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Former Muncie teachers receive bills for owed insurance costs

MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) – Some former teachers at Muncie Community Schools have started to receive bills in the mail, asking them to pay back hundreds of dollars in insurance costs.

The bills are part of an agreement between the Muncie Teachers Association and Muncie Community Schools.

“I was shocked. It just didn’t seem real, like they could be asking me for money for something that is from two years ago,” said one former Muncie School teacher who asked not to be identified.

“To get this letter, it did feel very hurtful. It just felt like I was being betrayed almost. … It was really hurtful. I put my heart and my soul into Muncie Schools and my job, and I loved working where I worked,” she said.

The teacher left the district for a new opportunity after 13 years at MCS.

She now owes more than $1,100 because she was employed by the district during the 2015-2016 or 2016-2017 school year.

Teachers employed at that time were working under an old contact while the Muncie Teachers Association and Muncie Community Schools negotiated.

24-Hour News 8 first reported on this back in September.

The agreement that was reached included higher insurance premiums. The difference is what these employees are now being asked to pay back.

Those still employed by the district have payments automatically deducted from their paychecks.

Those who have since left are getting bills in the mail. The letter to former employees says the full payment is due by Dec. 31. There’s also an option to break it up and make six monthly payments.

24-Hour News 8 asked district leaders if administrators were paying back the difference on old insurance premiums as well. A spokesperson said those in administration were already paying more for insurance to begin with, so there’s nothing for them to pay back.