and/or their designees, will convene to discuss alternative options within the health plan and/or to explore other options to keep the premium cost increase at or below 10%. A working rate from a third party healthcare provider will be obtained for verification purposes.

F. The Committee will pay for each teacher the full premium cost for term life insurance coverage in the amount of forty thousand dollars ($40,000).

G. Teachers will be eligible to participate in a "tax sheltered" annuity plan in accordance with procedures mutually acceptable to the Committee and the Association.

H. The Committee will permit retired teachers to continue in the group Blue Cross and Delta Dental Plan or their equivalent plans to the age of 65 or until the time that their benefits expire by paying premiums through the Town of Narragansett.

I. The Committee may substitute insurance carriers for active, retired, spousal, dependant or survivor coverage provided equivalent coverage is given at no greater cost to the beneficiary. The Association and Committee agree to review proposals from health care providers for the coverage of active, retired, spousal, dependent or survivor coverage and reserve the right by written mutual agreement to change carriers and or administrators or modify coverage as circumstances may require.

J. Teachers shall have the option to enroll in Aflac short term disability insurance through payroll deduction at their own expense.

K Health Care Buy Back

1.  For those employees who are eligible for healthcare and who choose not to receive coverage, the Committee will pay the employee the following. Benefits shall be prorated for those teachers whose FTE is between .6 and .75.

2. Employees who opt for the buy-back provision shall inform the Superintendent by September 15th of each school year.

3. Payment shall be in a separate check in two (2) equal installments (December and June).

4. Employees may reenter the health and dental plans on the open enrollment date of each year. In cases of emergency or when no health coverage exists, employees may reenter the medical plan before the anniversary date with carrier approval.

5. Any employee who shall reenter under paragraph 4 above, shall reimburse the Committee for the pro-rated share received, representing the time period following reentry. Reimbursement shall be by regular and equal payroll deductions and shall be repaid in total prior to the next enrollment period.

L. Health Care Retirement Clause

Teachers with a minimum of ten (10) years teaching experience in the Narragansett School System will, upon their retirement, receive post-retirement health care benefits in accordance with Schedule A in the Appendix of this agreement. In addition, the following limitations apply:

Teachers shall be eligible to receive up to forty-eight (48) months of a single plan or up to 24 months of a family plan of health care insurance upon retirement. Such benefits shall be provided to retirees on the same terms and conditions as such benefits are provided to actively employed teachers; provided, however, that no retiree who receives health insurance under this Article shall be obliged to pay any portion of the health insurance premium during the period in which they receive such retirement health insurance benefits.

Retirees who reach the age of 65 shall exercise this benefit through the Blue Cross Medicare Advantage program and premiums will be paid through the value of accrued sick time per Appendix A. Retirees with a spouse or eligible dependent under the age of 65 may remain in the active member plan until this benefit is exhausted.

Teachers may elect to defer coverage for a period of no more than five (5) years. Teachers who defer this benefit shall pay the difference between the cost of the health care plan at the time of retirement and the cost of the elected health care plan at the time of enrolling.

Example: Teacher A retires on June 30, 2018, and defers commencement of healthcare coverage until June 30, 2020. The cost on June 30, 2018 is $600.00 and the cost on June 30, 2020 is $650.00. The premium cost to the retiree is $50.00.

M. Tuition Reimbursement:

1. All teachers who have completed three (3) years of employment in the Narragansett School System shall be eligible for tuition reimbursement subject to the conditions and procedures set forth in this Article.

a. Application for reimbursement along with proof of payment must be filed on or before deadlines set forth in Section 4 and the Superintendent of Schools shall have sole discretion as to approval under this provision. The Superintendent of School's decision regarding application for approval can be appealed to the Committee within thirty (30) days of the Superintendent of School's decision. The Committee's decision on appeal is final and binding and not subject to the grievance procedure under this Contract.

b. To receive tuition reimbursement for courses approved as aforesaid, a teacher must successfully complete the course. In graded courses he or she must pass with a grade of B (or its equivalent) or better.

c. Teachers, following receipt, shall promptly submit grade reports, or official transcripts for graded courses or proof of completion for ungraded courses, to the Superintendent of Schools.

2. Tuition reimbursement will be in an amount equal to fifty percent (50%) of the cost of the course. This amount is not to exceed 50% of the cost of an equivalent course at the University of Rhode Island. Teachers are eligible for one course reimbursement per year. All courses must be related to educational practice.

3. All courses must be preapproved by the Superintendent of Schools.

4. Application for tuition reimbursement for first semester courses must be received no later than September 25th, for second semester courses by February 1, and for summer courses by July 10. Reimbursement for online courses should be submitted within two (2) weeks of enrollment.

5. $12,000 shall be available for annual tuition reimbursement as specified in section 3.

6. Application for approval received as of each of the application deadlines as specified in section 4 shall be prioritized as follows:

Priority 1: Degree courses or non-degree courses taken in teaching field.

Priority 2: Courses taken which are a specific outgrowth and recommendation from a primary evaluator following a teacher's performance evaluation, within two (2) years of said evaluation.

Priority 3: Certificate renewal courses not necessarily in a graduate program.

7. No teacher who has received notice of suspension or non-renewal shall be eligible for tuition reimbursement except for courses for which application was made and approved prior to such notice.

8. Teachers earning credit in fall or spring semesters will be reimbursed within forty-five (45) days of submission of evidence of satisfactory completion of the course work to the Superintendent. A teacher who fails to submit satisfactory evidence as outlined in 1.c. of this Article within the forty-five (45) days indicated, forfeits the right to reimbursement.

9. Teachers earning credit in the summer shall be reimbursed within forty-five (45) days of submission of the documentation required in section 1.c. above, and only if continuing in the employ of the Narragansett School System.

N. Curriculum Academy

1. Notice of all curriculum work and summer employment opportunities for certified personnel shall be posted in each school at least ten (10) school days prior to the final application deadline.

2. The notice shall either: a) describe the specific nature of the work, the qualifications required of applicants, and the approximate time requirement; or b) give a general description, including deadlines and approximate time requirements, for a project for which an interested teacher would submit a proposal to the Superintendent or his designee.

3. Compensation for curriculum work shall be mutually agreed upon by the teacher, Superintendent and Association and shall not be discriminatory. If a teacher is required to work during the summer months, the teacher will be compensated per Article XV of this contract.

4. The written agreement for curriculum work shall include a description of the duties to be performed, the compensation, schedule of payment dates, and deadlines. A copy will be sent to the President of the Association.