Employee Benefits

Health Insurance – Blue Cross/Blue Shield

• Employee Coverage – Board Paid
• Dependent Coverage – Employee Paid
• $300 Allowance for Annual Physical for Employee        (Not Included in Deductible)
• Dental Coverage – Board Paid for Employee Only; Dependent Coverage Available
• Vision Coverage Included in Health Insurance
• Prescription Card - $20 for Brand Name; $10 for Generic or Brand Name With No Generic Equivalent. Mail-Order Option Available for Three Month Supply of Medication.
• After $200 Deductible, 80/20 Insurance Coverage

• Initial counseling available at no cost to Unit 5 employees.
• Unlimited 24-hour phone counseling available.

• $30,000 Board-Paid Life Insurance for Certified Employees

• 11 Days Sick Leave Annually – Paid
• 2 Days Personal Leave Annually – Paid. If not used revert to accumulated Sick Leave.
• Sick Bank – 20 Additional Days Available Per Year If One Day is Contributed by Employee to Sick Bank. Can be used for personal illness after Sick Leave has been exhausted if approved by UFEA president.
• 10 Days Medical Leave Annually – Unpaid

• Teachers’ Retirement System – 9-1/2% of Employee Salary Deducted for TRS. Nine percent is tax sheltered.

• Opportunity for Coaching and Other Activities See Salary Schedule B

• Based on 180 Working Days Per Year

• Tuition Waivers are available for classes taken through Illinois State University. Salary schedule credit typically granted for courses taken.
• Salary schedule credit typically granted for courses taken through other colleges and universities.
• Courses are offered frequently throughout the year through Unit 5 at no cost to the employee. Salary schedule credit or stipends available.

• Step – Number of Years Employee Has Been Employed. New employees are granted prior credit at the rate of one year for each of the first five years and one year for each two years through the eleventh year of experience. Employees may start as high as Step 9.
• Lane – Number of Hours Employee Has Earned After Completion of the Bachelors or Masters Degree. Lane changes made twice each year – once in September and once in March.