THE APPLECORE, May, 2003

Mideastern PSEA Region Golf Classic

This year will be the fourth year of the MER Golf Classic. In prior years, thousands of dollars was raised for designated charities. This year’s proceeds are being raised for the Public Education Builds Communities Fund. In order to make this event as successful as possible, the MER would like to have as many participants as possible. The more the merrier. Please see your building rep for entry forms.

LMEA Unit /Officers Meetings

Throughout the year, unit meetings will be held prior to officers meetings at all buildings. June’s meeting will be held Wednesday, June 4 at 3:35PM at Penn Valley. Meetings for other buildings will be announced in the monthly AppleCore and posted in your building. Unit meetings give you the chance to make suggestions and voice concerns with your LMEA officers.

Open Enrollment

Representatives from Independence Blue Cross and Aetna will be available on Tuesday, May 20, from 1:15 to 4:45, in the Pupil Service Conference Room, Administration Building, to discuss health and dental insurance plan.

LMEA Benefits

Below is a summary of most of the benefits found in the contract. A separate memo describing Health Insurance Benefits was sent. Please refer to the contract for more details.

DENTAL INSURANCE

• Delta Dental of Pennsylvania is the district’s dental carrier. The district pays 100% of the premium cost for employee and eligible dependents(s).
• There is a $2,000 yearly maximum benefit per covered individual from July 1st through June 30th of each year.
•The orthodontic benefit (to age 19) pays 50% up to a maximum of $800 (prorated over the cost of the service).
• 100% of preventative/basic restorative is paid in network (balance billed out-of-network).
• 50% of major restorative is paid in network (balance billed out-of-network).

LIFE INSURANCE

• CNA is the district’s life insurance carrier.
• The face value of the policy is the employee’s salary rounded up to the next $1,000.
• Upon (superannuated) retirement, the value reverts to $5,000 (“death benefit”) for the professional employee and $3,000 (“death benefit”) for the support employee.

LONG TERM DISABILITY

• Schools Insurance Fund Trust, administered by National Insurance Services, is the district’s disability carrier.
• The cost of the premium for this voluntary plan will be taken through Payroll deductions. However, the district will subsidize the premium as follows: 80% up to $165 for professional employees and 80% up to $135 for support employees.

SICK DAYS

•Days not used can be accumulated from year to year without limit and are subject to partial reimbursement upon superannuated retirement. The number of sick days allocated depends on the employee’s category.

LEAVE FOR ADDITIONAL REASONS

•Each employee receives 3 days per year at full pay and 2 days with deductions.
•Full-pay days not used are added to the individual’s accumulated bank.

VACATION

•The number of vacation days allocated to 12-month employees depends on the individual’s classification.

TUITION REIMBURSEMENT

•For the professional employee, there is a 12 credit maximum to be reimbursed at the Penn State graduate rate/credit, subject to availability of funds and timing of the courses.
•For the support employee, there is a maximum of $1,000 to be reimbursed subject to availability of funds.

EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP)

•BEACON is the district provider.
•There are 5 free visits per employee per year, with the same number available to each eligible dependent.

DEPENDENT CARE AND/OR MEDICAL FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNT

•BAS is the third-party administrator.
•The plan year runs from July 1st to June 30th- “Use It or Lose It”
•$200 - $2,000 can be set aside for unreimbursed medical expenses.
•Up to $5,000 can be set aside for dependent (child and elderly) expenses.

TAX SHELTER ANNUITY (403B)

•The employee must go through an approved carrier.
•The employer does not match any employee contributions.

LMEA Spring Banquet

This year, the LMEA Spring Retirement Banquet will be held at Drexelbrook on Wednesday, June 4th. This is always a spectacular event. Please come and celebrate. The cost is $35.00. See you building reps for details.

Upcoming Events

May 14 General Membership Meeting-7:30PM-Staff Development Center
May 16-17 PSEA House of Delegates – Philadelphia
May 18 First Annual LMEA/LMSD Run/Walk
May 20 LMEA Elections
May 27 Alfie Kohn – 7:30PM, LMHS Auditorium
June 4 LMEA Spring Banquet
June 29-July 5 NEA Representative Assembly-New Orleans
July 27-August 1 2003 PSEA Gettsyburg Leadership Workshop

If you have any issues or concerns that you need addressed, please contact your building representative.