HISD | Employee News: HISD’s news for district employees

If you still haven’t made decisions about next year’s benefits, don’t delay any longer. The Open Enrollment period for 2015 ends on Thursday, Nov. 20.

This is your opportunity to review current benefit elections, enroll, or make changes to your coverage for the 2015 calendar year. Please review your options before the deadline and ensure that you are in the right plan for you and your family.

And, if you still need some guidance, drop by the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center (4400 W. 18th St., 77092) on Nov. 19. Two more info sessions will be taking place that day at noon and 5:30 p.m.

To enroll or make changes:

• Log in to the HISD Employee Portal
• Click on Employee Services and then select HISD Benefits Service Center
• On the RedBrick home page click on the Annual Enrollment button

If no changes are made, your 2014 benefit selections will “roll over” and remain the same for 2015. The one exception is employees who no longer qualify for the Select plan – they will need to choose a new medical plan or they will not have medical coverage for 2015.

Other benefits updates worth noting are below.

Health Care Flexible Spending Account limit increased for 2015

The IRS has just announced that the maximum amount eligible for the 2015 Health Care Flexible Spending account has been increased to $2,550. Interested employees may elect to participate in a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) each year in accordance with IRS regulations, so review your family’s expected out-of-pocket medical expenses and sign up during Annual Enrollment if you wish to take advantage of this benefit.

Two medical premium holidays: Dec. 17 and Dec. 31

Employees enrolled in one of the HISD medical plans will notice a little (or a lot) extra in their bank account in December. If your direct deposits seem a bit higher than usual, it’s probably due to HISD’s “Benefits Holidays.”

Employees usually experience these holidays twice each year, because HISD only deducts benefit plan premiums from the first two paychecks of any given month. But thanks to employees’ efforts keep medical plan expenses down, there will be an additional medical plan premium holiday this year. No medical plan deductions will be taken from employees’ paychecks on Dec. 17 or Dec. 31.

Please note that this holiday applies only to regular medical benefit plan deductions. All other benefit deductions (dental, vision, supplemental life, etc.) and any arrears deductions will continue to be withheld from the Dec. 17 paycheck.

The District Advisory Committee (DAC) meets monthly to discuss particular district issues and provide suggestions and guidance for district-level planning, training, and strategy.

The committee is comprised of 12 elected classroom teachers and six elected professional staff members who are not classroom teachers. There are also nine appointments to the committee, including parents, business representatives, and community members who are selected by members of the HISD Board of Education.

Campus principals must submit the consenting campus nominee by Friday, Nov. 14, 2014, in order for the name to appear on the online ballot. The election will take place through an application on the HISD portal. Professional-level employees such as teachers, administrators, and managers will be able to log into the application and vote electronically starting on Monday, Dec. 8, 2014.

For more information on the DAC, please visit http://www.houstonisd.org/Page/41679.