10-month employees (Members of our unit) are not required to join ERS (employee retirement system) - it is optional; however, if you don't join, you are not entitled to retire from district with health benefits. 12-month employees - it is mandatory that you join.

Retirement & Medical Information

All 12 month full time employees are required to enroll in the NYS retirement system. If you are a 10 monthTeaching Assistant, it is optional for you to enroll in the NYS Teacher’s Retirement System (NYSTRS). If you are a 10 month School Nurse, Health Aide, Teacher Aide, School Aide, or Cafeteria Aide, it is optional for you to enroll in the NYS Employee Retirement System (NYSERS). If you have a mixed position as part time Teaching Assistant & another part time position from this unit, this is counted as full-time for medical/dental insurance, but cannot be counted as full-time for retirement or seniority purposes. If both positions of your mixed position are in the NYSERS, you are considered fulltime for insurance and retirement purposes as long as your combined daily hours total 6 or more (minimum 30 hours/week),. If you are Part Time, you may enroll in the appropriate retirement system(s). You would need to speak with the District Benefits person.

If you don't enroll in NYSTRS or NYSERS, you are not entitled to retire from district with health benefits.

Unused Sick Days

Unit Members enrolled in NYSERS are provided Service Credit for unused sick days at retirement. This is listed on your Member Annual Statement under “Your Service Credit.” You would need to contact NYSERS for specific details. Longevity pay is included in calculations for retirement pay. Again, you would need to contact NYSERS for more information.

Unit Members upon retirement may be compensated for up to fifty (50) unused personal illness days (as described in Article 3.1) at a rate of $28.00 per day, provided the unit member has at least ten (10) years of full-time continuous service. Service Credit may additionally be awarded for the NYSERS only. See unused Sick Days above.

Check the NYSERS or NYSTRS website to ensure you have the most update information. Some of the information may be more updated than the links provided below.