CATAWISSA R.R. - Southern Columbia Area School District has agreed to pay part of two retirees' health care insurance costs for July and August to avoid a grievance hearing.
Approval was given for a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the district, the Southern Columbia Education Association and Margaret Barbarito and Andrew Ulicny in which the district will pay 76 percent of their premiums for those two months. For Barbarito, it amounts to $794.90; for Ulicny, $1,893.98.
They submitted their retirement notifications April 15, to be effective June 13. Upon learning that the district would stop their health care benefits on June 30, the end of the fiscal year, Barbarito and Ulicny filed grievances. They argued that benefits are year-round and that if they hadn't retired, the district would have paid toward their health insurance during the summer months.
Superintendent Paul Caputo researched the matter and found that other districts did pay during July and August, ending the payments at the start of the new school year.
With approval of the agreement, Barbarito and Ulicny will withdraw their grievances.
The MOA also states that, from now on, a professional employee who retires, and who has worked the entire school year (as defined in the-then current collective bargaining agreement, which expired on June 30) preceding such retirement, shall receive health insurance benefits as provided for the months of July and August immediately following the retirement.
The agreement was approved on a 7-0 vote with Gail Zambor Schuerch making the motion and Thomas Reich seconding it. Schuerch, Reich and Michael Yeager, Charlie Porter, John Yocum, Tim Vought and Charlene Cove voted to approve. Board member Joe Klebon was absent.
Teacher recalled
Other personnel matters approved at Monday's meeting included:
- Diane L. Wittig Musser was recalled to teach fifth grade social studies, effective Dec. 2. Musser, a former music teacher for the district, was one of two teachers furloughed at the end of the 2013-14 school year in a cost-cutting measure.
- The resignation of Victoria E. Kozlek from the position of K-12 gifted education teacher, effective Nov. 28. She has been an employee of the district since 2003.
- The board continued to delve out the duties previously held by former business manager Michael J. Sokoloski. The board named business office supervisor Denise Kreisher as CS Trust Health and Welfare Trust trustee, HIPPA compliance officer and Columbia County Tax Collection Committee delegate. Superintendent Paul Caputo was named the district's right-to-know officer and security administrator for the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
- Elizabeth Dorkoski and Jeffrey D. Dworchak were added to the district's substitute list. Katrina Letterman was named a student custodial worker from Nov. 3 through Jan. 21, being paid minimum wage and working a maximum of six hours a week.
- Ernest Yates was approved as a volunteer assistant wrestling coach, pending receipt of favorable clearances and a negative tuberculin test.