Employee Quarterly

Education Support Professionals Day was recognized on November 20, 2024. This is a day to recognize the important work that those employees in support positions do for the students and staff here in the Mat-Su Borough School District. Every day in every school of MSBSD there are hardworking, talented, and dedicated professionals supporting students, teachers, and administrators. On Education Support Professionals Day we celebrate ALL of the amazing ESPs in our district. In case you missed it, Dr. Trani’s words of gratitude are shared below:

I would like to take a moment to recognize the vital role Education Support Professionals play in making the Mat-Su Borough School District the best in Alaska. The achievements of our schools and district are a result of the dedication and hard work you bring every day.

Whether it is helping a struggling learner read, making sure students are fed, leading students at play during recess, ensuring our technology runs smoothly, or making sure buildings are safe and clean for kids to learn, your dedication to students is evident and essential to everything we accomplish.

Thank you to all the paraprofessionals, custodians, IT support specialists, nutrition services staff, administrative support, warehouse team members, and countless others who contribute to the care, safety, and growth of our students.

Your dedication ensures students have the opportunity to excel and achieve at the highest levels. Thank you for all that you do to support student success across our district.

Respectfully,

Dr. Randy Trani
Superintendent, Mat-Su Borough School District

This year’s Employee Benefit Fair was held on October 26, 2024, and included a wide range of valuable opportunities and engaging activities for all who attended:

• Prizes and Giveaways: All attendees received a gift bag and had the chance to win fantastic prizes. Congratulations to Greta Hixon, a server cashier from Tanaina Elementary, who won two round-trip tickets aboard the Alaska Railroad, and Lizy Stocker, a teacher at Shaw Elementary School, who won a wheeled cooler and stadium blanket. Additional prizes donated by vendors included a smoker, turkey deep fryer, gym membership, and more!
• Retirement Information Sessions: Employees had the opportunity to attend informative sessions led by Mark Rosier, Senior Benefits Counselor for the Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits. These sessions covered both the PERS and TRS Defined Benefit Plans. Additionally, Mr. Rosier was joined by John Ayotte, Retirement Plan Advisor with Empower Retirement, for a presentation on the PERS and TRS Defined Contribution Plans.
• Vendors: This year’s Fair included 26 local vendors specializing in financial services, health, and wellness.
• Mobile Mammogram Bus: The Mobile Mammogram Bus was a major success, with all available appointment slots filled for on-site screenings.
• Blood Donation Drive: The Blood Bank collected enough donations to save 18 lives. Thank you to everyone who donated!
• Complimentary Chair Massages: Quiet Raven Therapeutic Massage generously provided attendees with relaxing, on-site chair massages.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make the 2024 Employee Benefit Fair a successful event!

We are pleased to announce a new Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through AllOne Health Services, beginning December 1, 2024. This confidential, no-cost program will be available to all permanent MSBSD employees and their family members, offering support for personal and professional challenges. The EAP provides a variety of services, including short-term counseling, financial guidance, legal assistance, and resources for maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Look for an email the first week of December with details on how to access these benefits. In addition, to help employees make the most of the program, a virtual orientation will be scheduled, during which representatives from AllOne Health will provide an overview of the available services and explain how to utilize them effectively.

Stay tuned for more details!

Due to the server issues experienced by the Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits during the VSB Open Enrollment period of Nov. 6 - Nov. 27, 2024, Open Enrollment for the 2025 benefit year has been extended to December 18, 2024, at 5 p.m. Please be sure to log in and make your VSB elections for benefits beginning January 1, 2025 by the updated deadline.

You can access the Benefitfocus enrollment portal at https://secure3-enroll.com/go/soa. If you haven’t registered for an account, click “create an account” and provide a few details about yourself to register.

If you have questions about benefits or want to learn more, our friendly insurance advocates are here to help you get on the right track! We can be reached by telephone at 844-939-0543 between the hours of 4 a.m. AKT and 4 p.m. AKT or by e-mail at SOABenefits@benefitfocus.com.

Choosing insurance can be stressful. You worry about all the possibilities: How much life insurance do I need? How much can I afford? What is Critical Illness Insurance? Should I consider Short- and Long-Term Disability coverage? These plans are offered to employees of the State of Alaska and participating subdivisions at competitive rates to help give you financial peace of mind. Before enrollment begins, take some time to learn more about these benefits on MetLife’s website: metlife.com/stateofalaska. Premiums can be viewed at Ak DRB > Employee Group Life & Voluntary Supplemental Benefits (alaska.gov).

To help educate you on these great plans being offered to employees through the State of Alaska’s partnership with MetLife, we’ve highlighted some key points below:

Critical Illness Insurance: If a serious illness happens to you or a loved one, this coverage provides you with a lump-sum payment that can be used however you want, including to pay for everyday living expenses and out of pocket medical costs, like copays and deductibles. Critical Illness insurance also includes an annual health screening benefit of $50 if you receive a qualifying screening/preventive service during the benefit year.

Life Insurance and AD&D: Having Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance from MetLife is a great way to ensure that your loved ones will have financial security, even if something happens to you.

Short- and Long-Term Disability: You can take steps now to help ensure you can pay the bills in the event you are unable to work. Short-term disability coverage replaces a portion of your income during the initial weeks or months of a disability. Long-term disability coverage replaces a portion of your income for disabilities that last for an extended period of time.

Pet Insurance: This pet insurance product offers a slate of benefits that can be customized for each individual policy holder. Take advantage of benefits to help keep your pets happy and healthy for years to come!

As you consider retirement, we want to ensure a smooth transition for you.

Click here for the MSBSD Retirement and Benefits website.

You can find more valuable resources pertinent to your retirement on the State of Alaska Division of Retirement and Benefits webpage.

When planning for retirement, please consider that MSBSD, in recognition of longevity and extraordinary service, has programs in place to provide a Service Recognition Bonus for eligible retirees.

Eligibility requirements include the following:

• The employee must be retiring from the State of Alaska retirement system (TRS/PERS).

AND

• The employee must notify the Human Resources Department, in writing, of their intent to retire on or before the deadline outlined in their bargaining unit's negotiated agreement.
• MSPA: on or before December 31
• MSEA: on or before December 31
• MLMA: at least 90 days before retirement date
• CEA: at least 90 days before retirement date

Providing Human Resources with an official separation notice is the first step in your retirement process. Separation tickets can be submitted through the Knowledge Base in Team Dynamix. To submit a separation notification, please go to the Knowledge Base > Services > Business Service > Separation Notification. Complete all required fields and attach your separation correspondence directly to the ticket.

For additional assistance, contact Human Resources at HR@matsuk12.us.

Thank you for your dedication and service to Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District!

All leave entries for December will be reflected on the January 15, 2025 payroll and must be entered by January 6, 2025.

Classified employees who do not normally work during the Winter Break must enter leave during this period. You may elect to use Paid Time Off, Floating Holiday, or Leave Without Pay. The following paid holidays fall within the Winter Break and do not require leave entries:

• Christmas Day
• New Year's Day

Employees will only be entitled to be paid for holidays if they are in paid status the workdays immediately preceding and following the established holiday.

Any necessary Form W-4 changes due to life events such as changes in your job, marital status, or dependents can be updated through Employee Access. If you would like to make a change effective the first payroll in 2025, you must submit your information before January 8th. Click here for instructions.

If you need assistance with your Employee Access login information, please contact the Call Center at 761-HELP (4357).

Keep in mind that your health insurance deductible starts over January 1st. Now is a good time to review and utilize unused benefits, such as vision, dental, and annual preventive care benefits. For employees with a pre-tax Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA), the start of the new year and the deductible reset present an excellent opportunity to utilize these accounts. As a reminder, unused funds in an HSA automatically carry over to the next year. On the other hand, FSA participants may only roll over between $5-$640 of unused funds at the end of the fiscal year (June 30, 2025). If you have questions about which health plan you are on or your deductible amount, please contact the Payroll Department at (907)761-4357 extension 4.

Email: HR@matsuk12.us
Website: www.matsuk12.us
Location: 501 North Gulkana Street, Palmer, AK, USA
Phone: 907-761-4357

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