Employee Quarterly

As the 2024–2025 school year draws to a close, it’s a time filled with celebration and reflection. From Administrative Professionals Day and National Education Week to retirement parties, graduations, and field days, there are countless moments where we come together to recognize one another and the accomplishments of the year.

In that spirit, we want to take a moment—alongside the usual reminders below—to say thank you! Your dedication, hard work, and care for the students of the Mat-Su Borough School District make all the difference. We appreciate each and every one of you for helping create a supportive and inspiring learning environment.

Here’s to finishing the year strong and celebrating all we’ve achieved together!

All MSEA members will receive their final paycheck(s) of the year on June 15th. MSEA employees who have elected for 20 payrolls will receive one direct deposit, and those that have elected for 24 payrolls will receive five separate direct deposits. Please note there are no premiums deducted in June for voluntary benefits. If you are unsure how many payrolls you have elected to receive, you can contact the Human Resources or Payroll departments for confirmation. The first payroll for the next 2025-2026 year will be August 31st.

April 1st was the start of internal certificated postings. MSBSD posts internal positions on the 1st and 15th of the month from April to June. If the 1st or the 15th falls on a weekend, the positions will be posted the following Monday. Each posting round will remain open for one week and positions close at 4:30 pm on the specified date attached to the posting. Please remember to update your application with your contact information and any other pertinent information in Applicant Tracking if you wish to apply for an internal transfer. You may create or edit your application by visiting www.matsuk12.us/jobs.

For eligible employees, please remember to complete all forms by May 1st to receive the District contribution. You must have an active TSA (Tax-Sheltered Annuity) account as well as submit the election form. Retirement contribution enrollment forms can be found in the Knowledge Base. For additional questions please contact the Payroll department.

Many classified employees are not paid year-round, which can challenge even the most diligent budget minded individuals. MSBSD offers an option to have a flat amount or percentage of your net (after-tax) pay withheld from your paychecks. If you elect for this option, you will receive the withheld pay in one lump sum payment on your last paycheck of the fiscal year. If you would like to participate in this option, submit the Summer Pay Election Form to the Payroll Department before your first paycheck of the new school year. If you currently participate, no action is necessary to have the summer pay election continue next school year, unless you wish to change the amount withheld. If you would like to discontinue your summer pay election, please provide written notification to payroll@matsuk12.us before your first paycheck of the new school year.

CEA employees must use any leave over 480 hours by June 30th each year. Per the Negotiated Agreement, accrued leave in excess of 480 hours will automatically be donated to the Sick Leave Bank if you are a member of the bank. In the future, if you do not wish to donate your excess leave to the Sick Leave Bank, you must opt out of participating in the bank by October 15th.

As a reminder, MSBSD’s Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through AllOne Health offers confidential support and resources to all permanent employees and their families, regardless of health insurance enrollment or full-time status. These services are completely free of charge. While many may already be aware of the counseling services offered, the program also provides additional valuable benefits, such as financial guidance, identity theft support, legal support, and more! View the EAP Benefits Flyer for an overview of all benefits available.

To access these benefits, call 1-800-932-0034 or create an account HERE and use company code “Matanuska.”

For additional details, visit the District’s Retirement and Benefits webpage, view the recorded employee orientation available HERE, or contact Gennifer Dahlquist for assistance.

Open Enrollment is the annual period during which employees may review existing health insurance elections and make any necessary changes. This includes enrolling in benefits for the first time, updating current coverage, or adjusting dependent information. Changes made during open enrollment are effective July 1, 2025.

The start and end dates for Health Insurance Open Enrollment will be announced in May via an email from Postmaster. This communication will include updated FY26 health insurance premiums, a summary of any plan changes, and instructions for enrolling in or modifying health insurance coverage.

All employees are encouraged to review the provided information and complete any necessary updates within the designated Open Enrollment window, as changes are not permitted outside of this period unless there is a qualifying life event.

For additional information or assistance, please contact the District’s Employee Benefits Coordinator at Gennifer.Dahlquist@matsuk12.us or email Payroll@matsuk12.us.

Effective July 1st, Voya Financial will be the new voluntary benefit provider for MSBSD employees to provide access to voluntary insurance plan options such as Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), accident insurance, critical illness insurance, and disability insurance.

Some positive changes include multi-year premium rate guarantees, a self-enrollment platform, and an online tool to assist in choosing from available benefit options. Additionally, Voya offers more investment options, increased investment returns, and a lower required minimum account balance for investing HSA funds.

More information will be shared soon regarding the transition from American Fidelity to Voya and what employees can expect moving forward. We are confident that Voya Financial will be a great partner and we look forward to the upcoming open enrollment. If you have any questions, please contact the Payroll department.

The deadline to submit claims for the 2024-2025 school year for your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) is September 30th for expenditures occurring before July 1st. There is an automatic carryover of $640 which you can use next year without losing. You can use your online account or the American Fidelity mobile app to submit your claims. For more information about submitting a claim visit this link.

If you plan on enrolling in a HSA (Health Savings Account) for the plan year beginning July 1, 2025, instead of an FSA, all FSA contributions must be spent by June 30, 2025. If you have questions, you may call American Fidelity at 800-662-1113.

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Beginning on Monday, April 21, 2025, The District will be partnering with Experian to provide secure, timely and accurate data for employment verification services.

Experian Verify is a service that provides income and employment verification information to lenders, employment screeners and social service agencies. This service allows lenders to verify an applicant's income and employment status using a network of payroll and employer data. The system offers both instant and permissioned verification options.

As a District employee, you will be able to set up an individual account and create your own verification letter. Lenders and agencies can submit requests to www.experianverify.com.

Click HERE for instructions on creating your account. There is an access code for our school district, listed in the instructions needed to complete the setup. Please see flyer below for more information.

Please contact the Payroll department for any questions.

Employees who know they will not be returning to a permanent position with MSBSD next school year are asked to complete a Separation Notification. Employees can submit their Separation Notification in the Knowledge Base or by visiting this link. This allows Human Resources to process the employee separation in a timely manner to ensure that employees receive their final pay accordingly. If there is a resignation letter or other written correspondence, it may be attached directly in the ticket. Thank you for your service, and we wish you the best of luck in your future endeavors.

CEA work calendars for the 2025-2026 School Year are included here and are published on the Knowledge Base under Human Resources/Payroll.

• The calendars are specific to your position and will show your start and end dates, non-workdays, vacation days, and holidays
• The Payroll Calendar will be published on the Knowledge Base over the summer
• If you have specific questions regarding your start and end dates, please contact the Human Resources department

If you know someone who would like to be a substitute, please encourage them to call HR at 907-761-4357 option 3 or apply online at https://www.matsuk12.us/jobs