Q: When do I get paid?
A: The Payroll Department establishes a payroll-processing schedule each year providing the employee with scheduled pay dates. All salaries are paid every two weeks with 26 pay periods a year.
Download and view the Ancillary Pay Rate Schedule for both certified and classified positions.
Q: I am an hourly classified employee and received a Contract of Employment. How will I be paid?
A: Contractual payments are paid in twenty-six (26) equal payments.
Example:
$7.60 per hour x 8.0 hours per day = $60.80 daily rate
$60.80 x 181 days scheduled = $11,004.80 contract amount
$11,004.80 divided by 26 payments = $423.26 bi-weekly pay before deductions.
Q: Do I receive any benefits?
A: Full-time contract certified/classified employees are eligible to receive major medical, dental, and life insurance paid by the district.
Eligible employees may elect dependent insurance coverage at the time of the initial enrollment, during open enrollment or when there is a qualifying event. Premiums are paid through payroll deduction.
Hourly employees with one year of service are eligible to receive district-paid dental coverage and life insurance valued at $5,000.00. Dependents may be added to dental insurance. Premiums are paid through payroll deduction. Hourly employees may also be eligible to purchase short term disability and voluntary term life insurance.
Q: What voluntary benefits are offered?
A: Delta Dental as the optional indemnity plan, Short Term Disability, Voluntary Term Life Insurance, Flexible Spending Accounts, and Tax Shelter Annuities are available. All premiums are paid through payroll deduction.
Q: How much leave time do I earn?
A: Full-time employees earn general leave time as follows:
| Contract Length | Hours per Pay Period | Hours per Year |
|---|---|---|
| 12-month | 4.93 hours | 128.0 hours |
| 10-month | 5.60 hours for 20 pay periods | 112.0 hours |
| 9.5-month | 5.20 hours for 20 pay periods | 104.0 hours |
| 9-month | 4.80 hours for 20 pay periods | 96.0 hours |
Hourly employees working 20.0 hours per week or more are eligible to earn leave time after the 90-day probationary period. Leave time is posted quarterly based on actual hours worked up to 40.0 hours per week.
Q: Do I earn vacation time?
A: Twelve-month full-time employees earn 3.077 hours of vacation per pay period (80.0 hours per year). After five years of service, they earn 4.6154 hours per pay period (120 hours per year). Administrators earn 6.1539 hours per pay period (160.0 hours per year).
Q: Will I lose my vacation time if I don't use it within the year?
A: Vacation may be accrued to a maximum of twenty (20) days per fiscal year. You can carry forward twenty days into the new fiscal year. Anything over 20 days will be lost.
Q: How do I know how much general leave time I have?
A: Employee leave balances are printed at the bottom of their check stub.
Example:
| Absence/Leave Summary | Beg Bal | Earned | Absence | Adjust | Balance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANNUAL LEAVE-9MO EMPLOYEE | 72.000 | 4.8000 | .0000 | .0000 | 76.80 HOURS |
To convert hours into days, divide balance by 8.0.
Q: What holidays does the District observe?
A:
| "Holidays" | Recess Days | |
| Independence Day | Labor Day | Thanksgiving Recess |
| Veteran's Day | Thanksgiving Day | Winter Recess |
| Christmas Day | New Year's Day | Spring Recess |
| Martin Luther King Day | Memorial Day | Other Board-Declared |
| President's Day | ||
Hourly employees receive 3 paid holidays:
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- New Year's Day
Q: How do I report an absence?
A: Personal leave time or vacation must be requested and approved 72.0 hours prior to the absence. The Employee Absence Form must be filled out and signed by an employee and supervisor. Absence must also be reported to the Employee Absence Recording System at (602) 381-6010.
Q: Why do I have FICA and F.I.C.A. on my check stub?
A: FICA is the deduction code for your Social Security tax.
F.I.C.A. is the deduction code for your medicare tax.
For more information, please visit: http://www.socialsecurity.gov
Q: Why do I have two retirement lines on my check stub?
A: "Arizona State Retirement" is the tax-deferred contribution to the ASRS retirement plan.
"Retirement LTD" is the contribution to the long-term disability program.
Arizona law requires that public school employees working 20 hours or more per week participate in the Arizona State Retirement plan. The plan is designed to provide you with a source of income to supplement your Social Security benefits and personal savings.
For more information, please visit: http://www.asrs.state.az.us/web/index.do
Q: How do I sign up for the tax shelter annuity program?
A: The payroll department has a list of approved Annuity Companies for you to choose from. It is the employee's responsibility to contact an agent and sign the appropriate documents to establish an account with the Annuity Company. A tax shelter annuity form must be signed every school year to establish contributions to be deducted.
Q: How many deductions are taken for the tax shelter annuity contributions?
A: Twenty (20) deductions for 9- and 10-month employees. Twenty-four (24) deductions for 12-month employees.
Q: How do I sign up for direct deposit?
A: A Direct Deposit Authorization Form must be completed with a voided check attached. This will ensure the proper routing number and account number is provided.
All employees are encouraged to sign up for direct deposit. This is a safe and convenient way to ensure that your paycheck is deposited into your checking or savings account at your bank.
Q: How do I know if my Federal withholding information is correct?
A: Please visit this site: IRS Withholding Calculator.