I want to retire at the end of this school year, but only if I can work part-time next school year.  Can I be certain that I will be able to get part-time employment with the County in September?

No.  According to IRS guidelines surrounding qualified retirement plans, there can be no pre-arranged employment commitment between a retiree and his or her employer.

If I decide I want to return to work for the County part-time, how does that affect my retirement benefits?

Your VRS benefits are not affected by working part-time; however, if you return to work in a regular part-time position with the County and you are receiving VERIP benefits, your VERIP benefits would cease while you are working.  This interruption of VERIP benefits would not apply to temporary positions like substitute teaching. (Please refer to the guidelines on the previous page in regard to the required break in service.)

What if I want to substitute teach?

Substitute teaching is not considered regular employment; however, you must still meet the 30-day break in service and no prearranged agreement requirements in order to be able to return in a substitute/temporary capacity and continue to receive VRS benefits.  One way in which substitute/temporary employment differs from regular employment when it comes to retirement benefits is that while you wouldn't be able to continue receiving VERIP benefits if you returned in a regular part-time position, you would be able to do so if you return in a substitute/temporary position.

Can I return to work in the same school/department I worked in before I retired?

Yes.  There is no restriction on returning to work at the same location.

Can I work in the same job, but in a part-time capacity?

Yes.  However, your job duties must be different in some way from the duties you had pre-retirement.  That is not to say you cannot teach the same subject or still have the same job title, but your new duties would either need to be different or you could not perform all the duties you had before you retired.  With most positions, duties will differ simply through the nature of going from full-time to part-time.  In other words, it would not be possible to do exactly the same job in a part-time capacity that you had done as a full-time employee.

I understand that there needs to be a break in service of at least 30 calendar days before I can return to work for the County part-time.  What if I retire at the end of a school year and return to work part-time at the beginning of the next school year?

The summer break does not count toward the 30-day break-in-service requirement.  The 30-day break must occur over a period when the employee would normally have been working. Therefore, you should not accept employment with the County prior to October 1 of the school year following your retirement date if you wish to continue receiving your VRS monthly benefit.

If I return part-time, do I keep my sick leave?

No.  Once you resign from your position, any accumulated sick leave you may have had will no longer be available to you.  The County does not currently pay out sick leave upon an employee’s separation from service.  If you return to a regular part-time benefits-eligible position, you would begin accruing leave based on the number of hours worked per day, in the same manner as a new employee.  Keep in mind that if you return part-time, you will only be eligible for leave and benefits if you work at least 50% of a full-time schedule for that position.

If I return part-time working at least 50% time, is it true that my portion of the health insurance premiums will cost more than they did when I was full-time?

Yes.  Part-time employee premiums are higher than those of full-time employees, with the exception of certain transportation positions that receive full Board contributions.  The Board will pay up to your part-time percentage of their portion of the premium; you will then be responsible for the remainder of the Board contribution plus the full-time employee portion.  (For example: if the Board contribution for a full-time employee is $488.33 per month, the full-time employee portion is $37 and you work 50% time, the Board will only pay $244.17 toward your insurance coverage.  You would then need to pay the other $244.17 plus the $37 employee portion.)

I know a teacher who retired and came back to teach part-time.  She is working a 90% position.  How many hours can I work before it is considered full-time?

As long as you work less than the normal full-time schedule for your position, you will be considered part-time.  90% time is considered part-time; however, it is important to keep in mind the IRS guideline about your new duties being different from those of your pre-retirement position if you intend on returning to a part-time schedule that is only a touch shorter than a full-time schedule.

I know a teacher who retired a couple of years ago and returned in a part-time position the following school year.  However, she spoke with her principal before she retired to ensure she would have a part-time position when she returned in the fall.  Why can't I do the same?

Previously, we were not provided the IRS guidelines to follow in this regard and made the best good-faith effort to comply with what little guidance we were given.  However, now that the guidelines are clear to us, we must comply with them.  Therefore, the County cannot commit to a part-time position for you next school year if you retire in June.

TEACHER LICENSURE

I am a teacher and hold state license elsewhere, how do I find out Virginia's requirements for licensure?
Please visit the Virginia Department of Education's website for information and regulations on VA teaching requirements and licensure. 

I am interested in becoming a teacher. I hold a degree, but not for education, how do I find out what I need to do? Are there special programs for people who are "career switchers"?
Please visit the Virginia Department of Education's website for information and regulations on VA teaching requirements and licensure and routes to alternative licensure.

How many points do I need to earn in order to renew my current VA teaching license? How long do I have to earn the required points?
180. You may earn these points over a 5 year period.

How do I find out what activities count towards the required 180 points toward license renewal?
Please review the Virginia Licensure Renewal Manual.Who do I write the check to for my license renewal?
Treasurer of Virginia.  Send it to the attention of Beth Churms, Licensure Specialist.

I would like to add an endorsement to my existing license, how do I add it, or find out if I am eligible?
Contact the Licensure Specialist.