Benefits

Take care of you!

Our medical insurance program is administered by Anthem of Virginia. In addition to inpatient, outpatient, and major medical coverage, our plans include preventive care, prescriptions, and vision benefits. We also offer a standalone enhanced vision plan. Members also have access to Anthem’s nationwide network and services like educational videos, web-based cost comparison tools, mobile apps and LiveHealth Online, which gives members 24-hour a day access to a physician via smartphone, tablet, or computer at one low flat fee.

The Albemarle Select plan, our traditional insurance option, features co-pays for provider visits and pharmacy, and 80/20 co-insurance after deductible. Our High Deductible plan, Albemarle Choice, features a triple tax-advantaged Health Savings Account (HSA) that includes an employer contribution.

Want to learn more about what our plans cover? View the Medical Plan Highlights Side by Side Comparison.

Eligibility

Medical coverage is available to eligible employees (working at least 50% part-time in a regular position), their eligible spouse, and children under age 26. Spouses who have access to coverage through their own employers that meets minimum essential value/affordability standards (as defined by the Affordable Care Act) are not eligible for coverage on our plan.

Coverage

For new hires, coverage is effective the first of the month following your date of hire. 

Cost

Does your spouse also work for the County or County Schools? Two married benefits-eligible employees qualify for reduced rates! Contact us to learn more.

We recognize that oral care is an important component of comprehensive health care. We have two Anthem Dental Complete plans to choose from – each feature two free routine oral exams and cleanings per year and scheduled x-rays in addition to covering 80% of the allowable charges for other basic services after meeting a small deductible.

In addition to the above, our High plan also provides the following:

• Sealants - 80% of allowable costs (for enrollees under the age of 16)
• Crowns and implants - 60% of allowable costs (for enrollees over age 12)
• Orthodontics - 50% of allowable costs (for dependents under age 19)

Want to compare plans? View the Anthem Dental Side by Side Comparison.

Eligibility

Dental coverage is available to eligible employees, their spouse, and children under age 26.

Coverage

For new hires, coverage is effective the first of the month following your date of hire.

Cost

We offer Flexible Spending Accounts that allow employees to set aside pre-tax dollars for eligible expenses like healthcare and dependent care. These are never taxed if you use them for eligible expenses. See if an FSA or HSA is right for you by reading the sections below, or for additional information read our FSA Employee Guide.

Healthcare FSA

We offer two kinds of healthcare FSAs:

• a Traditional healthcare FSA can be used to pay for eligible out of pocket medical, dental, vision expenses (and more!); this is available to anyone who is not on a High Deductible health plan; and
• a Limited-Purpose healthcare FSA that is only available to those on our High Deductible health plan. This can only be used for eligible dental and vision expenses

Both healthcare FSAs come with a convenient debit card that you can give to your providers, pharmacies, and other service providers just as you would a bank credit or debit card. FSAs are fully loaded at the time your account becomes active, so they’re a great way to help take the financial sting out of unexpected healthcare expenses.

Our healthcare FSAs feature a rollover from one plan year to the next – as long as your FSA balance does not exceed that's year IRS rollover amount at the end of the plan year, your funds will be available to you in the new FSA plan year. Contribution limits are set annually by the IRS.

Dependent Care FSA

Dependent Care FSA provides tax-free reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses related to dependent care if:

• Your dependent children under age 13 attend daycare, after-school care, or summer day camp
• You provide care for a person of any age whom you claim as a dependent on your federal income tax return and who is mentally or physically incapable of caring for himself or herself

Health Savings Account (HSA)

Health Savings Account (HSA) is only available to employees who are enrolled on our high deductible medical plan (Albemarle Choice). This account functions like a traditional healthcare FSA but is so much more! It is also a triple-tax advantaged account that you can build up for future retiree healthcare costs. Since balances over $2k can be invested, you can grow your HSA balance over time. As long as you use the funds for eligible healthcare expense, you are never taxed on the contributions, the earnings, or the funds used for eligible expenses. While contribution limits are set annually by the IRS, there’s NO limit to the amount of money you can have in your HSA and we help by providing a monthly contribution into your account.  

We know you have retirement dreams. We’re committed to offering you retirement benefits options that help make those dreams a reality. Full-time employees are automatically enrolled in the Virginia Retirement System and benefits-eligible part-time employees are eligible for contributions into our Part-Time Pension plan once they’ve completed 5 years of service. Want to add to your nest egg? All employees have access to pre-tax retirement savings accounts (403b and 457b) because it’s never too early or too late to save for retirement!

Virginia Retirement System

All full-time employees are enrolled automatically in VRS. Members are required to contribute a mandatory 5% of their base salary into the VRS system; the employer also contributes into the system for its eligible employees. VRS has several plans that vary in retirement eligibility standards and benefits paid. The plan you are placed in depends on the nature of your job and whether you have prior active VRS service.

• Plan 1: A defined benefit plan; benefits are based on a formula that includes your age at retirement, your VRS service record, and your reported income. Retirement benefits are paid monthly and last for the duration of your life. There are multiple payout options available to retiring members.
• Plan 2: Similar to Plan 2, but with different retirement eligibility standards and benefits calculation factors
• Hybrid Plan: A combination of defined benefit plan and defined contribution plan, this plan allows employees to contribute additional retirement savings dollars and features a mandated employer match.

Learn more about the Virginia Retirement System.

Part-Time Employee Pension Plan

Employees become eligible for employer contributions into the Part-Time Pension Plan in the month following the completion of five (5) continuous years of service if they are in a benefits-eligible position at that time. Contributions are based on the employee's salary and years of County service.

Deferred Compensation/Annuities

These programs allow employees to save for retirement, reduce taxable salary, and earn tax sheltered interest via monthly payroll deductions. We offer the following options:

• 403(b) plan offered through Lincoln Financial Group
• 457(b) plan offered through Nationwide Retirement Solutions
• 457(b) plan offered through VRS/Commonwealth of Virginia 

We offer employer-paid group life insurance coverage to all benefits-eligible employees to provide a financial safety net for you and your loved ones. You can also purchase additional optional life coverage for yourself and eligible family members.

The benefits pay twice your annual salary for natural death and quadruple for accidental death. Full-time employees have coverage under Securian Financial through the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and this coverage features additional benefits like accidental dismemberment and an accelerated death benefit option. Part-time employees are covered through OCHS/Securian.

Voluntary Supplemental Coverage is available at low group rates for both you, your spouse, and your eligible children.  Through Securian Financial, full-time employees can purchase coverage for up to eight times your salary. Plus, you can keep your supplemental coverage into retirement if you have the coverage for at least 5 years before you retire under VRS (subject to benefit limitations).

VRS Hybrid Plan members have Short-Term (STD) and Long-Term (LTD) disability coverage through the Virginia Retirement System:

Short-Term Disability

Short-Term Disability provides full or partial income replacement for up to 125 days after a 7-day elimination period for qualifying disability or illness. Newly hired members have a 1-year waiting period for non-work-related STD coverage and first-day benefit for work-related injuries.

Long-Term Disability

Long-Term Disability provides 60% income replacement for regular disability (80% for catastrophic disability) in the event you cannot return to work once STD benefits are exhausted.

Additional Disability Coverage

Our In-House Sick Leave Bank

Members donate a day of their sick leave to join, and then have access to up to 45 days of paid leave for eligible personal illness after meeting a 20-day waiting period (or exhausting their sick leave balance, whichever occurs last).

Newly hired VRS Hybrid Plan staff may join the Bank as “insurance” while in the 1-year waiting period for eligibility for VRS Hybrid Plan STD/LTD coverage.

Long-Term Disability (The Hartford)

A voluntary benefit option, LTD insurance pays a portion of your earnings if you cannot work because of a disabling illness or injury. This features low group rate premiums paid through the convenience of monthly payroll deduction.

If you enroll during the first thirty (30) days of hire, enrollment is guaranteed (normal waiting periods apply) and no medical information will be required. You can choose from one of the following options:

• Option 1: You must be disabled for at least 120 days before the benefit will pay, and the maximum time you would receive the benefit is 2 years
• Option 2: You must be disabled for at least 90 days before the benefit will pay, and the maximum time you would receive the benefit is 5 years

Both plans provide you with income protection to replace up to 60% of your earnings, to a monthly maximum of $10,000.

We understand that our employees sometimes need a break or time off to deal with personal or family illness. That’s why we offer paid leave for holidays, sick leave, annual leave and more, depending on your employment type.

Paid Sick Leave

Employees earn 1 day of leave per month worked. Sick leave can be used for personal illness and/or illness or death in the family.

Sick Leave Bank

Our voluntary in-house short-term disability program. Members donate a day of their sick leave to join, and then have access to up to 45 days of paid leave for eligible personal illness after meeting a 20-day waiting period (or exhausting their sick leave balance, whichever occurs last).

Newly hired VRS Hybrid Plan staff may join the Bank as “insurance” while in the 1-year waiting period for eligibility for VRS Hybrid Plan STD/LTD coverage.

Annual Leave

12-month employees earn 1 day of annual leave a month with an accelerated accrual schedule that rewards long-term service.

Personal Leave

10/11-month  employees earn 2 days of personal leave per year (in addition to their sick leave).

Holidays

12-month employees get 12 paid holidays each fiscal year (additional holidays may be added at the discretion of the Boards).

Family Medical Leave

Family Medical Leave under the FMLA provides 12-weeks for job-protected unpaid leave for eligible employees under certain circumstances (as defined by the FMLA). Employees with available paid leave may use this while on Family Medical Leave.

Disability Leave

See Disability for more information about disability leave.

We know that valued staff sometimes grapple with personal, family, and work challenges. Our Employee Assistance Program is a free, confidential benefit that offers employees and their eligible family members short-term counseling as well as information and resources on emotional, financial, legal, family, and work/life

Employee wellness is a top priority for Albemarle County Public Schools. We offer onsite vaccinations, access to Fresh Farmacy local food shares, fitness challenges and much more.

We develop employees for future success!

Learning and professional development is supported through the following:

• Tuition Reimbursement
• Support for Professional Development

We know that our greatest asset is our employees; we take time to recognize the service and reward the achievements of our dedicated public servants.

Employee Recognition

ACPS strives to be ‘a best place to work’ and as such believes it necessary to recognize and reward exceptional performance as part of the County’s Total Rewards strategy.

High performance practices include a business model for simultaneously delivering product, service quality, outstanding customer value, stewardship, and sound financial performance. All of these are accomplished through team-based continuous quality improvement, enabled staff, and shared decision making based on valid and relevant data. It starts with a set of shared leadership philosophies and commitment that enable all employees through a consultative/participative approach to work performance and outcome achievement.

Service Awards

The Service Award Recognition Program is to acknowledge our employees’ contributions and efforts during their years of service with Albemarle County Public Schools.

The quality service we deliver in our community every day is due to their hard work, dedication and talents, and we value all of their contributions. Each employee is recognized at five-year milestones by their department and the organization.

We Notice

We Notice is a program that recognizes  employees who have enriched the experience of our students. Students and peers have the opportunity to nominate employees that have a positive impact in their lives and demonstrate and/or embody the core values of Excellence, Young People, Community, and Respect.

In addition to our traditional employee benefits offerings, we also have some great perks that make working for Albemarle County Public Schools an even better decision!

Free parking at most workplaces during the weekday. Save time and money: no paying for parking spaces or taking buses from your car to your worksite.

Employees receive free admission during the summer swim season at our beautiful parks with beaches: Chris Greene, Mint Springs and Walnut Creek. (Good to know: parks are otherwise free during the year to everyone.)

Be a hero! We offer our employees no-cost access to CPR training.

Like high school sports? Employees get free admission to high school sporting events.