Redwood Area School District #2897

Redwood Area School District offers a wide variety of benefits for staff outside of PERA and TRA (state regulated retirement) including group health insurance, VEBA or RMSA accounts, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending accounts for medical expenses or medical premiums or dependent care, and 403b investment opportunities.

Information regarding benefits offered to specific employee groups can be found in the following employee guidelines: CKC Assistant Guidelines, Early Childhood Assistant Guidelines, Early Childhood Teacher Guidelines, SACC Assistant Guidelines, Maintenance Guidelines, Paraprofessional Guidelines, Ten & Eleven Month Clerical Guidelines, Twelve Month Clerical Guidelines

PERA (Public Employee Retirement Association) and TRA (Teachers Retirement Association)
As a regular employee of Redwood Area School District, most people fall under one of these two state regulated retirement funds. For more information regarding the plan you are under, please visit the PERA or TRA website. You can also watch this four minute video to learn more about the value of these programs to you: The Value of Your Pension

Group Health Insurance 
There is group health insurance offered to all employees who work 30 hours or more per week. Depending upon the position you hold, there may be an amount the district contributes toward the cost of your health insurance whether it be for single or family coverage. Information regarding contributions is available upon request.
 
Notice of Creditable Coverage
Notice was received from Medica that the prescription drug coverage offered by Redwood Area School District is, on average for all plan participants, expected to pay out as much as standard Medicare prescription drug coverage pays and is considered Creditable Coverage. Click on the following link to view the full notice:  Notice of Creditable Coverage

VEBA / VEBAR Accounts
What is a VEBA/VEBAR account? A VEBA/VEBAR is a health reimbursement arrangement that allows an employer to contribute money to a trust on behalf of their employee. The funds in this account can be used to help pay for eligible medical expenses now and/or in retirement.

There are VEBA/VEBAR accounts available for employees who receive a contribution toward their health insurance and/or meet other criteria. The amount of funds deposited into one of these accounts is dependent upon the individual and/or collective bargaining agreement with the district. The unreimbursed funds put into the VEBA/VEBAR roll over and accumulate from year to year and continue to be available per the type of account.
 
Basic Life Insurance
We are pleased to offer $100,000 of employer paid term life insurance to several of our employee groups including: administrative staff, all those covered under the teachers' agreement, and clerical staff. Coverage is currently held through Minnesota Life.
 
The life insurance coverage also comes with additional benefits including Legal, Financial, Legacy, and Grief Counseling Resources and Travel Assistance Services. These benefits are part of the LifeSuite program offered through MN Life.

Employee Assistance Program
The employee assistance program is offered through National Insurance Services. Under EAP you can receive no-cost, confidential help for a wide variety of needs and concerns including: Depression, Stress Management, Anxiety, Marital Difficulties, Relationship Problems, Family Conflict, Alcohol or Drug Addictions, Financial or Legal Concerns, Parenting Concerns, Problem Gambling, Eating Disorders, Childcare and Eldercare. No problem is too large or too small. Contact the EAP for assistance: 866-451-5465.  For more detailed information see the brochure: EAP Brochure.

Paid Leave - All leaves of absence should be entered on in the Absence Management system. Please login to aesoponline.com and enter your absence. Or you can download the app onto your phone and access the system via your phone. Click here for more information: Frontline Mobile App
  
This is not an exhaustive list of all benefits available, so please contact me with any questions or concerns you have regarding any of the benefits you currently have, and/or benefits that may be available to you.

Contact: Jackie Ferrier