Caldwell County Schools provides a valuable benefit to all full-time employees and their immediate family members known as the Employee Assistance Program (EAP). We have partnered with MYgroup Group, an independent provider of EAP services. There is no enrollment required and you are eligible to use the EAP through MYgroup as of your first date of employment.

The EAP offers help for personal and/or professional concerns by providing free, confidential, short-term counseling and personal consultation.  Additionally, the EAP provides work-life resources in the way of legal and financial consultations, online learning and resources.

The EAP has a network of counselors that are conveniently located.  They can help you improve or resolve personal difficulties whether big or small, personal, or work-related. 

Some examples of concerns that the EAP addresses include:

• Family and relationship issues
• Depression and anxiety
• Resiliency and coping skills
• Work-related issues
• Grief and loss
• Alcohol or drug use
• Stress
• Legal and financial issues

Confidentiality is one of the most important features of the EAP.  No one will know that you have used this resource unless you offer that information or unless someone’s safety is threatened. 

There is no cost to you for your phone calls or face-to-face visits with the EAP.  Caldwell County Schools covers all expenses for this program.  

To seek assistance through the EAP, simply call 704-529-1428 or 800-633-3353. 

Appointments are available during both daytime and evening hours.  If you schedule appointments during work hours, it is your responsibility to make appropriate arrangements with your supervisor or Human Resource Director.  The EAP is not designed to evaluate fitness for duty or authorize leave of absence but will provide referrals as needed. 

Please take advantage of this wonderful benefit.  The EAP staff at MYgroup is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, ready to assist you.  Remember, the EAP is always a good place to begin. 

Caldwell County Schools offers all eligible employees a comprehensive Benefits Package. The products described on this website are voluntary, employee-paid benefits, and eligible employees have the opportunity to select the programs in which they wish to participate.

Benefits for Caldwell County Schools

Employee Benefits plan booklet

TSACG Website

MEANINGFUL NOTICE / PLAN SUMMARY INFORMATION 2024

Salary Schedules 

State salary schedules for all positions

Local Supplement 
Permanent full and part-time employees receive annual supplement pay after completing one year of service with Caldwell County Schools.  The local supplement is included in the paycheck of the employee's anniversary date.  

The Board of Education approved changes into effect January 1, 2023

State Longevity

Permanent full and part-time employees (excluding teachers and instructional support) who are eligible according to state guidelines receive annual longevity pay after completing 10 years of NC State Service.  The state longevity is included in the paycheck of the employee's anniversary date.  

Benefits Overview Document

Voluntary Dental Benefit Plan

All employees can enroll in a payroll deduction dental program provided by IMS.  The plan provides a variety of benefits and allows your family to use any dentist or specialist you choose. Ten-month payroll deductions and a summary of benefits are included below.  You can review the plan on the Pierce Group Benefits Website. If you have a qualifying event and need to change your coverage, please visit the online enrollment site within 30 days of event.  

Flexible Spending Accounts

Flexible Spending Accounts, offered by Pierce Group and administered by Interactive Medical Systems, are available to all permanent full-time employees.  With an FSA, you save on a wide range of everyday medical, dental, vision, and day care expenses.  Your contribution are pre-tax so you will not pay federal, state, and social security taxes on eligble expenses and therefore increase your take-home pay.

There are two types of plans offered, the Health Care Flexible Spending Account and the Dependent Day Care Flexible Spending Account. You can choose to have both types of accounts, but they operate independently of each other.  

For more information please visit Interactive Medical Systems website.  
If you have an account and would like to check your balance, please login HERE.  

Details on the NC State Health Plan, administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Health Insurance

The NC State Health Plan, administered by Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC, offers two plans to eligible employees: 

• Enhanced 80/20 PPO
• Traditional 70/30 PPO

Eligible employees are permanent full-time employees working 30 or more hours per week; permanent part-time employees who are employed at least 50% or employees in a job-share position.  See a plan comparison chart here. 

In Network Providers

Follow the link below to access the In Network Providers.
​​​​​​​In Network Providers

Insurance premiums Your cost will depend on the plan and coverage you chose. Coverages include Employee Only, Employee & Child(ren), Employee & Spouse and Employee & Family.  Eligibility does not guarantee employer contribution towards your premiums.  Payroll deductions are available on a pre-tax basis.  To view rates, visit the NC State Health Plan or call (888) 234-2416.  
How to Enroll or Make Changes to Your Coverage  Eligible employees and dependents may enroll within 30 days of hire or qualifying life event.  Changes can be made with a qualifying life event within 30 days of the event. 

eEnroll - to enroll for active employees 

Qualified Life Event Supporting Documentation

Section 125 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRS) provides guidelines for a Qualifying Life Events (QLE) change. Employees must provide supporting documentation to verify the qualifying life event in accordance with the State Health Plan policy. Click here for the list of supporting documents.   For detailed information please refer to the NC State Health Plan Website.

Request a leave of absence

Holidays
Permanent full and part-time employees receive pay for the same number of legal holidays occurring with the period of employment as those designated by the State Personnel Commission for state employees.  Paid Holidays are granted only to employees who are in pay status through the day on which the holiday is scheduled, or in pay status for 1/2 or more of the workdays in the month.

With the exception of Veteran's Day, the local board of education determines when holidays are scheduled in the school calendar. The following holidays are designated by the State Personnel Commission for State Employees.

New Year's Day
Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday
Good Friday
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Veterans Day (Note: Veterans Day must be observed as a holiday for students and staff.)
Thanksgiving Day - Two days
Christmas - Three days
 

Annual Leave (Vacation)
 
Permanent full and part-time employees earn annual leave on a monthly basis if he/she works or is on paid leave during one-half or more of the workdays in the monthly pay period.  Unused personal leave may be carried forward from one year to another and may be accumulated without limitation until June 30th.  On June 30th, personal leave in excess of five days is converted to sick leave so that the maximum of five days are carried forward to July 1st.  Upon retirement, any personal leave may also be converted to sick leave days.   Eligible part-time permanent employees earn leave equal to their percentage of full-time employment.  Unused annual leave can be accumulated and a maximum of 30 days carried forward to the next fiscal year.  Every year on July 1st, any accumulated annual leave in excess of 30 days is converted/rolled over to the employee's sick leave days.

This rate is based on the length of total state service as follows:  
 

 
Sick Leave
 

Permanent full and part-time employees earn one sick leave day per month of employment, if the employee works or is on paid leave during one-half or more of the workdays in a monthly pay period.  Sick leave may be accumulated indefinitely.  Upon retirement, accrued sick leave may be applied toward creditable state service. 
 

Personal Leave
 

Personal leave is earned only by permanent full and part-time classroom teachers and media coordinators who require substitutes.  This leave is earned at the rate of 0.2 days for each full month of employment not to exceed two days per year.  Unused personal leave may be carried forward from one year to another and may be accumulated without limitation until June 30th.  On June 30th, personal leave in excess of five days is converted to sick leave so that the maximum of five days are carried forward to July 1st.  Upon retirement, any personal leave may also be converted to sick leave days.  
 

Extended Sick Leave
 

Extended sick leave is available only to classroom teachers and media coordinators who require substitutes if they are absent due to their own personal illness or injury in excess of their accumulated sick leave and available annual leave, and available bonus leave.  In order to be eligible, the employee must be in a permanent full or part-time position.  Those qualifying are allowed extended sick leave of up to 20 workdays throughout the regular term of employment less a substitute deduction of $50 per day.  This deduction is mandatory whether or not a substitute is employed.  Extended sick leave is not available beyond the waiting period of either Workers' Compensation or Short-term Disability.
 

Parent Involvement in schools Leave
 

All employees may take up to four hours of unpaid leave per year to attend or otherwise be involved in the school of his/her child for whom the employee is a parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis.
This is a non-paid leave, however, the employee may use eligible accrued leave in lieu of non-paid parental involvement leave. 
 

Other leaves
 

Other leaves available to employees include:  Voluntary Shared Leave, Jury Duty, Court Attendance, Parental Leave, Family Medical Leave, Military Leave, and Leave of Abscence Without Pay.  For more information, please visit the State of NC Human Resources Leave Page.  
 

To request a leave of absence, employees should speak to their principal, director or lead secretary at their school or contact your benefits coordinator.   

All employees of public schools in North Carolina receive professional liability protection. This policy is free, covers all employees (certified and non-certified) as well as volunteers acting under the educational institution, and there is no enrollment requirement.
 

What is Covered
 

• Responds to claims for Professional Activities of a Member Insured in the course and scope of his or her duties as an employee of a North Carolina local education agency or accredited public school district, state education agency, or charter educational institution.
• Covers wrongful acts in performance of professional activities
• Coverage is written with $1,000,000 per Insured per occurrence and $1,000,000 aggregate per Insured
  • Broad coverage exists including, but not limited to:
  • $10,000 limit for Accidental Death & Dismemberment
  • Civil Rights – with no sub-limit like other policies
  • $2,500 Per Insured claim, $10,000 aggregate per Insured per policy for attorney fees, and $5,000,000 aggregate per policy period
  • Bail Bond
  • Assault Related Property Damage
  • $50,000 limit for Criminal Acts
  • Employment Related issues, including protection of professional rights
  • $100,000 limit for Volunteers, while acting at the direction of the Educational Institution
     

For details visit the website.

Group Term Life Insurance

All Caldwell County Schools' employees receive $2000 in basic life insurance at no cost to the employee.  
Employees may elect to add additional coverages of $10k, 20k, 30k, 40k, 50k, or 100k on themself, $10k on a spouse, and $5k on a child. Coverage is 100% employee paid. Please see rates below: 

Other life insurance options are available through Pierce Group Benefits.  

NC Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System

   
Permanent full-time employees are automatically enrolled in the NC Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System.  Employees are required to contribute 6% on a pre-tax basis.  Employees cannot increase or decrease this percentage. After five years of contributory service, an employee is vested. Fringe benefits of this retirement system include a death benefit and short-term disability benefits after just one year of contributory service and long-term disability after five years of contributory service.  For more information please visit My NC Retirement.  

TSERS Handbook

Supplemental Retirement Plans 

NC 401k Plan is one of the North Carolina Total Retirement Plans.  This plan allows only contributing members of the NC Teachers' and State Employees' Retirement System (TSERS) to contribute to this plan.  Contributions are made through payroll deduction and available on a pre-tax and/or Roth after-tax basis.   You will find more information including enrollment forms and investment choices online at My NC Retirement.  Enrollment can also be done online.  If you have questions, our regional representative's contact information is:

Kristin Bryan

Regional Education Counselor | North Carolina Total Retirement Plans

Empower Retirement | 3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 1004 | Raleigh, NC 27604 

p. 704.219-7290 | ​​​​​​​kristin.bryan@empower.com 

403b and 457 plans allow full-time, temporary, or part-time employees and rehired retired employees to set aside pre-tax contributions and/or Roth after-tax contributions.  These deductions are made through payroll deduction.  

Two companies make these plans available to Caldwell County School employees.  Please see the options listed below:

Option 1.  North Carolina Total Retirement Plans 

You will find more information including enrollment forms and investment choices online at My NC Retirement.  Enrollment can also be done online.  If you have questions, our regional representative's contact information is:

Kristin Bryan

Regional Education Counselor | North Carolina Total Retirement Plans

Empower Retirement | 3100 Smoketree Court, Suite 1004 | Raleigh, NC 27604 

p. 704.219-7290 | ​​​​​​​kristin.bryan@empower.com 

Option 2.  Lincoln Investments

We have a local rep for these plans who can meet with you to discuss your options, answer any questions you have, and handle all paperwork for you including submitting the paperwork to our payroll department.  Our local representative's contact information is:

Doug Nixon (lives in Boone) 

Financial Representative | Lincoln Investments

Lincoln Investments | 1925 E Main St | Albemarle, NC 28001 

p. 800-433-4032 | c. 980-254-6208 | dnixon@lincolninvestment.com 
 

Option 3.  National Life Group (403b plan only)

Our rep for this plan can meet with you to discuss your options, answer any questions you have, and handle all the paperwork for you.  Our local representative is:
 

Ernest Freeman Jr. 

Financial Representative | ValuTeachers
 c. 910-978-7090 | efreeman@valuteachers.com

Orbit Flyer

 ​​​​​​​

Supplemental Insurance 
 
Caldwell County Schools offers the following Colonial Lfe Insurance products through Pierce Group Benefits.  Please visit this webpage for details on each plan.  

• Cancer Benefit
• Accident Benefit
• Medical Bridge Indemnity Benefit
• Disability Benefit
• Group Critical Care Benefit
• Life Insurance
  • Term Life Insurance 
  • Universal Life Insurance
  • Whole Life Insurance

Vision Plan  

Caldwell County Schools voluntary vision benefit enables employees and their families to significantly reduce their expenditures for routine eye care.  Offered through Community Eye Care, the benefit includes the following:  You can review the plan on the Pierce Group Benefits Website. If you have a qualifying event and need to change your coverage, please visit the online enrollment site within 30 days of event.   

• Planet Fitness
• Additional Community Partners (See Discounts)​​​​​​​
• Carolina Furniture Concepts