Benefit Information

FY23 Health Insurance Rates (FY24 premiums will be updated mid-May)

Employees that are half-time (.50 FTE) or more may elect for health insurance coverage in one of the plans listed below upon hire or during open enrollment in June. Click on the plan links to access health summary documents. Contact the Payroll Department if you have any questions about health insurance eligibility, plans, or premiums. The attached document provides information on selecting the right health insurance plan for you.

A/B Health Plan                  $345.80 per pay period (September 15 – May 31)

C/B Health Plan                  $248.46 per pay period (September 15 – May 31)

F/B Health Plan                  $121.33 per pay period (September 15 - May 31)     

HPHD Health Plan               $0.00 per pay period   (September 15 - May 31)

For MSEA new hires, your insurance will be effective starting September 1st.

New York Life Enrollment/Change Request

As an MSEA employee with the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, you will automatically be enrolled in a $50,000 life insurance policy through New York Life at no cost to you. Additionally, for a fee of $1.28 per pay period, you have the option to enroll in an additional $15,000 worth of coverage. You also have the option to enroll to elect for additional coverage in multiples of your salary. This may require additional paperwork. Please contact Payroll at 761-4057 for more information on the cost of life insurance coverage in multiples of your salary. 

Teacher Retirement System (TRS) Plan

As a district employee, you will be paying into the State of Alaska retirement plan. Depending upon the year that you entered the TRS system, your plan contributions and benefits will be different. On this chart, you can see the type of deductions and benefits provided to you according to the tier you are in. You will need to go to the Empower Website to set up an account after your first paycheck. our beneficiaries for your retirement plan can be designated from your Empower account. If you are defined benefit Tier I or Tier II, Payroll will contact you to complete the necessary paperwork.

Deferred Compensation Plan

Better Together: Financial Readiness Overview

Empower Retirement Advisory Services Flyer

Fee Comparison Worksheet

TRS Defined Contribution Retirement Plan Features Highlights

As an employee of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, you have the opportunity to save for retirement by participating in your Employer’s 403(b) retirement plan. A 403(b) plan is a retirement plan for certain employees of public schools.  Click here for our Universal Availability Notice. For more information, please visit the Payroll benefits page.

Recommended Follow-up Tasks

• After the first payroll has been processed, log in to the Empower website at akdrb.com to complete a beneficiary form for each account you have with Empower, including the State of Alaska PERS or TRS DCR, SBS-AP, and DCP. 
• Learn more about your benefits by scheduling an appointment (by phone or in-person) with a Retirement Benefit Counselor AK DRB Appointments or by calling toll-free at (800) 821-2251.
• Learn more about your investments and the tools to help you manage your funds by scheduling an appointment with an Empower Retirement Plan Advisor by calling (800) 232-0859 or by emailing anchorageoffice@empower-retirement.com.
• To stay on track for retirement, make an appointment with an Empower representative both annually and when you experience any major life event, such as marriage, divorce, birth, loss of spouse, job promotion, or inheritance.
• Review the employee handbook here

Additional Information Needed

Verification of Service

Upon hire, you may advance on the salary schedule due to service outside the district - up to four (4) years. In the (school district-HERE) attached form, please complete the personal data information in Section I and provide this form to the school(s) where you worked. They will complete Section II, Teaching Experience, and will certify that the information is true and correct. The school should return this form to you, the employee, and when you have received all forms, you will submit them at one time to the Human Resources Department. If your experience is from more than one school site, please feel free to copy the form and distribute it as needed.  

NOTE: If you are being hired as an OT/PT/SLP/School Psych/School Nurse and have non-contracted school district employment experience, please utilize this additional form (private industry-HERE).  (Teachers with contracted school district experience need to utilize the form in the above paragraph, not the private industry form.)  If the OT/PT/SLP/School Psych/School Nurse has ever been under contract with a school district, please utilize this form (school district-HERE) for verification of years of contracted service.

Transcript Request

To place you in the appropriate education column on the salary schedule, we will need official copies of your transcripts. Unofficial transcripts will not be accepted. Please provide all transcripts pertaining to your degree/certification. The more evidence of credits we have, the more accurate your pay will be. Electronic transcripts may be directly emailed to HR@matsuk12.us.  

Alaska Certification (Type A or C)

We require that all certificated staff (Teachers, Counselors, Nurses, Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists)  in the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District have the appropriate certifications as required by the State of Alaska. Please ensure that you have the appropriate certificate and email a scanned copy of both the front and back to HR@matsuk12.us. If you have questions on the state requirements, please contact the Department of Education and Early Development – Teacher Certification at (907) 465-2831 or tcwebmail@alaska.gov.

FBI Background Check

All employees of the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District must complete an FBI Background Check upon hire. All new hires will be required to make an appointment with Human Resources to have fingerprints completed. At that time you will be responsible for paying the $48.25 processing fee required by the State of Alaska. This fee can be paid through a payroll deduction. By completing an FBI Background Check you consent to the following statement found here.

Physical Examination Form

All Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District employees are required to get a physical within thirty (30) days of hire. This is a two-page form and you will need to ensure that you and your doctor have completed all questions and have signed where necessary. It is recommended that you wait until your District coverage begins before getting your physical as it will cover 100% of the cost. Information on reimbursements for physicals is included on the form. When requesting reimbursement, please include/make note of the following:

• If you are covered under any health insurance, please submit your bill to your health insurer before requesting a reimbursement
• Include a copy of the bill for your doctor visit
• Include a paid receipt

Please Note: For new hires, your insurance will be effective starting September 1, 2023. You may wait until your insurance starts before getting your physical as annual exams are covered under our insurance.