Documents › Board of Education, 2026-04-09

agreement 3 pages

A side letter of agreement between the Croton-Harmon Union Free School District and the Croton Teachers' Association granting probationary teacher Ashley Lupfer an unpaid leave of absence for the 2026-2027 school year, notwithstanding contract language reserving such leaves for tenured teachers. Lupfer must notify the Superintendent by March 1, 2027 whether she will return for 2027-2028 or seek a one-year extension at the Board of Education's non-grievable discretion, and she will receive no seniority or tenure credit while on leave. The agreement is expressly non-precedential and subject to Board of Education approval.

SIDE LETTER OF AGREEMENT BETWEEN ​ THE CROTON-HARMON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT ​ AND THE CROTON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION ​ WHEREAS, the Croton-Harmon Union Free School District (“District”) and the Croton Teachers’ Association (“Association”) are parties to a Collective Bargaining Agreement (“CBA”) between them covering the term July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2028; and WHEREAS, Ashley Lupfer (“Ms. Lupfer”) is a probationary teacher and a member of the Association bargaining unit; and WHEREAS, Ms. Lupfer has requested an unpaid leave of absence from her position for the 2026-2027 school year; and WHEREAS, pursuant to Article XII, Section E of the CBA, only tenured teachers are entitled to take an unpaid leave of absence once within a seven (7) year period; and WHEREAS, the parties have entered into discussions regarding approving Ms. Lupfer’s request for an unpaid leave of absence notwithstanding any language in Article XII, Section E of the CBA to the contrary; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED, by and between the parties as follows: 1.​ The parties agree that notwithstanding any language in Article XII, Section E of the CBA to the contrary: a.​ Ms. Lupfer shall be granted an unpaid leave of absence for the 2026-2027 school year; and ​ -1- b.​ Ms. Lupfer shall notify the Superintendent of Schools or his designee, by March 1, 2027, of: i.​ Her intent to return from her unpaid leave of absence for the start of the 2027-2028 school year; or ii.​ Her request to extend her unpaid leave of absence through the 2027-2028 school year; and c.​ Any request to extend her unpaid leave of absence through the 2027-2028 school year pursuant to subparagraph b.ii. above shall be subject to the discretion and approval of the Board of Education, the denial of which cannot be grieved. Should Ms. Lupfer be granted an extension of her unpaid leave of absence through the 2027-2028 school year, she shall notify the Superintendent of Schools or his designee, by March 1, 2028, of her intent to return from her unpaid leave of absence for the start of the 2028-2029 school year. 2.​ Ms. Lupfer understands and acknowledges that she will not receive any seniority credit or credit towards tenure for any period of time that she is on an unpaid leave of absence pursuant to this Side Letter of Agreement. 3.​ The parties agree that neither this Side Letter of Agreement, nor the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall constitute a precedent with respect to any other requests for an unpaid leave of absence by Ms. Lupfer, with respect to any other bargaining unit members, and/or for any other purposes whatsoever. The parties further agree that neither this Side Letter of Agreement, nor the terms and conditions set forth herein, may be introduced into evidence in future arbitrations, negotiations, mediations, or ​ -2- fact-finding proceedings, or otherwise in any administrative or judicial forum, except for the purposes of enforcing the parties’ agreements contained herein. 4.​ This Side Letter of Agreement is subject to approval by the Board of Education of the District. Dated: ________________, 2026 CROTON-HARMON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT ​ By:​ ______________________________________ Stephen Walker, Superintendent of Schools​ CROTON TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION​ By:​ ​ Ilana McConville, President ​ ​ Ashley Lupfer ​ -3-