Office of Human Resources - Home

Thank you for visiting the Bloomington Public Schools Office of Human Resources Web Page.  The staff of Bloomington Public Schools is our most important resource for providing learners in our community with a high quality educational system.

The Human Resources Team looks forward to providing you with excellent service.  Department contact information may be found by clicking on the "Staff" button on the left navigation bar.

EMPLOYEE PART D NOTICE 2010 (7/13/10)

Per Federal law, the District is providing disclosure of creditable coverage status to all Medicare Part D eligible individuals.

Click here for the notice

SELECT HOME DELIVERY -(6/11/10)

Mail Order Home Delivery of Maintenance Prescriptions

Did you know you can save time and money by having your maintenance drugs delivered by mail right to your home?  Select Home Delivery is a voluntary program by Express Scripts, our pharmacy manager through Preferred One. Watch your mailbox this summer if you are currently taking maintenance medications (prescription drugs that you regularly take to treat ongoing conditions).

ID CARDS (6/11/10)

Your current PreferredOne and Delta Dental ID cards will continue to be valid for the next plan year.  New cards will only be sent to employees who have made a change during open enrollment.  If you have lost your card, go online to preferredone.com or deltadentalmn.org to order a new one.  If you enrolled in the AlwaysCare vision plan, ID cards were mailed the week of June 7.

HEALTH CARE REFORM - DEPENDENTS TO AGE 26 (5/28/10)

Currently Minnesota Mandate 25 allows you to keep your unmarried adult dependents on your insurance through age 25.  Part of the Health Care Reform signed by President Obama includes an extension of health insurance coverage to young adult children up to age 26.  This law requires insurance coverage to be available to adult children up to age 26, regardless of the child’s marital or student status.  For Bloomington’s PreferredOne plan, this change will take effect on July 1, 2011.

In addition, the federal tax law has been amended so beginning March 30, 2010 this benefit will be tax-free to employees whose adult dependent children are already covered under Minnesota Mandate 25.  It does not matter whether children are tax dependents for federal income tax purposes.  At this time, Minnesota state tax will continue to apply. 

As with any new law, there are many areas that still need clarification.  Watch for open enrollment in April 2011, if you wish to add on dependents that are under age 26.   

DO YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ON HOW TO USE YOUR HSA IN RETIREMENT? 

There is no time limit by which you need to withdraw or use your HSA funds.  After retirement you can continue to use your HSA funds for eligible medical or dental expenses (including long-term care insurance and Medicare premiums) even if you are not participating in a high deductible health plan. 

After age 65, you can use your HSA funds for non-medical expenses by paying taxes on the withdrawals as you would after retirement on a regular TSA.  Once you retire you are responsible for the $2.95 per month maintenance fee charged by Health Equity if your account drops below $500. 

For more information, please see the original HSA Tip published in November, 2008.

PREFERREDONE PLAN CLARIFICATIONS (5/7/2010)

Two coverages under our PreferredOne Health Plan have been revised.  These changes affect electronic/online visits and annual physicals.  

•  Electronic visits - The plan currently allows 6 electronic/online evaluations per year for established patients with specific chronic diseases (such as diabetes or heart disease).  Effective 7/1/2010 the restrictions will be removed on electronic/online evaluations to broadened the definition so all electronic/online evaluations will be covered. 
• Preventive annual physicals - The plan currently covers one preventive physical per year.  This will be amended effective 7/1/2009 to include two preventive physicals per year.  Affected claims will be reprocessed and employees will be notified if there is a refund due them.

VISION ENROLLMENT DEADLINE EXTENDED! (4/29/2010)

We have been able to get the enrollment deadline for the new voluntary vision program extended to May 7.  This will allow all employees two additional weeks to review the information and make a decision. Check out the FAQ for more information.

TEACHERS AND OTHER 10 MONTH EMPLOYEES:

Remember that even if you receive checks in the summer, we are unable to make HSA or 403(B) changes to your summer checks once the fiscal year ends June 30. Please submit all HSA or 403(B) changes by May 25 and indicate on the form if this change is to take effect with your summer payoff. The new medical deductibles effective July 1, 2010 can be found here.

HR COMMUNICATES: HSA TIP #14: FAQ VOLUNTARY VISION (4 /14/10)

  Find out how the new voluntary vision program works and how to enroll during open enrollment April 13 - 26.

PREFERREDONE HEALTH INSURANCE PLAN CHANGES (3/19/10)

  Check out the three plan changes that will take effect on 7/1/10. 

OPEN ENROLLMENT ANNOUNCEMENT  - APRIL 13 - 26, 2010 (3/10/10)

Mark your calendars now and plan to attend one of the open enrollment meetings.  Find out about the new voluntary vision program and what health and dental 10-11 rates and plan changes are.

EAP - EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (2/26/2010)

EAP provides 24 hour unlimited telephone consultation and professional support for Bloomington Public School staff and their family members who have PreferredOne health insurance.  Call 1 800-383-1908 to talk with a specialist.  It's totally confidential.  EAP can help provide you with tools for confronting and overcoming life's challenges.

HR COMMUNICATES: HSA TIP #13: HSAs AND TAXES (2/19/10)

Based on questions we are hearing in HR and in Payroll, you will find attached our latest HR Communicates (in Word and PDF formats). Tip #13 gives you information about forms W-2, 1099-SA, 8889, and 5498-SA.

(originally published 2/19/09)

403(b) RETIREMENT PLAN (1/22/10)

The Universal Availability Notice is published annually to inform all employees of their rights to make or change elective deferrals to the 403(b) plan. In addition, two new amendments took effect on January 1, 2010.  If you wish to start a 403(b) or make a change to your deduction amount, go to the Employee Benefits page and scroll to the 403(b) section. 

NEW 2010 HDHP DEDUCTIBLES AND HSA MAXIMUMS (12/03/09)

Each year the IRS sets new HSA maximum contradiction levels and HDHP deductible amounts.  Click here  for 2010 information and steps to take if you wish to change your personal HSA contribution.

You can make a deposit to your HSA for tax year 2009 up to April 15 by making a direct deposit with Health Equity. This can be done on-line or you can call Customer Service at 866 346-5800 and they will walk you through the process.  Since the deposit will be made with after-tax dollars, you will be able to deduct it on your tax return. 

FITNESS ADVANTAGE BENEFIT CHANGE (11/18/09)

Effective December 1, 2009, Labor Management has approved a reduction from 12 to 8 visits needed to qualify for up to $20 per month credit on fitness facility memberships.  A study conducted by Medica and Life Time Fitness found that regular exercise at a threshold of 8 times a month significantly lowered costs for prescriptions, doctor appointments and care at clinics and hospitals. Check out this list of participating facilities, print and submit the enrollment form, and you are ready to work out!  If you are already enrolled, you do not need to complete another form.

DELTA DENTAL BENEFIT CHANGE (10/28/09)

Effective July 1, 2009, dental cleanings/exams don’t need to be scheduled in six month intervals. Our plan now allows two cleanings per plan year (July 1 – June 30). This will make it more convenient for staff who wish to schedule one in the summer and one over winter break. If you need to find a dentist, go to www.deltadentalmn.org, next Dentist Search, then Network.

H1N1-RELATED PERSONNEL ISSUES (9/24/09)

In conjunction with the District Labor Management Committee, Human Resources has been developing guidelines for employees for H1N1-related personnel issues. This first Q&A deals with absences, sick leave, doctor's notes, closings, payroll, and other issues.

TEACHER RELICENSURE (9/18/09)

Bloomington Public School employees and teachers external to the district should refer to the updated guidelines and eCard instructions regarding renewing their teacher licenses. Information is under Staff Services - Teacher Relicensure.

Click here to go to the Teacher Relicensure

RESERVE TEACHER OPENINGS

We are accepting applications for reserve teachers beginning August 17th for the 2009-2010 School Year. A current Minnesota teaching license is required. The starting rate of pay is $110.00 per day. For additional information, please click on "Employment Opps" button on the left navigation bar.

ALREADY A BLOOMINGTON SCHOOLS ACTIVE RESERVE TEACHER?

Click here to go to the Reserve Teacher Information Center

NEGOTIATIONS UPDATE

Click here to go to "Negotiations" page

HR COMMUNICATES: EMERGENCY RESPONSE PLANNING (5/1/09)

Recommendations for what employees should do in advance to prepare for a district-wide emergency, such as for the H1N1 (swine) flu (in Word and PDF formats).

HR COMMUNICATES: 403(b) INFO (2/10/09)

For employees who are enrolled in 403(b)/TSA, please read this important information regarding the new IRS regulations and changes to the District 403(b) plan.

• Tip#2 (2/10/09)
• Tip#1 (12/4/08)

HR COMMUNICATES: SPECIAL EDITION - WALKING TRACK (12/1/08)

All District employees will have free access to both the Kennedy and Jefferson indoor tracks during regular operational hours from December 1, 2008, through the end of the 2008-09 school year. (Pilot sponsored by the Labor-Management Committee, the District Wellness Committee, Community Education, and the Activity Centers.)

HSA TIPS

Click here to view  previously published HSA tips