Lehighton Area School District’s board of directors approved a memorandum of understanding Monday night that will allow its administrators to trade in unused sick days at the time of retirement for extended health and dental coverage.

“The MOU language is similar to the offering already in place for Lehighton’s teachers and support staff,” Superintendent Jonathan Cleaver said.

According to the agreement, each administrator on the Act 93 contract who has been with the district at least 10 years, can trade in 35 unused sick days for one year of health and dental coverage for themselves or 70 unused sick days for one year coverage for themselves and their spouse.

The health care coverage would end when sick days are exhausted, the employee reaches age 65 or the employee becomes eligible for Medicare.

To be eligible for the benefit, the employee must, by Dec. 31, 2021, submit an irrevocable letter of intent to retire by June 30, 2022.

Also as part of the agreement approved Monday, Lehighton’s Right To Know Officer will receive a stipend of $100 a month and the district’s board recording secretary will be paid $300 for preparing board documents and attending board meetings.

The money for the secretary marks an additional $100 per month from the 2020-21 school year.