Benefits

Please choose your desired topic from the menu below. If you have any further benefits questions after reviewing this information, please contact our Payroll Office:

Payroll

Phone: (734)424-4100 ext. 1014
Fax: (734)424-4111
Email: payroll@dexterschools.org

Benefits Forms

Health Benefits

Enrollment & Open Enrollment

New Employees: go to MESSA.org and use the following detailed instructions to make your benefit elections:

Click here for the MESSA Online Benefits Enrollment User Guide
MESSA Baby Workshop: What to know when expecting – March 7, 2022. Meeting Slides/BabyPacketPortfolio
MESSA DEA Workshop: Comparing Plans– March 14, 2022. Meeting Slides

Open Enrollment Information

Open Enrollment will be 11/1/25-11/15/25 (for coverage effective 1/1/2026)
MESSA's Open Enrollment Meeting November 3, 2025

OPEN ENROLLMENT DOCUMENTS

STEPS FOR COMPLETING OPEN ENROLLMENT (for MESSA groups)

For detailed instructions - MESSA Open Enrollment Users Guide
MESSA.org
Log in to your My MESSA account (or register)
Select Online benefits website (This takes you to MESSA's enrollment portal)
Choose Change My Elections - If considering a Plan change please read: Moving MESSA Plans
If waiving medical coverage you must complete an online open enrollment election ANNUALLY. MESSA groups do this by choosing MESSA No Medical - Opt Out (PAK B)
HSA elections must be made ANNUALLY online
Flexible Spending Elections must be made ANNUALLY online

Qualifying Change Event

Dexter Community Schools

Qualifying Event to Change your Benefit Coverage Mid-year

You make your health benefit elections during Open Enrollment, once a year, in early November, for coverage effective the following January 1. Watch your email in late October/early November each year. Open Enrollment Information is posted on the Business Office Webpage.

If you need to make a change outside of Open Enrollment, you may do so if you have a Qualifying Change Event. The rules are established by the IRS and described in the MESSA OptionALL Section 125 Plan Document.

You may change your health benefit election if you, your spouse, or your child become eligible or ineligible for coverage under either our Plan or another plan. Common reasons to make a mid-year change include:

• legal marital status (marriage, divorce)

• number of dependents (birth, death, adoption, placement for adoption)

• employment status (strike or lockout, termination of employment, leave of absence)

• work schedule (a change from Full-time to part-time)

• a dependent becomes eligible or ineligible for benefits under the Plan

• an election made by your Spouse or child under another plan due to a Qualifying Change Event or during an open enrollment period that is different from the calendar year of our Plan (not for Dependent Care FSA or Health Care FSA)

• the availability or cost change (significant increase or decrease) of benefit options or coverage under our Plan (not for Dependent Care FSA or Health Care FSA)

• your dependent care provider or cost of dependent care (a significant increase or decrease) (for the Dependent Care FSA only)

If you want to change an election because of a Qualifying Change Event, login into your MyMESSA account and create a life event. You must initiate the change within 30 calendar days after the date of the Qualifying Change Event. Do not wait for a birth certificate, marriage certificate, or other official documentation to be issued. Provide your documentation to the Payroll Office once you receive it. If you do not initiate a request for a change in coverage within 30 days you will have to wait until the next Open Enrollment Period or until you experience another consistent Qualifying Change Event.

CURRENT PLANS - DAA, DEA, FT INDIVIDUAL CONTRACT

Plan Comparison- DAA, DEA, FT Individual Contract

PAK A

PAK C

PAK D

PAK F Balance +

PAK B election must be made annually during open enrollment to receive cash-in-lieu benefit

CURRENT PLANS - DESPA

Plan Comparison - DESPA

PAK A

PAK C

PAK D

PAK F Balance +

PAK B election must be made annually during open enrollment

Current Plans DESPA Kitchen Managers 7hr + & 8hr Para

Plan Comparison - DESPA Kitchen Managers & 8hr Para

PAK A Essentials

PAK F Balance +

PAK B ELECTION MUST BE MADE ANNUALLY DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT

Current Plans Bus Drivers and Jenkins / PT Individual Contract

Plan Comparison- Bus Drivers, Jenkins, PT Individual Contract

PAK A Essentials

PAK F Balance +

PAK B ELECTION MUST BE MADE ANNUALLY DURING OPEN ENROLLMENT

1/1/2025-6/30/2025:

Health Savings Accounts

If you enroll in a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP), such as the MESSA ABC or the BCN Plan, you may be able to contribute to a Health Savings Account (HSA). Like an FSA, an HSA allows you to be reimbursed for health care related expenses (medical, prescription, dental, vision, other health care) through a pre-tax payroll deduction. You may not contribute to an HSA if you are also covered by a Medical Care FSA, per IRS rules.

HSA bank accounts are held at Health Equity. You enroll each year in the MESSA portal during Open Enrollment along with your other health benefit elections.

The maximum election in the 2026 calendar year is $4,400 if you elect single coverage and $8,750 if you elect double or family coverage. If you are 55 or older during the calendar year, your limits for 2025 are $5,400/$9,750.

The maximum election in the 2025 calendar year is $4,300 if you elect single coverage and $8,550 if you elect double or family coverage. If you are 55 or older during the calendar year, your limits for 2025 are $5,300/$9,550.

Any amounts in your HSA account at the end of the calendar year are carried over to the next year and the funds belong to you when you terminate your employment.

HEALTH BENEFIT RATES

HEALTH Benefit Rates (ALL GROUPS)

MPSERS New Hire Video: Choosing Your Retirement Plan

All Other Benefits Info

403(B) PLAN/457 PLAN INFORMATION

A 403(b) plan is a retirement plan for certain employees of public schools, employees of certain tax-exempt organizations, and certain ministers.

A 457 plan is a retirement plan for certain employees of state or local government or a tax-exempt organization under IRC 501(c).

Employees qualify to participate in retirement plans under both plan definitions, therefore an employee can participate in either the 403(b) plan or the 457 plan or both plans. The maximum contribution for the 2026 calendar year is $24,500 per plan. If you are age 50 or older, you may contribute up to a total of $32,500 and $35,750 is you are age 60-63.

The Standard administers the Dexter Community Schools 403(b) Plan (#807078) & the 457 Plan (#807077). The following information is provided to help you understand the different school retirement plans and to plan for your retirement.

Employee Retirement Plans
Helping You Plan for Retirement

You may access retirement planning tools, set up an account, designate or change the amount you save, select or change your investments, and elect or change your beneficiary online. A representative from The Standard is also available to assist you between 10 am and 8 pm Eastern time at 1-800-858-5420. Alternatively, you may print the forms, complete them, and return them to the Payroll Office.

Plan Overview & Fee Disclosure 403(b) plan/457 plan
Funds Lineup 403(b) plan/457 plan
403(b) Fund Change 9/2/2024
Beneficiary Designation 403(b) plan/457 plan
Enrollment Brochure 403(b) plan/457 plan
Investing Form 403(b) plan/457 plan
Investor Quiz 403(b) plan/457 plan
Mainspring Managed Form 403(b) plan/457 plan
Savings Form 403(b) plan/457 plan
403b 415 Annual Contribution Notice

Additional Information

Adoption Agreement & Amendment 403(b) plan
Investment Policy 403(b) plan/457 plan
Loan Program 403(b) plan/457 plan
Privacy Notice 403(b) plan/457 plan
Summary Plan Document 403(b)plan/457 plan
Summary of Material Modifications 403b plan/457 plan
Fund Share Split 10-2025 403b plan / 457 plan

Transferring Plans

If you have a 403(b) retirement plan that you contributed to through the Dexter Community School prior to December 31, 2008 that you want to transfer to The Standard, see:

Transfer of 403(b) Funds Information
Application for 403(b) Transfer
Application for 457 Transfer
VALIC Transfer-Rollover 403(b)
VALIC Transfer-Rollover 457
If you have another retirement plan from a former employer that you want to rollover to The Standard, complete the 403(b) Application for Rollover Form or the 457 Application for Rollover.

403(b)/457 Plan Monitoring Reports

Quarterly Performance Monitoring Reports

PENSION PLAN/MPSERS

Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS)

As an employee of Dexter Community Schools, whether full time, part time, or temporary status, you are a member of the Michigan Public School Employees Retirement System (MPSERS). The District contributes a portion (42.82% for 2025-26) of your salary to fund the pension plan and retiree health care plan. In addition to the District’s contribution, you also contribute a portion of your salary to fund your pension and retiree health care. An overview to help you understand the different retirement plans including your MPSERS and the Dexter Community Schools 403(b)/457 Retirement Savings Plan and how your contributions appear on your paycheck is provided.

As a new public school employee at Dexter Community Schools, you have a decision to make about your future! Please review the information available at PickMiPlan.org to understand your retirement plan options and consider what fits you best.

Employee Retirement Plans

The State of Michigan Office of Retirement Services (ORS) has a comprehensive website to help you learn about your pension at https://www.michigan.gov/orsschools.

For your MPSERS detailed personal account information visit the State of Michigan ORS website: miAccount. From this secure site you can view your service credit history, change address/phone information, nominate or change a retirement beneficiary, view and print an account statement.

If you have a MPSERS Defined Contribution saving account component as part of your MPSERS retirement plan, you can access your investment account online at https://stateofmivoya.com.

For more information, please contact:

Office of Retirement Services (ORS)
P.O. Box 30171
Lansing, MI 48909-7671
http://www.michigan.gov/ors
Phone: (800) 381-5111

MPSERS Resources

miAccount
State of Michigan ORS 401(k)/457 Plans log in
Form to change existing TDP Agreement
Form to transfer a TDP agreement to a new school district
New Hire Retirement Plan Election Form (for employees first working 9/4/2012 or after)
ORS Refund Application (for terminated employees who want to withdraw their pension contributions)

IRS Reissue 2012 2013 W-2s Packet (click this link to download full letter and form)

FLEXIBLE SPENDING ACCOUNTS

Please submit all FSA reimbursement requests directly to MESSA OptionAll. MESSA has switched to an online participant portal which provides online access that lets participants see their plan information and balances, enter claims, make payments, and make updates to personal information.

You will receive an email from the system with all the requested information to set up your online account. Alternatively, you may receive a letter with the information needed to register your account.

MESSA Summit Participant Portal User Guide

MESSA OptionALL
1475 Kendale Blvd
PO Box 2560
East Lansing, MI 48826-2560
Phone: 800-890-0393

All reimbursements will be processed on the 15th of every month for any claims submitted and approved by MESSA by the end of the previous month. Your reimbursements will be processed through your regular paycheck. Your taxes will not be affected by the FSA reimbursement.

The maximum election in the 2025 calendar year for FSA Medical is $3,400 and $7,500 for FSA Dependent.

The maximum election in the 2025 calendar year for FSA Medical is $3,300 and $5,000 for FSA Dependent.

NOTICES OF RIGHTS

Notices of Privacy

Other Notices

Staff Discounts

Preferred Local Initiative

Area businesses offer staff discounts to Dexter Community Schools employees. Please present your District-issued picture employee identification card (ID) with current school-year label.

Local Preferences

Board Policy 6320 – Purchasing gives preference to local vendors when the District purchases goods or services. “Whenever goods and services are of comparable quality and cost, qualified local businesses shall be given preference. A qualified local business is defined as one whose principal place of business is located within the geographic boundaries of the school district.”

For questions about Staff Discounts and the Preferred Local Initiative, please contact Human Resources (734) 424-4100 x1012

Compensation and Benefits Summaries

BUSINESS OFFICE HOURS

Mon-Fri 7:30am-4:00pm

Summer Hours:

Mon-Thurs 7:00am-4:00pm

Fri 7:00am-11:00am