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Blood Bank The Board will pay the membership fee for employees who elect to join the Blood Bank of the Eastern Shore. Under this plan you are eligible to receive needed blood anywhere in the United States.

Credit Union This is a voluntary savings and loan organization made up of employees of the Board of Education and their families. Savings deposits are made through payroll deduction. Up to 10% of one's annual salary can be borrowed using one's signature as collateral at an interest rate lower than charged elsewhere. Both the savings and loan programs carry a life insurance benefit at no extra cost.

Direct Deposit All employees may elect to have their paychecks deposited directly into their checking or savings account at any participating bank.

Extra Duty Pay The Board provides compensation for certificated personnel who are assigned to designated extra-duty assignments such as athletics, band, band front, cheerleading, chorus, class advisors, dramatics, newspaper, and yearbook.

Flexible Spending Accounts Flexible Spending Accounts allow employees to pay for dependent care (day care) and most non-covered medical expenses (doctor's office co-pays, prescription co-pays and over-the-counter drugs, etc.) with pre-tax income. Because this benefit uses pre-tax dollars, you can potentially save up to forty dollars for every $100 you elect to defer. For more information and to calculate your tax savings, visit http://www.hfsbenefits.com .  (For information on how a resignation or leave of absence affects your FSA account, please go to FSA.) 

Phone 888-460-8005                    FAX 410-771-5333 or 888-510-4218

New Health Care Bill Affects Reimbursement of Over-the-Counter Medications  (read more about it)

Medical FSA Eligible Expenses            Dependent Care FSA Eligible Expenses 

Request for Duplicate/Additional MBI Card         FSA Enrollment Guide

Insurance Benefits

Health Health insurance coverage is offered in the form of a Preferred Provider Network (PPN) or Exclusive Provider Network (EPO) including prescription plan, vision and dental.  Coverage is available to classified employees working more than 25 hours per week and all certificated personnel working 17.5 hours or more per week.  Coverage is also available for those who desire to insure their eligible dependents. The Board pays 90% of the premium for an individual. The Board provides a 73% contribution for dependent costs, exclusive of the cost of individual coverage. Coverage options include: individual, employee & spouse, employee & 1 child, and family. Enrollment must be completed within 30 days of employment. Enrollment beyond the 30-day period is limited to "open enrollment" which is normally scheduled once each fiscal year.

Life The Board pays the premium cost of term life insurance coverage with a maximum face value equal to 1 1/2 times the employee's annual salary up to a limit of $100,000. Such coverage also includes double indemnity for accidental death or dismemberment and a living benefit for persons diagnosed with a terminal illness and less than 12 months to live.

Dependent Life Employees have the option of purchasing life insurance for their spouse and/or dependent children.  This covers your spouse and all your eligible children.  The benefit amounts are:

Spouse benefit amount:         $25.000               

Dependent benefit amount:    $1000 for an infant 14 days to 6 months

                                                 $10,000 for a child 6 months to 19 years (23 years for full-time students)

Long Term Disability We offer our employees the opportunity to apply for Voluntary Long Term Disability insurance from Standard Insurance Company. Long Term Disability (LTD) pays a benefit in the event that you cannot work because of illness or injury. Cost is based on employee's age, income level and choice of elimination period. The LTD benefit replaces a portion of your monthly income, providing funds directly to you. The insurance is offered at a 60% income replacement level of the insured's pre-disability earnings reduced by deductible income from other sources (not to exceed a maximum monthly benefit of $6,000). The elimination or waiting period before the benefit begins is either 90 or 180 days.  Coverage Highlights  LTD Brochure

Liability The Board carries liability insurance on all employees for suits involving discrimination, libel, slander, and defamation of character.

Voluntary Supplemental Life Employees may elect to purchase supplemental life insurance in increments of $10,000 up to a maximum amount of $200,000.

Worker's Compensation All employees are covered by Worker's Compensation for accidents which occur in the normal pursuit of their duties. Employee's Worker's Compensation Guidelines

*Mentoring Programs Wicomico County has two mentoring programs for teachers. In identified schools there are full time mentors who work exclusively with new teachers in perfecting classroom management, instructional practices and differentiated instructional strategies. All other new teachers are provided with an individual peer mentor who assists with their needs and concerns throughout the school year. All new teachers participate in our new teacher induction program from August - April of each school year.

Payroll Deduction Deductions can be arranged for credit union, health insurance, tax sheltered annuities, etc.

Retirement As a condition of employment, any eligible employee must become a member of either the State of Maryland Pension System or the Aetna Pension Plan. Eligibility for the State systems will be governed by the rules and regulations established by the Board of Trustees of the Maryland State Retirement Systems.

All newly employed certificated personnel must join the Maryland Pension System. Currently, members contribute 5 percent of their annual salary. Benefits include a death benefit which provides payment of 100% of annual salary to one's designated beneficiary, plus disability and service retirement. The death benefit and disability retirement is applicable to both the Aetna and the Maryland Pension System.

*Tenure Tenure is achieved after a two-year probationary period and satisfactory evaluations. 

24-Pay Plan Ten-month employees may elect to have their salary paid during the school year (20 pays) or spread over the entire year (24 pays).

403(b) Tax Sheltered Annuity

The 403(b) Plan is a voluntary retirement plan for employees in public schools, hospitals and universities and is similar to private industry's 401(k) plans.  The 403(b) plan allows you to save for retirement through pre-tax payroll deductions.  Effective January 1, 2009, Lincoln Financial will be the only provider and will offer 15+/- options of mutual funds, and asset allocation models to select, depending on your projected retirement date.

Because you are employed by the Wicomico County Board of Education, when you enroll in a 403(b) you are also eligible for the 401(a) matching plan.  You must be enrolled in a 403(b) to receive matching funds. 

401(a) Matching Plan The 401(a) Matching Plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan. The Board will automatically enroll you in the Plan when you sign up for the 403(b) TSA program. The Board will make employer contributions on your behalf. The amount of the contribution may change from year to year.

Tuition Reimbursement Job related course work may be reimbursed (or tuition waived for adult education courses/workshops) if approved in writing by the Director of Human Resources prior to registration for the course. Employees who have reached junior status in a degree program leading to teacher certification may be eligible to receive reimbursement if requested in writing and approved.

The Board reimburses teachers for the costs of tuition and normal registration and laboratory fees for all courses required for certification and approved by the Board in advance, up to a maximum of 1,950 per fiscal year.