Hudson teachers to pay into health-care plan

4/15/2004

HUDSON, Mich. - After two years of negotiations, teachers at Hudson Area Schools in Lenawee County and the Hudson board of education have agreed on a new contract that calls for teachers to pay into the system's health-care plan for the first time.

Superintendent Kathy Malnar said it costs the system $12,600 a year per teacher for health-care costs. Costs are expected to rise 18 percent next year, she added.

Under the new contract, which will expire in 2006, Hudson's 65 teachers will pay 4 percent of their health-care costs this year and 5 percent of the total next year.

Under the new contract, teachers will receive a retroactive one-time payment of 0.75 percent of their salaries, and salary increases of 1.25 percent this year, 1.75 percent next year, and 2 percent during the 2005-06 school year, Ms. Malnar said.