Employee Benefits

Last updated on May 7, 2008

Group health insurance coverage is available to all employees who work at least 20 hours a week. The district’s contribution to employee insurance premiums is determined annually by the board of trustees. Presently, it is $325 per month.  Detailed descriptions of insurance coverage, prices, and eligibility requirements are provided to all employees.

The insurance plan year is from September 1 through August 31. New employees must complete enrollment forms within the first thirty days of employment. Current employees can make changes in their insurance coverage during open enrollment or any other time of the year as long as it falls under the definition of a change in family status. Employees should contact the Benefits Manager for more information.

Supplemental Insurance Benefits

At their own expense, employees may enroll in supplemental insurance programs for life, disability, vision, dental, cancer, hospital indemnity, accident, sickness, and intensive care insurance. Premiums for these programs can be paid by payroll deduction.    

Employees may be eligible to participate in the Cafeteria Plan (Section 125) and, under IRS regulations, must either accept or reject this benefit. This plan enables eligible employees to pay certain insurance premiums on a pretax basis (i.e. medical reimbursement, childcare reimbursement, health, vision, cancer, dental, hospital indemnity, accident, sickness, and intensive care). A third-party administrator handles employee claims made on these accounts.

New employees must accept or reject this benefit during their first month of employment. All employees must accept or reject this benefit on an annual basis and during the specified time period.

All personnel employed on a regular basis for at least one-half of the normal work schedule are members of the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS). Substitutes not receiving TRS service retirement benefits who work at least 90 days a year are also eligible for TRS membership and to purchase a year of creditable service. TRS provides members with an annual statement of their account showing all deposits and the total account balance for the year ending August 31, as well as an estimate of their retirement benefits.

Employees who plan to retire under TRS should notify the Director of Human Resources in writing as soon as possible. It is also the employee’s responsibility to contact TRS as soon as possible. Inquiries should be addressed to: Teacher Retirement System of Texas, 1000 Red River Street, Austin, TX 78701-2698, or call 800-223-8778 or 512-397-6400. TRS information is also available on the web at www.trs.state.tx.us.

Automatic payroll deductions for the Texas Teacher Retirement System (TRS) and federal income tax are required for all full-time employees. Medicare tax deductions are required for all employees hired after March 31, 1986. Temporary and part-time employees who are not eligible for TRS membership must have a 457/PST annuity contribution deducted.

Other payroll deductions employees may elect, include deductions for the employee’s share of premiums for health insurance and supplemental insurance; 403b annuities; the Texas Tomorrow Fund; pre-paid legal; and savings deposits and loan payments through the Austin Area Teachers Federal Credit Union (AATFCU). Employees also may request payroll deduction for payment of membership dues to some professional organizations. (Salary deductions are automatically made for unauthorized or unpaid leave.)

The Bastrop Independent School District offers employees automatic payroll deposit. Employees can have their paychecks electronically deposited into an account at any banking institution within the United States. A notification period of eighteen days is necessary to activate this service. With automatic deposit, an employee’s pay is immediately available on the pay date.

Questions?

If you have questions regarding employee benefits, you can contact the Department of Human Resources at 512-321-2292 or e-mail Donna Smith at dsmith@bastrop.isd.tenet.edu.