The arbitrator also noted that neither the county collective agreement nor the Pennsylvania School Code prohibits a retiree from adding a family member. The arbitrator relied on previous arbitration decisions that allowed retirees to add family members in the absence of language to the contrary in collective bargaining. In response to the District`s argument regarding the cost-effectiveness of insurance coverage, the arbitrator noted that supplements to subtraction coverage are offset by coverage. Noting that health insurance is not static, she explained: „Spouses die, and children grow up, and loved ones are just as likely to be removed from coverage as they are added to coverage, even in retirement.“ All enrollment figures were collected by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and reflect the 2015-16 school year. In 2014, Pennsylvania legally recognized same-sex marriage, and by July 2015, Roncoroni and Mantle were legally married. After his marriage, Roncoroni asked the district to add Mantle as dependent on Roncoroni`s health insurance coverage. The district denied Roncoroni`s application and she filed a complaint against the rejection. Since same-sex marriage was only recognized in Pennsylvania in 2014, arbitrators can require school districts to cover a retiree`s newly married same-sex spouse, even though this would conflict with previous practice. PennLive compiled a list of 50 school districts and technical schools in Pennsylvania with the highest average staff salaries for the 2015-16 school year. The compilation is based on information from the State Ministry of Education, which can be found at www.openpagov.org. OpenPAgov.org is a project of the Commonwealth Foundation, an independent, non-profit research and education institute. All openPAgov.org data comes from the Pennsylvania state government or federal government sources.
In its defense, the district argued that it had established a practice prohibiting supplementation of health insurance coverage after retirement. The district referred to an earlier case in which a retiree divorced his wife and then remarried. In this situation, the district refused to cover the retiree`s new spouse and the matter was not settled. The district insisted that its decision regarding Roncoroni and Mantle had nothing to do with their personal relationship, but with the economy of demand and the district`s interest in preserving the previous practice. Here, 50 Pennsylvania school districts and technical schools with the highest-paid staff, including administrators and teachers, are organized in reverse order. However, the arbitrator upheld the complaint and asked the district to add Mantle to Roncoroni`s report. The arbitrator pointed out the unfairness of the circumstances, stating that „Grievant, when she retired, could not have legally chosen to include a same-sex spouse in her health insurance.“ Subject: Souderton Area Education Association and Souderton Area School District, award of 7 August 2016 (arbitrator Joan Parker). Under Pennsylvania law, a teacher could not legally marry her same-sex spouse until 2014, when the teacher had already been retired for two years. The retiree requested that the school district include the spouse in the retiree`s health insurance coverage. The school district denied the application, citing a previous practice. The retiree mourned the school district`s decision and an arbitrator asked the school district to provide the requested coverage. School districts that send students to this school: 50th NORRISTOWN AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (Montgomery County).
27. FOX CHAPEL AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (Allegheny County) Editor`s note: This has been corrected to show that salaries include all staff and not just teachers. We apologize for not properly characterizing it. 28. GREAT VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT (Chester County)Average annual staff salary: $85,25844.41 SCHUYLKILL VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICT (Berks County). . 10. QUAKERTOWN COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT (Bucks County) In 2012, Roncoroni retired from the school district and received individual medical care after retirement through the county`s group insurance program under the Pennsylvania School Code, 24 P.S. § 5-513. Mantle retired from his job in 2015. . 44.
UPPER PERKIOMEN SCHOOL DISTRICT (Montgomery and Berks County). . . . Susan Roncoroni was a French teacher employed in the Souderton area school district. She was in a long-term relationship with another woman, Judith Mantle, and in 1993 the couple held a symbolic wedding ceremony where they exchanged wedding rings and vows. Although Pennsylvania did not recognize same-sex marriages in 1993, Roncoroni and Mantle emerged as a couple in the following years. They mixed assets and jointly owned property, insurance and pets. 14. ÖsTLICHES ZENTRUM FÜR KUNST UND TECHNOLOGIE (Montgomery County).
. 6. MITTLERES BUCKS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY (Bucks County). . 34. CATASAUQUA AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (Lehigh and Northampton counties). 26. NORTH MONTCO TECH CAREER CENTER (Montgomery County). .
48. WALLINGFORD-SWARTHMORE SCHULBEZIRK (Delaware County) 31. BUCKS COUNTY TECHNICAL HIGH SCHOOL (Bucks County). . . . 2. DANVILLE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICT (Montour and Northumberland Counties) 49.
MORRISVILLE BOROUGH SCHULBEZIRK (Bucks County). . . .
