Sylacauga City Schools

• Employee Handbook 2024-2025

403B

Under this plan, employees may contribute as much as $17,500 (2014) of pre-tax income to an annuity each year. The contribution is automatically deducted from their paychecks.

By investing money in this way before taxes are paid, employees can reduce their current income tax burden. It is permissible to transfer accumulated funds, with no dollar limit, to other qualified IRA annuity plans.

Once such an investment is made, the interest or dividends earned are only taxed as funds are withdrawn. Since the withdrawals are usually made after retirement when the participant is likely to be in a lower tax bracket,less tax is paid and funds accumulate faster.

There are currently over 25 such investment options through four agencies: NEA, VALIC, Lincoln Life, or American Fidelity.

RSA-1

Using this plan, employees may elect to delay receiving a portion of their salary (may not exceed--if more than one 457 plan, combined deferrals must not exceed--$17,500 (2014) or $23,000 (2014) for employees age 50 or over)until some later determined date, usually after retirement.

The deferred income, which accumulates interest in a special fund, is not subject to federal income tax until distributed to the employee.

RSA-1 funds will be invested in the same type of investments and are subject to the same guidelines and limitations as applicable to investments made by the Teacher Retirement System.

A flexible spending plan is a way to provide employees with valuable benefits and tax savings. Benefits under an eligible plan may include reimbursement of dependent care expenses and medical expenses such as co-payments and deductibles.

Also, most importantly, you always pay insurance premiums with pre-tax dollars.  All full-time employees are eligible to participate in this plan which gives them the opportunity to recognize additional monthly income through pre-tax savings.

All employees are eligible to participate in this plan, which offers a pre-tax cafeteria (Section 125 Plan) plan that is administered for the purchase of PEEHIP medical, and certain supplemental plans as well as Flexible Spending Account. Dollars sheltered under a Section 125 Plan are exempt from FICA, FUTA, federal income and most state and local taxes. 

For more details contact Shaw Hawkins, Inc. @ (800) 994-7429 or customerservice@shawhankins.com.

• Blue Cross/Blue Shield
  • Basic Major Medical
  • No Referrals
  • Monthly Premium
    • Single Coverage: $15
    • Family Coverage: $177 + $25 Spousal Surcharge
• VIVA Health Plan - HMO
  • Major Medical, Vision, Dental HMO
  • Monthly Premium
    • Single Coverage: $15
    • Family Coverage: $177 + $25 Spousal Surcharge

All PEEHIP members enrolled in the PEEHIP Hospital Medical or VIVA Health Plan are charged a$28.00 per month PEEHIP premium increase. However, non-tobacco users can have the $28 premium removed from their monthly premium by certifying that they (and their spouse, if the spouse is covered as a dependent) have not used tobacco products within the last 12 months.   Members must certify their tobacco status to PEEHIP to qualify for the $28 to be removed from their monthly premium.

If you have previously certified your tobacco status and your spouse’s status ( if you have family coverage), you do not need to re-certify every year. You are required to complete a HEALTH INSURANCE AND OPTIONAL STATUS CHANGE form if your or your spouse’s tobacco status changes during the year.

New employees who enroll in-hospital medical or VIVA Health Plan must certify their tobacco status (and their spouses’ tobacco status if covered as a dependent) by completing the tobacco questions through the Member Online system at the time of enrollment.

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• PEEHIP Insurance Allocation   - “3 – 1” Rule

An employee will earn one additional insurance allocation for every three months the employee has worked at least one-half of the work days in the months worked.

• Work nine months and receive three summer allocations.
• Employees working less than nine months will not earn all months and will owe an additional amount for insurance.

• New Employee Packet

Open Enrollment is your once-a-year opportunity to review your benefits and make changes to your insurance plan including enroll, change or terminate your coverage. During this period, you should consider your options regarding available health plans, and review your current PEEHIP coverages to choose the plan that is right for you.

http://www.rsa-al.gov/index.php/members/peehip/open-enrollment/

PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATION AND PROCEDURES

In addition to requirements established by the State Board of Education and the pertinent job description, professional employees must hold a degree from an accredited college or university and hold a current, valid and properly endorsed Alabama Teacher’s Certificate, which will be maintained in their personnel file.

A teacher who has completed the certification process, but has not received the certificate, may be employed pending verification of the initiation of the certification process from the State Department of Education. The Personnel Department will work closely with each teacher to expedite the process to obtain the certificate as soon as possible.

If a teacher earns a higher degree from a regionally accredited institution recognized by the State Department, that merits increased compensation under the approved salary schedule, the salary increase will become effective following verification of the new degree or additional hours with an official transcript presented to the Personnel office.

Professional Certification Reminders:

All Alternative Baccalaureate-Level Certificates (ABC) & Career & Technical ABC Level applications must be received in the Teacher Certification Office, at the Alabama Department of Education, by October 1st of the application year. To request the 1st ABC, the teacher must have already passed the Praxis II and APTTP by September 1st.

All first year Special Alternative Certificate (SAC) and Preliminary Certificate (PRE) applications for the current school year must be received in the Teacher Certification Office at the Alabama Department of Education no later than October 1st of the application year.

An individual may not be employed more than three years while holding an ABC, SAC, PRE or any combination thereof.

If an employee is renewing an instructional leader/administrative certificate that expires on or after June 30, 2009,     he or she must earn 5 PLU’s (Professional Learning Units) regardless of his or her position or role in which they serve.

If an employee is renewing a teaching certificate that expires at the end of the five year period, he or she must earn 5 CEU’s (50 hours of professional development). Teachers will be reminded, but it is ultimately the teacher or staff member’s responsibility to maintain and renew their certificates so that they remain current and do not expire.

TIER 1 EMPLOYEES

All full-time employees are eligible, and required, to participate in the State Retirement Program.  For employees hired prior to January 1, 2013, seven and a half percent of the employee's salary is deducted each month for retirement and all contributions belong to the employee.

 Ten years of creditable service are required for an employee to become "vested" or eligible for benefits. Persons terminating their employment with less than 10 years of service must withdraw their retirement funds.

 A person hired prior to January 1, 2013 may retire after 25 years of service or at the age of 60 (if vested) and may use accumulated sick leave in determining the amount of creditable service.  Retirement benefits will be calculated on the annual salary of the highest 3 of the last 10 years of service.

TIER 2 EMPLOYEES

Employees hired January 1, 2013, or later, will pay six percent to the retirement system and their retirement benefits will be calculated at a lower percentage than current employees.  Benefits will be calculated on the annual salary of the highest 3 of the last 5 years of service.

The retirement age requirement for employees hired January 1, 2013, or later will be 62 (if vested) or 30 years of service.  An employee may not use accumulated sick leave in determining the amount of creditable service.  

http://www.rsa-al.gov/index.php/members/trs/

• TES Instructions

PEEHIP has teamed up with the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) and will soon team up with another strategic partner to launch a new and improved wellness program for PEEHIP members.  The goals of the program are to:

• Help members and their families achieve or maintain good health,
• Promote the early detection and identification of chronic disease,
• Change behavior that lowers the risk of chronic disease and illnesses, and
• Enhance wellness and productivity.

This program and its free services are designed to help PEEHIP members live happier, healthier and more satisfying lives.  Healthier members typically get sick less often and visit the doctor less frequently.  This leads to lower healthcare costs for members and the plan, which means being able to keep the same healthcare benefits coverage in place for a longer period of time.

Who is required to participate in the PEEHIP Wellness Program?

 The following members must be enrolled in the PEEHIP Hospital Medical Plan to participate

• Active members
• Non-Medicare retirees
• Covered Spouses

All of the above must complete due applicable wellness components by the specified deadlines in order to receive the wellness premium discount.  The program does not require meeting any conditions related to a health factor to obtain a discount.  The wellness premium discount will be determined by the PEEHIP Board before January 1, 2015.

Participation for Medicare-eligible retirees and covered Medicare eligible spouses is optional and not required.  Under no circumstances will they have a wellness premium increase.

Wellness Components

The Wellness Program consists of some new programs and a greater access to existing ones to help the members manage their health and become more educated in the life style choices they have.

​​​​​​​The following is required to be completed in order to qualify for the wellness premium discount:

• Wellness Screening
• Health Risk Assessment Questionnaire (HRA)

Required only if you are identified as a candidate for these programs:

• Disease Management
• Wellness and Lifestyle Education Coaching

Wellness Screenings Begin August 1

The Wellness Screenings consist of the following measurements:

• Blood pressure
• Total cholesterol including HDL and LDL
• Triglycerides
• Blood glucose
• Height, weight, waist
• Body mass index

Beginning August 1, 2014 the ADPH provides the screenings at the worksite locations for active employees only.  Alternatively, active employees as well as non-Medicare retirees and covered spouses can obtain the screenings at any of the statewide ADPH county locations or through your personal healthcare provider.  Screenings obtained as of June 1, 2014, at the alternative locations will be accepted.

All screenings regardless of location must be completed by May 31, 2015, to receive the wellness premium discount effective October 1, 2015.

ADPH has a PEEHIP Wellness Calendar and Wellness County Contacts on their website (please click here to go to ADPH website) that will inform you when the screenings will take place in your area.

If you decide to use your personal healthcare provider to do your screening, the HEALTHCARE PROVIDER SCREENING FORM is located on the PEEHIP website at www.rsa-al.gov/index.php/members/peehip/pubs-forms/.  The form must be completed and faxed or mailed to ADPH by your healthcare provider.  Under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) as part of the federal healthcare reform laws, no copay is required for one annual preventive routine office visit obtained through your in-network healthcare provider.

Also, no copay is required if an ADPH wellness coach gives you an OFFICE VISIT REFERRAL  FORM to take with you to a physician’s office to follow up with the abnormal results or risk factors identified during the screening process.  The referral is only good for 60 days from the screening date.

We hope that this Wellness Webpage will provide you with the latest information about the Wellness Screenings and follow up requirements from PEEHIP. Please make sure, if you or your spouse are members of the PEEHIP hospital medical group #14000 plan (excludes Medicare primary members), that you meet all the requirements of the Wellness program. The first step is to participate in the wellness screenings provided in the schools and district or visit your primary physician. Also, remember that starting January 1, 2015, PEEHIP members can log in to ActiveHealth Management, Inc in order to complete their Health Questionnaire, see their personal action plans, complete any applicable online coaching, and track their progress in earning the waiver of the new $50 monthly wellness premium, and more.

PEEHIP Wellness Program Webinar

• Alabama Behavioral Threat Assessment
• SCS Threat Assessment Chart