ARTICLE 15: RETIREMENT Revised: December 2007
15.1 Retirement Assistance Program:
The Retirement Assistance Program (RAP) is a plan which enables an employee to retire and have the opportunity to enter into a contractual agreement with the District to receive the medical, dental, and vision benefits and/or be offered the opportunity to provide services for a specified period during the school year. These plans will go into effect the day following ratification of this agreement by both parties.
15.2
Prior to participating in Option A, B or C of this program, the employee shall
resign from his/her position with the District as of July 1 of the year participation
in the program commences. The retiree shall not return to regular employment
with the District except by mutual consent of the employee and the District.
15.3
Unit members wishing to participate in the program shall apply by February
15 by letter to the Personnel Office, with a copy to their principal or immediate
supervisor. The Board may approve participation after this application deadline
because of compelling or exceptional circumstances.
15.4
No more than 5% of the certificated staff shall enter this program in one year.
This number may be exceeded only by specific Board approval. Any applications
not accepted because of the 5% limit will be automatically accepted the following
year.
15.5
If a retiree receiving a health benefit should predecease a spouse or other
dependent, the spouse or dependent shall be eligible to participate in the
medical, dental, and vision plans until the spouse remarries or the dependent
becomes enrolled under another health plan. The surviving spouse or dependent
is responsible for premium payments.
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15.6.1
If regular unit members participate in any cost sharing during any one of the
years of
the RAP contract, the retiree shall contribute to the cost sharing to the same
extent. The District contribution for Plans A, B, C and D for the first five
years shall be $9,508 and $6,000 per year for the last five years.
15.6.2
Unit members, who retired under Plan A during the 2002-03 school year, the
District shall fully pay the premium for Plan 2 for the first five years,
and $6,000 per year for the last five years.
15.7
Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, participation in the medical,
dental and vision portion of any plan shall cease once the retiree reaches
Medicare age. At the point the retiree reaches Medicare age, the District,
at no cost to the retiree, shall provide a Medicare Risk insurance coverage
until the term of the option expires.
15.8 The Retirement Assistance Program provides for the employee to select among various plans. The employee must be at least 50 years old to participate in any of the following plans:
1. PLAN A
a. Unit member must have 15 years of full time employment with the District.
b. Ten years of medical, dental, and vision benefits, including family coverage,
will be provided. The first five (5) years will include family coverage paid
by the District. In years six (6) through ten (10), the District will provide
$6,000 per year toward the District Insurance Plan.
2. PLAN B
a. Unit member must have 15 years of full time employment with the District.
b. Five years of medical, dental, and vision benefits, including family coverage,
will be provided. The premium shall be fully paid by the District.
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c. The retiree shall be guaranteed the opportunity to substitute in the District
for thirty five (35) days per year at $200.00 per day. This opportunity shall
be offered annually for five (5) years.
3. PLAN C
a. Unit member must have 10 years of full time employment with the District.
The District will pay Five years of medical, dental, and vision benefits, including
family coverage.
4. PLAN D
a. Unit member must have 15 years of full time employment with the District.
b. One year prior to the employee's retirement, the employee shall receive
a one-time stipend of 15% or $8,000, whichever is greater, of the current
salary placement exclusive of any other stipends.
c. Prior to receiving the stipend, the employee must submit a letter of resignation
affixing the date of retirement as the year following the stipend.
d. Upon retirement, the employee will receive five years of medical, dental,
and vision insurance coverage, which shall include family coverage.
15.9
Retirees participating in Plans A, C, and D who serve as a substitute for the
District will be paid $50 over the Board adopted daily substitute rate. Retirees
in Plan B, after substituting for the 35 days, shall also earn the retiree
substitute rate, should they substitute for additional days.
15.10
The District may, at its discretion, periodically offer members a supplemental
retirement plan in lieu of any of the Retirement Assistant Program plans in
the contract. Members electing to participate in the supplemental retirement
plan may not also participate in any other plans in the Retirement Assistance
Program. The District may, at its discretion, set eligibility and participation
requirements, deadlines, and benefit levels, or may offer such plans to individual
employees, so as to meet its fiscal objectives. These decisions are within
the sole discretion of the District and shall not be subject to the grievance
procedure.
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15.11
The District’s Retirement Assistance Program will “sunset” on
June 30, 2007; thus, no Retirement Assistance Program will be offered to any
unit member who commences work with the District on or after July 1, 2007.
All Bargaining unit members who commenced working with the District prior to
July 1, 2007 shall remain covered by the provisions of the existing Retirement
Assistance Plan.