Keene Paraprofessionals
Keene paraprofessionals are contracted each year under "Standardized Hours" which fall within the following definitions of employee status. Eligibility for different benefits depends upon the scheduled number of annual hours.
- Year-Round Paraprofessionals - 1950 or more scheduled annual hours. Full-Time
- Paraprofessionals - 1200 or more but fewer than 1950 scheduled annual hours. Full-Time
- Paraprofessionals - 990 or more but fewer than 1200 annual hours per year. Regular
- Paraprofessionals - Fewer than 990 scheduled annual hours per year. Part-Time
Year-Round or Full-time Keene Paraprofessionals who work 1200 or more scheduled annual hours are offered a comprehensive benefits package of medical insurance, including prescriptions and vision care; dental insurance; health buyout; life insurance; long-term disability and short-term disability; enrollment in the NH Retirement System; direct deposit; Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts; 403(b) plan through Fidelity; sick leave; paid personal leave; paid holidays/flex time; and vacation (for paras who work year-round).
Regular paraprofessionals who work between 30 and 32.5 hours/week, (between 990 and 1199 annual hours), are eligible for a limited number of sick days; paid personal leave; direct deposit; Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts, a 403(b) plan through Fidelity and enrollment in a medical plan offered to this group.
Part-time paraprofessionals who work less than 25 hours per week (less than 990 annual hours) may elect to enroll in direct deposit and the District sponsored 403(b) plan through Fidelity.
Regular paraprofessionals who work between 30 and 32.5 hours/week, (between 990 and 1199 annual hours), are eligible for a limited number of sick days; paid personal leave; direct deposit; Section 125 Flexible Spending Accounts, a 403(b) plan through Fidelity and enrollment in a medical plan offered to this group.
Part-time paraprofessionals who work less than 25 hours per week (less than 990 annual hours) may elect to enroll in direct deposit and the District sponsored 403(b) plan through Fidelity.
Benefit Policies/Bargaining Agreements
Insurance
Insurance Choices
Once hired as a Year-Round or Full-Time Keene Paraprofessional you have 30 days to choose the medical and/or dental insurance most useful to you and your dependents. Once you submit your elections, your choices will be recorded as your benefits elections until the next Open Enrollment period (every July 1st). You may not make any changes to your elections – even within the 30 day enrollment period – unless you have a qualified family status change. The effective date for medical and/or dental insurance is the first of any given month following date of hire or date of qualifying event.
Currently, both medical and dental insurance is offered through the HealthTrust. HealthTrust has contracted with Anthem BC/BS of NH to insure their medical plans and Northeast Delta Dental to insure the Option 3A dental plan offered to Year-round and Full-Time Keene Paraprofessionals.
The Keene Board of Education has adopted a district policy to address the mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) commonly referred to as healthcare reform. Under the approved policy, Keene paraprofessionals who are reasonably expected to work between 30-34 hours/week on a regular basis are eligible to enroll in a medical plan on either the first of the month following 90 days of continuous employment, or during each July 1st Open Enrollment Period. Paraprofessionals who are eligible to enroll in the health insurance plan (i.e. those paras working between 30-34 hours/week) would pay 100% of the cost of the insurance plan selected by the District. Please contact SAU 29 Human Resources for more information or to enroll in a medical plan.
Listed below are all of the medical and dental insurance plans currently offered to employees in SAU 29. However, your district/group may only offer some of the choices shown. Currently, eligible Keene paras are offered a choice of these three medical plans: AB15 HMO IPED, AB20 HMO, or the BC2T20 POS. The dental plan offered to eligible Keene paras is the Option 3A dental only.
For a comprehensive comparison sheet of the health plans offered please click here.
The federal healthcare reform law, PPACA, requires the school district to make available to all employees who are enrolled in, or eligible to be enrolled in the District's insurance, with a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). The SBC describes the plan benefits and coverage, including prescription coverage for each of the medical plans offered. The format of the SBC is designed to allow employees to compare benefits and coverage among the various health insurance plans offered. Please be aware that the SBC does not replace Anthem's Medical Plan Summaries as listed below. To obtain copies of the SBC's, please click here.
Currently, both medical and dental insurance is offered through the HealthTrust. HealthTrust has contracted with Anthem BC/BS of NH to insure their medical plans and Northeast Delta Dental to insure the Option 3A dental plan offered to Year-round and Full-Time Keene Paraprofessionals.
The Keene Board of Education has adopted a district policy to address the mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) commonly referred to as healthcare reform. Under the approved policy, Keene paraprofessionals who are reasonably expected to work between 30-34 hours/week on a regular basis are eligible to enroll in a medical plan on either the first of the month following 90 days of continuous employment, or during each July 1st Open Enrollment Period. Paraprofessionals who are eligible to enroll in the health insurance plan (i.e. those paras working between 30-34 hours/week) would pay 100% of the cost of the insurance plan selected by the District. Please contact SAU 29 Human Resources for more information or to enroll in a medical plan.
Listed below are all of the medical and dental insurance plans currently offered to employees in SAU 29. However, your district/group may only offer some of the choices shown. Currently, eligible Keene paras are offered a choice of these three medical plans: AB15 HMO IPED, AB20 HMO, or the BC2T20 POS. The dental plan offered to eligible Keene paras is the Option 3A dental only.
For a comprehensive comparison sheet of the health plans offered please click here.
The federal healthcare reform law, PPACA, requires the school district to make available to all employees who are enrolled in, or eligible to be enrolled in the District's insurance, with a Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC). The SBC describes the plan benefits and coverage, including prescription coverage for each of the medical plans offered. The format of the SBC is designed to allow employees to compare benefits and coverage among the various health insurance plans offered. Please be aware that the SBC does not replace Anthem's Medical Plan Summaries as listed below. To obtain copies of the SBC's, please click here.
Insurance Costs
Employee deductions for medical and dental are taken on a pre-tax basis throughout the year. To view the Employer and employee costs for medical and dental insurance, please click below.
Click here to be directed to the HealthTrust's Resources page to find the forms needed to enroll in SAU 29's medical and/or dental insurance. Once at this webpage, scroll down to Medical and Dental Enrollment. Print out the "Medical and/or Dental Application and Change Form". NOTE: SAU 29 offers both medical and dental insurance through the HealthTrust, so any changes must be made on the Medical and/or Dental Application and Change Form; please do not complete the Dental Application and Change form.
Health Buy-Out
Keene Paraprofessionals who have elected not to receive medical insurance from the District and who have provided documentation to Human Resources that they are covered by medical insurance not provided by the District, shall be eligible to receive a payment of six thousand dollars ($6,000) payable in a lump sum upon the close of the applicable school year. The amount shall not be prorated and no consideration for partial years will be given. One final note - health buyouts are considered fully taxable income by the IRS and are subject to federal employment taxes.
Contact Human Resources to request the health buyout.
Contact Human Resources to request the health buyout.
Flex Spending
SECTION 125 - FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS - Plan Year July 1st – June 30th
Flexible Spending Accounts allow you to set money aside on a pre-tax basis to pay for out-of-pocket healthcare and/or dependent care expenses. For complete information on these tax saving plans, click on either the HealthCare Savings Account Brochure or the Dependent Care Savings Account brochure below.
Starting July 1st, staff may elect an annual election for a Flexible Health Care Savings account of $200 minimum up to $2,500 maximum.
An annual election for a Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account is allowed at $200 minimum up to $5,000 maximum.
Further information, along with the FSA debit card feature, reimbursement and direct deposit forms may be found at the HealthTrust website by clicking here and scrolling to Flexible Spending (FSA): If you wish to participate in an FSA account, please fill out the applicable enrollment form below and return to Human Resources no later than 25 days after your hire date or prior to the start of a new July 1st plan year. A NEW FSA ENROLLMENT FORM MUST BE COMPLETED EVERY YEAR - enrollment in the next plan year is not automatic.
Starting July 1st, staff may elect an annual election for a Flexible Health Care Savings account of $200 minimum up to $2,500 maximum.
An annual election for a Dependent Care Flexible Savings Account is allowed at $200 minimum up to $5,000 maximum.
Further information, along with the FSA debit card feature, reimbursement and direct deposit forms may be found at the HealthTrust website by clicking here and scrolling to Flexible Spending (FSA): If you wish to participate in an FSA account, please fill out the applicable enrollment form below and return to Human Resources no later than 25 days after your hire date or prior to the start of a new July 1st plan year. A NEW FSA ENROLLMENT FORM MUST BE COMPLETED EVERY YEAR - enrollment in the next plan year is not automatic.
Retirement Benefits
NHRS
All full-time, eligible employees must enroll in NHRS. Click here for more information and enrollment forms.
403b Plan
NH School Administrative Unit 29 is pleased to partner with Fidelity Investments as our exclusive provider of investment options and record keeping services for the SAU 29 403(b) plan.
Life and Disability
Life Insurance
Term life insurance, with Accidental Death & Dismemberment is offered to an eligible employee at no cost through the Maddison National Life Insurance Company and administered by HealthTrust Eligible employees of the Paraprofessional Group have a term life benefit amount of three (3) times their annual salary. Life insurance goes into effect the first day an employee is eligible or begins working for the district and remains in effect until an employee either retires or resigns. Upon first becoming eligible for the District paid term life insurance, please complete the following enrollment form, sign and date and return to Human Resources: Life and Beneficiary Designation Form
Following is the Life Insurance Policy to print for your records.
Please note you must be logged into your SAU 29 google account to view the life insurance and LTD policies.
Keene Paraprofessionals Certificate of Life Insurance
Following is the Life Insurance Policy to print for your records.
Please note you must be logged into your SAU 29 google account to view the life insurance and LTD policies.
Keene Paraprofessionals Certificate of Life Insurance
Short Term Disability
Short-term disability (STD) is paid by the District at 60% of either your per diem rate (if you are paid an annual salary), or 60% of your hourly rate (for support staff). An employee is eligible for STD upon exhaustion of all sick leave OR on the 10th consecutive day out sick (whichever is later).
Long Term Disability
Long-term disability insurance is offered by the District at no cost to all eligible employees. Long-term disability (LTD) is paid as a monthly benefit by our insurance carrier at 60% of your pre-disability earnings. The benefit waiting period for long-term disability is the later of: a) 90 days; or b) the date your accumulated sick leave ends, if applicable.
Please note you must be logged into your SAU 29 google account to view the life insurance and LTD policies.
Please note you must be logged into your SAU 29 google account to view the life insurance and LTD policies.
Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
Life can bring uncertainties, worries, and stress, but there is help! Life Resources is our Employee Assistance Program (EAP) provider, and they have a FREE referral service to help with life’s challenges. This service is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week and it’s completely confidential.
The Employee Assistance Program is a service provided by our insurer providing services to ALL SAU 29 employees and their household members, regardless of insurance eligibility. This program is designed to assist employees and their loved ones in maintaining their work life balance. Services provided include but are not limited to assistance for health-impacting life stressors not covered by traditional medical plans including: behavioral health therapy, legal and financial consultations, support in obtaining caregiver support/access, educational and professional development, etc.
Please see the below linked flyer that describes our EAP, as well as a flyer that instructs you on how to access the new APP they have created.
The Employee Assistance Program is a service provided by our insurer providing services to ALL SAU 29 employees and their household members, regardless of insurance eligibility. This program is designed to assist employees and their loved ones in maintaining their work life balance. Services provided include but are not limited to assistance for health-impacting life stressors not covered by traditional medical plans including: behavioral health therapy, legal and financial consultations, support in obtaining caregiver support/access, educational and professional development, etc.
Please see the below linked flyer that describes our EAP, as well as a flyer that instructs you on how to access the new APP they have created.