ARTICLE 17

FRINGE BENEFITS

A. Payroll Deduction Plans

The District and the Association agree to study any additional payroll deduction plans which the Association desires to implement at a time mutually agreeable to both parties, if such plans can be handled on existing equipment in the District, in an economical manner, and are legally permissible. No payroll deduction initiated by a teacher shall be processed in an amount less than one dollar ($1.00) per check.

B. School Function Passes

Each teacher shall be granted, on request, a pass for school functions in the District for which admission is charged. Passes shall be available through each school office.

C. Health and Dental Benefits

1.Effective July 1, 2003, the District will provide health benefit coverage for eligible employees pursuant to the Syracuse City School District Health Insurance Program, as modified, by the health plan addendum. For such benefit coverage, the employees shall contribute the following amounts as monthly deductions depending upon the individual contract salary (base salary or wages) on June 30th of the year preceding the applicable school year:

2. Level placement is based on contract salary.

3. Retirees under the age of 65 must pay a premium cost equal to the cost of the Medicare B rate directly to the District. As the Medicare B rate changes, so will the retirees' contribution to the Health Plan.

4. Retirees over the age of 65 are responsible to apply for and pay for Medicare B coverage (primary) with the Medicare B provider. At such time, district provided coverage under its plan will become secondary.

5. Vision Care -- In lieu of vision care benefits previously in effect, the District will pay $150 per employee per year to an Association designated Plan or Trust. The parties shall agree to a Memorandum of Agreement delineating their responsibilities in connection with such Plan or Trust.

6. Prescription Coverage: mail order -- a $5, $10 and $25 generic/brand/non-preferred co-payment shall be charged on the District's mail order prescription drug plan.

7. Office Visit Co-Pays: The co-pay on medical provider visits will increase by $1 (one dollar) to $6. Effective July 1, 2004, the co-pay will increase to $7. Effective July 1, 2005, the co-pay will increase to $8.

8. Annual Deductibles: The current deductible of $75 for individual and $225 for family shall remain in effect. The current emergency room co-pay shall remain in effect $35.

9. Dental Benefits: The District will provide dental benefits as negotiated by the parties for eligible employees pursuant to the Syracuse City School District Dental Assistance Plan. With regard to the Plan, the District will assume all costs of such a program except for the following employee monthly contributions:

Effective July 1, 2001:

Individual Coverage $2.00

Family Coverage $8.00

10. Pre-certification: PET scans will need pre-certification under the Health Care Plan.

11. Review Committee: Representatives of the District and the Association shall meet periodically with the District's current Benefits Plan Administrator and consultant for the purpose of agreeing on matters relative to claims administration, benefits structure, levels of contributions, and such other concerns as may be brought before the group for resolution and which are considered essential to the welfare of the program. This group shall also study and research other benefits that could be cost effective and/or beneficial to employees.

12. Eligibility for coverage: For any teacher hired before July 1, 1978, eligibility shall be determined under the administrative regulations of the benefit plans and no teacher who fails to qualify under the rules of the plan shall have the benefits of the health and/or dental insurance program. Any teacher hired after July 1, 1978, must, in addition to these eligibility requirements, be employed in the bargaining unit to regularly work twenty-five (25) or more hours per week. No grievance shall be entertained, nor shall any arbitrator have the power to award redress, which would require the District to pay any health or dental insurance benefit which is disallowed by the present Plans or any successors thereto. This provision shall in no way be construed as preventing the teacher from taking such action as may be deemed necessary against the plan if the teacher feels any determination made by the plan regarding eligibility is inappropriate.

13. Dual Employee Family Benefit Coverage: In the event that both husband and wife are eligible employees of the District, the rate of contribution for family benefits shall be based on upon each employee's contribution level as determined above in Article 17, C. 1.

14. Coordination of Benefits: In the event any member of the Unit, or his/her dependent, is eligible for benefits under another health plan and receives benefits thereunder, and the current plan or any future plan of the District insurance has a coordination of benefits provision, the District shall not be liable to make duplicate payments of benefits which have already been paid by such other plan and which the District's plan did not pay.

D. Flexible Benefit Plan through Payroll Deduction:

The District shall continue, at no cost to the employee, a flexible benefit spending plan pursuant to IRS regulations, with operating procedures jointly determined by the parties, and administered by Preferred Group Plans, Inc. in accordance with IRS regulations. This plan may be utilized for premium payments, deductions, co-insurance amounts, dependent care, and other unreimbursed medical expenses.

E. Retirement Stipend(s)

1. Upon retirement, any teacher who is age 55 during the school year in which he/she retires, and is eligible to retire under the New York State Teachers' Retirement System, shall be granted a retirement stipend of eleven thousand dollars ($11,000) in addition to his/her final year's salary.

2. All others who retire under the terms of the New York State Teachers' Retirement System shall receive a stipend of thirty-seven dollars ($37.00) times the number of accumulated sick days in addition to the final year's salary.

F. Free Tuition in District for Children of Employees

Members of the Unit actively employed in full-time employment positions, may have their children or legal wards attend schools within the Syracuse City School District without payment of tuition regardless of the legal residence of the employee. This privilege shall be extended to all children of legal school age who have not graduated from approved high school and shall be continued unless it is determined through due process that the student's enrollment is not in his/her best interests. School assignment will be consistent with the District's regular student assignment policies. Transportation to and from school shall be the sole responsibility of the individual student's parents or legal guardian and not subsidized by the District.

G. District Day Care

The District agrees to continue its current level of support toward the operation of early childhood education centers for pre-school-age children of Unit employees. Such support is contingent on enrollment sufficient to justify the center(s). Subject to the foregoing, the Syracuse Teachers Association, the District, and the pre-school provider shall enter into an annual agreement regarding the operation of the center(s) and rules and regulations related thereto.