Documents › Board of Education, 2026-01-08

agreement 3 pages

-1- 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, Michael Spalding (“Mr. Spalding”) is a former teacher and member of the Association bargaining unit who resigned for the purpose of retirement effective July 1, 2025; and WHEREAS, Mr. Spalding is not currently eligible to retire, and has not retired, into the New York Teachers Retirement System (“NYSTRS”); and WHEREAS, a dispute has arisen regarding Mr. Spalding’s current eligibility for health insurance coverage from the District, as well as his eligibility for health insurance coverage upon his retirement into the NYSTRS; and WHEREAS, the parties have entered into discussions for the purpose of resolving this dispute and clarifying bargaining unit members’ eligibility for health insurance coverage in retirement; NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS HEREBY AGREED, by and among the parties as follows: 1. Notwithstanding any language in the CBA to the contrary, the District agrees as follows: a. Mr. Spalding may remain on the District’s health insurance plan, effective from the date of his resignation for the purpose of retirement on July 1, 2025, with Mr. Spalding paying 100% of the premium cost of maintaining his coverage under the -2- District’s health insurance plan. Mr. Spalding shall pay the District for any unpaid premium costs in connection with coverage under the District’s health insurance plan, for the period from July 1, 2025 to the effective date of this Side Letter of Agreement, within 15 calendar days of the effective date of this Side Letter of Agreement. b. Upon Mr. Spalding’s retirement into the NYSTRS, he shall be eligible for health insurance in retirement in accordance with the provisions of Article VIII, Section I of the CBA, provided Mr. Spalding has maintained his health insurance coverage under the District’s health insurance plan from July 1, 2025 until the date he retires into the NYSTRS with no break in coverage, and provided he meets all other requirement for retiree health insurance coverage under the District’s health insurance plan. c. Should Mr. Spalding have a break in coverage prior to retiring into the NYSTRS for any reason, including, but not limited to, voluntary declination of coverage and/or discontinuation of coverage due to failure to pay premiums, Mr. Spalding shall be ineligible for any health insurance coverage from the District thereafter, including, but not limited to, health insurance coverage in retirement under Article VIII, Section I of the CBA upon retiring into the NYSTRS. d. The parties agree that the terms and conditions set forth in Paragraph 1 herein, shall not constitute a precedent with respect to any other bargaining unit members, with respect to a bargaining unit member’s entitlement to health insurance coverage after separating from service from the District, with respect to a bargaining unit member's entitlement to retiree health insurance, with respect to Article VIII, Section I of the CBA and/ or for any other purposes whatsoever. 2. The parties understand and agree that, pursuant to Article VIII, Section I of the CBA, bargaining unit members must retire directly from the District into the NYSTRS to be eligible for health insurance coverage in retirement from the District. 3. This Side Letter of Agreement is subject to and contingent upon its approval by the Board of Education of the Croton-Hannon Union Free School District. Date<l: _______ _, 2026 By: By: CROTON-HARMON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT Stephen Walker, Superintendent of Schools CROTON TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION Ilana McConville, President &cilam  -3-