The Katonah-Lewisboro Support Staff Association (KLSSA) will soon have a new health plan. In an agreement with the Board of Education, the staff will shift from the current self-insured health plan to the New York State Health Insurance Program. (NYSHIP). The new plan will go into effect on July 1 and continue until June 30, 2015.

The school district will realize a savings of roughly $1 million per year with the change. This switch of health insurance provider is similar to the one agreed to by the Katonah-Lewisboro District Teachers’ Association about a month ago.

Included in the agreement with the Staff Association is a two-year freeze in the step schedule. This too will be an economy for the district, saving approximately 0.75 percent of total salaries. A base increase of 1.75 percent for the 2013-14 school year and 2014-15 school year is included in the agreement.

“The tone of negotiations was consistently professional and productive,” said Board of Education President Mark Lipton. “On behalf of the board and the community, I want to thank the KLSSA for their preparation and collaboration in creating an agreement that balances the needs of its members, while responding to the financial realities of our district.”

“The Executive Board of the KLSSA, as well as the membership, are pleased that we were able to come to equitable terms with the school district,” said its president, Jeani Granelli. “During these economically trying times, it can be difficult to balance the financial resources of the school district with the needs of our membership. We thank the BOE for working collaboratively with us to reach this [agreement].”

Kat-Lewisboro BOE, Support Staff Association Approve Contract | The Bedford Daily Voice.