School board approves bargaining agreement

The Laguna Beach Unified School District board on Tuesday approved a collective bargaining agreement for the 2012-13 school year that will allow retired teachers to remain insured on their specific medical benefit plan by paying for it.

Retirees, if they choose, can continue paying for district-provided benefits if the person has been a full-time teacher, is 55 and worked a minimum of five years in the district, according to a staff report.

“If you retire at 61, you can stay on the list until you hit age 65,” said Gerald Vlasic, the district’s human resources director.

Prior to the 2011-12 school year, employees didn’t have to pay to stay on their healthcare plan in retirement, Vlasic said.

Teachers can also earn three additional professional growth points or credits for taking district-sponsored workshops, college courses, conferences, or conventions, under the new agreement.

“These aren’t salary increases, but teachers will be compensated for the work they do such as extra hourly assignments, including summer school,” Vlasic said.

Summer school teachers with zero to five years of district experience will earn $40 per hour (up $2 more per hour) for such work, while instructors with six to 15 years will earn $45 per hour, according to the staff report.