3420 - BENEFITS

The Board shall provide eligible staff members with the following benefits:

1. Life Insurance
   
   All eligible employees will have life insurance in an amount equal to their annual salary, computed to the nearest $1,000. Additional life insurance and limited dependent coverage are options provided to eligible employees at a group rate.
2. Hospitalization and Medical Care Benefits
   
   Through a flexible benefits program, eligible employees shall have the opportunity to enroll in hospitalization and medical care benefits.
3. Employee Assistance Program
   
   An Employee Assistance Program which, through outside professional counseling, may provide help for employees and their families in areas including, but not limited to, emotional disorders; chemical (alcohol or drug) abuse; and/or marital, financial, family, legal, or occupational problems.  Proposed additions or changes to the program shall be reviewed by the Superintendent and a recommendation for these services shall be made to the Board for approval.
4. Liability Coverage
   
   All employees will have insurance covering injury and property damage liability arising from the performance of assigned duties. This policy covers the employee's liability for negligent acts arising out of employee activities.
5. Workers’ Compensation
   
   Florida State law requires Workers’ Compensation to be provided to all employees and volunteers of the District. This assures employees who sustain a work-related illness or injury both income and medical care for that injury until they are able to return to work.
   
   An employee who is eligible for Workers’ Compensation may be paid earned sick leave benefits in addition to Workers’ Compensation benefits. The sick leave amount is reduced by the amount of the Workers’ Compensation benefit. In no case can total pay exceed the employee’s regular at-work salary.
6. Other Insured Employee Benefits
   
   Dental, vision, short-term disability, long-term disability, and accidental death and dismemberment group insurance plans are available to eligible employees.
7. Flexible Spending Accounts
   
   Through a cafeteria style flexible benefits plan, accounts are available as an option for paying some medical, dental, vision, and child care costs with pre-tax dollars.
8. Holidays
   
   Holidays will be designated by the Board at the time it adopts and amends the school calendar and/or ratifies contractual agreements with employee bargaining units.
9. Sick Bank
   
   The sick bank, available to eligible employees, is a source from which additional paid sick leave days may be granted for the employee's catastrophic, prolonged personal illness, accident, or injury. Membership in the sick bank is available to employees after completion of at least one (1) full employment year with the District. The procedures may be updated by the Superintendent as necessary.
10. Calculation of Terminal Pay and Annual Payment for Accumulated Sick Pay
    
    All calculations dealing with terminal pay for accumulated sick pay and annual leave and with annual payment for accumulated sick leave shall be based on the employee's daily rate. The daily rate of salaried employees shall be calculated using the actual number of days in the applicable contract year.
11. Retirement
    
    Retirement options including, but not limited to regular, disability, In-Line-of-Duty, and the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP) are available to eligible employees.
    
    The procedures manual and all Florida Retirement System retirement guides published by the State of Florida, Department of Management Services, Division of Retirement are incorporated by reference and are part of this Board policy.
12. Terminal Pay
    
    Employees shall be eligible for terminal pay at the time of normal retirement, provided that normal retirement coincides with termination, or payment to the beneficiary, if service is terminated by death.  The procedures may be updated by the Superintendent as necessary. 
13. Reemployment
    
    With the approval of the Superintendent, retired employees may be rehired following prescribed reemployment rules outlined by the Florida Retirement System (FRS).

Revised 8/24/04
Revised 1/05
Revised 4/12/05
Revised 4/27/10
Revised 10/28/14
Revised 3/12/24

© Neola 2016