Documents › Board of Education, 2026-06-29

agreement 5 pages

Also attached to this agenda item: 2026-2027 Benefit Agreements BenAgr Laura Dubak 2026-2027 (314 KB) BenAgr Alice Lu 2026-2027 (1) (288 KB) BenAgr Alix Berniker 2026-2027 (280 KB) BenAgr Barry Gamzon 2026-2027 (314 KB) BenAgr Brad Kennedy 2026-2027 (330 KB) BenAgr Denise Bisaccia 2026-2027 (312 KB) BenAgr Denise Cuomo 2026-2027 (295 KB) BenAgr Doreen Navas-Corns 2026-2027 (265 KB) BenAgr Ellen Moskowitz 2026-2027 (306 KB) BenAgr Greg Cavalieri 2026-2027 (286 KB) BenAgr Joe Bernardi 2026-2027 (316 KB)

CROTON-HARMON UNION FREE SCHOOL DISTRICT​ 10 Gerstein Street Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10598 Mr. Stephen Walker Superintendent of Schools ​ July 1, 2026​ Ms. Denise Harrington-Cohen District Office Dear Ms. Cohen: Re: Benefit Agreement for the 2026-2027 School Year Start Date: November, 2018 This is to summarize, for your records, your updated benefits as Assistant Superintendent for Business with the District. I have outlined below what I think is a comprehensive description of all the terms and conditions of employment that you enjoy as an employee with the District. Holidays and Vacations: The Assistant Superintendent for Business covered by this agreement will have the following Holidays:​ July 3, 2026 ​ ​ Friday ​ ​ Independence Day​ September 7, 2026 ​ ​ Monday ​ ​ Labor Day​ September 21, 2026 ​Monday ​ ​ Yom Kippur​ October 12, 2026 ​Monday ​ ​ Columbus Day​ November 11, 2026 ​Wednesday ​ ​ Veteran’s Day​ November 26, 2026 ​Thursday ​ ​ Thanksgiving ​​ November 27, 2026 ​Friday ​ ​ Day after Thanksgiving​ December 23, 2026 ​ ​ Wednesday ​ ​ Holiday​ December 24, 2026 ​Thursday ​ ​ Christmas Eve​ December 25, 2026 ​Friday ​ ​ Christmas Day​ December 31, 2026 ​Thursday ​ ​ Floating Holiday/New Year’s Eve​ January 1, 2027 ​ ​ Friday ​ ​ New Year’s Day​ January 18, 2027 ​ ​ Monday ​ ​ MLK Day​ February 15, 2027 ​ ​ Monday ​ ​ President’s Day​ February 16, 2027 ​Tuesday ​ ​ Admin/Conf./Floating Holiday/Alternate Lincoln’s b-day​ March 25, 2027 ​ ​ Thursday ​ ​ Holy Thursday​ March 26, 2027 ​ ​ Friday ​ ​ Good Friday​ April 22, 2027 ​Thursday ​ ​ Passover​ April 23, 2027 ​Friday ​ ​ Passover​ May 31, 2027 ​Monday ​ ​ Memorial Day​ June 18, 2027 ​Friday ​ ​ Juneteenth ​ ​ The Assistant Superintendent for Business will be allowed 25 vacation days to be used during the fiscal year in which they have been earned. It is expected that most of these vacation days will be taken during the summer months of July and August, with the balance to be used throughout the year. If extenuating circumstances should prevent the Assistant Superintendent for Business from using all 25 vacation days, the Board of Education will pay for up to five (5) such unused vacation days at their daily rate. Any unused vacation will be added to sick leave days. If in the event the Assistant Superintendent for Business leaves the service of the district and has taken more vacation time than has been earned (1.84 days per month), then they will be responsible for reimbursing the district at a rate of 1/240th of their salary per day. Leaves: Sick Leave - The Assistant Superintendent for Business shall have 18 days sick leave per year with 240 days accumulation. Additional sick leave without loss of pay may be granted at the discretion of the Board of Education. Family Illness - In case of illness in the Assistant Superintendent for Business's immediate family, absence for a maximum of three days per year, shall be allowed without loss of pay or sick leave. Any days absent beyond three days, under this provision, will be deducted from the Assistant Superintendent for Business' sick leave. Immediate family is defined as: children of the Assistant Superintendent for Business, parent, husband or wife, brother or sister, other relative residing in the Assistant Superintendent for Business' household or permanent member of her household. Additional family illness leave, without loss of pay, will be granted at the discretion of the Board of Education upon recommendation of the Superintendent of Schools. Personal Leave - Leave time not to exceed five (5) days of leave per year, shall be granted without loss of pay subject to the approval of the Superintendent of Schools. Such leave is intended for: ●​ Court appearance or signing legal documents ●​ Personal or family business ●​ Graduation or transporting children to college ●​ Marriage ●​ Appointment with doctor for employee or member of her immediate family ●​ Religious Observance Any unused personal days will be added to sick leave days at the end of the school year. Condolence Leave - Leaves without salary deductions for death in the immediate family will be five (5) days, and in extenuating circumstances, may be extended at the discretion of the Superintendent of Schools. Immediate family will be defined as Assistant Superintendent for Business's child, parent, husband, wife, sister, brother, parent-in-law, or any other permanent member of the Assistant Superintendent for Business' household. A broader definition of “immediate family” may be requested by the Assistant Superintendent for Business and accepted by the Superintendent of Schools if they feel that is justified in the circumstances. Leave without salary deduction not to exceed three (3) days will be granted to the Assistant Superintendent for Business whose absence is caused by the death of a relative other than the immediate family: an aunt, uncle, niece, nephew, sister-in-law, brother-in-law, or grandparent. In extenuating circumstances, the period may be extended with the approval of the Superintendent of Schools. ​ Public Obligation - If the Assistant Superintendent for Business is summoned to jury duty, they shall immediately notify the Superintendent of Schools. Leave shall be granted without loss of pay or leave time. The Assistant Superintendent for Business shall pay over to the Board all remuneration received for such service except actual expenses. Court appearances and other public duties related to school shall be granted without loss of pay or leave time. Professional Leave - Leave shall be granted without loss of pay or leave time for attendance at approved professional meetings, conferences, and workshops approved by the Superintendent of Schools for professional improvement. Non-Compensable Leave - The Board of Education may authorize additional variations of administrative leave if, in its opinion, such variation is warranted. Benefits: Health Insurance - The Assistant Superintendent for Business will have the opportunity to participate in the health insurance program offered by the Board of Education. The district shall contribute 80% of the premium toward the purchase of health, surgical, prescription drug, and major medical insurance. The district shall pay annually to the Assistant Superintendent for Business, if they agree to waive health insurance coverage. A payment of $1,625 will be made in January and a payment of $1,625 will be made in June. You may re-enter the health plan upon the occurrence of a qualifying event after giving written notice to the business office or during Open Enrollment in November. Coverage will begin thirty days after such notice is received. The Assistant Superintendent for Business agrees to return a prorated portion of the money given to them by the District if they leave the district prior to June 30th. If the District insurance plan shall change in any way to alter the current conditions for re-entry, the District shall notify the Assistant Superintendent for Business and give them the option of re-entering the health plan before such changes become effective. If the Assistant Superintendent for Business wishes to waive health insurance, they shall annually contact the business office before June 1. Life Insurance - The Board of Education will provide a term life insurance policy in the amount of $100,000 for the Assistant Superintendent for Business employed by the district. The policy will remain effective at district expense for as long as the insuree is employed as an Assistant Superintendent for Business in this school district. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will receive a statement from the Business Office if there is a change in the plan. Dental Plan - The Board of Education will provide a family dental plan for the Assistant Superintendent for Business during the term of their employment with the District. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will receive a statement from the Business Office if there is a change in the plan.​ Optical Plan - The Board of Education will provide a family optical plan for the Assistant Superintendent for Business during their employment with the District. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will receive a statement from the Business Office if there is a change in the plan. 125 Plan - The Assistant Superintendent for Business will receive $400 for the purchase of additional benefits through the district’s 125 plan. ​ Health and Retirement Benefits - The district agrees to provide a decreasing term life insurance policy in the amount of $25,000 for the Assistant Superintendent for Business if their retirement takes effect at the time that they are employed by the school district. The conditions of this agreement shall be governed by the rules for providing life insurance for retirees as set forth by the carrier from whom the school district is purchasing life ​ insurance ($25,000 policy) at the District’s cost. ​ ​ Sick leave can be accumulated to a maximum of 240 days. The district will pay $90 for each accumulated sick day beyond 100 at the time of the Assistant Superintendent for Business' retirement. If the Assistant Superintendent for Business retires from the district into the New York State Retirement System, they will have the opportunity to participate in the health insurance program during retirement as offered by the Board of Education. This will include Medicare Part B premium reimbursement at the standard base rate only when they become qualified. ​ ​ If the retiree accepts an individual plan, the Board will contribute to the premium as follows: After the completion of 7 years of service in the district, 70% of the individual or family premium;​ ​ After the completion of 10 years of service in the district, 80% of the individual or family premium. ​ To be eligible for retiree health coverage, the Assistant Superintendent for Business will give advance written notice to the Superintendent of Schools of their intention to retire by January 1 of a given year for a June 30 retirement (6 months’ notice). This provision of a January 1 date may be waived by the Superintendent of Schools. If a retiree becomes eligible for comparable coverage through another employer while retired, the retiree must avail themselves of that employer’s policy and may elect to return to the district’s plan when such employment terminates.​ ​ The provisions of the minimum of seven years of service in the district and advanced written notice may be waived upon permission of the Superintendent of Schools if the employee has a serious illness or other unavoidable personal circumstances. The district agrees to provide the Assistant Superintendent for Business with family dental and family optical coverage through the group policies of the District, (currently CTA BTF), at no cost to them during their retirement. Physical Examination - The Board of Education shall require the Assistant Superintendent for Business to undergo a physical examination prior to the beginning of each school year. The district will assume that part of the expense not covered by insurance or the Benefit Trust up to $250.00. Disability Insurance - The Board will also provide disability insurance for the Assistant Superintendent for Business as now covered through the existing policy of the Administrative unit. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will receive a statement from the Business Office if there is a change in the plan. Benefits - The district agrees to pay a sum, not to exceed $1,000 per school year, toward payment of professional association dues. Tax Sheltered Annuities - The Croton-Harmon School District uses OMNI to administer the tax sheltered annuities. The district reserves the right to limit the number of eligible companies to which the staff member can make contributions and will make every effort to maintain the current list of eligible accounts. Travel Reimbursement - The district will reimburse the Assistant Superintendent for Business for approved conference expenses including registration fees, public transportation, meals, lodging, and other necessary expenses related to district travel in accordance with Board policy. They will receive the sum of $225 per month in lieu of being reimbursed at a mileage rate for personal use of her own vehicle on district business. The Assistant Superintendent for Business must provide documentation of their reimbursable mileage by December 1st of the fiscal year to the Business Office if they elect to have the mileage reimbursement paid through Accounts Payable rather than as part of their salary. ​ Personal Working Conditions - The Assistant Superintendent for Business shall have the right to review the contents of their personnel file in the District Office upon request. Material descriptive of the Assistant Superintendent for Business’s conduct, service, character or personality shall not be placed in their personnel file unless the Assistant Superintendent for Business has had an opportunity to review the material. The Assistant Superintendent for Business shall acknowledge that they have had the opportunity to review such materials by affixing their signature to the copy to be filed with the express understanding that such signature in no way indicates agreement with the contents thereof. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will also have the right to submit a written statement with respect to such material, and such statement shall be reviewed with the Superintendent of Schools and attached to the Assistant Superintendent for Business’s file. Graduate credits and in-service credits earned shall be listed and updated periodically. Salary - The salary of the Assistant Superintendent for Business for the 2026-2027 school year will be $261,375. In each year of the contract, a merit pay increase of up to $4,000 will be awarded, based on meeting mutually agreed upon goals according to specified criteria. The criteria will be defined with the Superintendent as goals are established. Merit pay will be awarded only if the major responsibilities of the Assistant Superintendent for Business's role have been satisfied and the mutually agreed upon goals have been achieved. The Assistant Superintendent for Business will submit a reflection on their success in achieving the previous year’s goals in January or will use the evaluation tool designated by the Superintendent of Schools. This will be reviewed by the Superintendent of Schools prior to completing the administrator’s annual summary evaluation. The manner in which merit pay, earned in the 2026-2027 school year, will be applied to the administrator’s base salary shall be up to the Superintendent’s discretion. Should the Assistant Superintendent for Business leave the service of the district at the end of the school year, 100% will be paid by the end of July. Legal Counsel - In addition to those rights provided by law, the Board agrees to provide legal counsel and to indemnify the Assistant Superintendent for Business against all uninsured financial loss arising out of any claim, demand, suit, or judgment by reason of alleged negligence or other conduct resulting in bodily or other injury to any person, or damage to the property of any person committed while the Assistant Superintendent for Business is acting in the performance of their duties within the scope of their employment, or under the direction of the Board. This obligation shall supplement and be in addition to any rights which the Assistant Superintendent for Business may have arising under the laws of the State of New York including, but not limited to, Education Law 3023, 3028, 3811, 3813, and Article 18 of the Public Officers Law. Terms of Contract - These terms shall remain in effect until and if they are changed, and are subject to approval by the Board of Education. If you have any questions, please contact me. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Sincerely, ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Stephen Walker ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ Superintendent of Schools SW:dc ​