1. Kingsport City Schools Retirement Overview 2018
Human Resources Department

2. HR Department Overview
Jennifer Guthrie
Chief Human Resources Officer
Debbie Risdon
HR Assistant
Certified Staff
Angie Price
HR Assistant
Benefits Administrator
Debra Depalo
HR Assistant
Classified Staff
Tabatha Graham
HR Assistant Administrative Services and
Substitutes

3. WHAT MANDATORY RETIREMENT PLAN AM I PARTICIPATING IN?
CERTIFIED
CLASSIFIED
Hired before July 1, 2014?
Hired before July 1, 2012?
YES NO
YES NO
TCRS Legacy
HYBRID
Combined TCRS and Empower/Great West
TCRS
ICMA 401(k)
“Hire Date” is the date on which you were hired into a certified position in the state of TN. Time in prior districts is transferable. *Breaks in service may effect eligibility in TCRS Legacy.
“Hire Date” is the date on which you were hired into a classified position with KCS. Time in prior districts or positions in the state is not transferable.

4. What Plans Are Available?
In addition to a mandatory plan identified on the previous slide, you may be participating in an optional plan or you may want to sign up for an optional plan
Optional Plans (employees may participate in these plans in addition to any mandatory retirement plans, but without employer contribution):
401(k) – ICMA or Empower/Great West
457 - ICMA
403(b) – Variety of providers.

5. TCRS (Legacy) Hybrid ICMA
Applicable Employees
(Note special conditions may apply for employees transferred between certified and classified positions or re-hired after these dates)
Certified hired before July 1, 2014
Classified hired before July 1, 2012
Certified hired as of July 1, 2014
Classified hired as of July 1, 2012
Type of Plan
Defined Benefit (pension) through State of TN.
Combined plan including both defined benefit (pension through state of TN) and defined contribution (401(k) through state of TN)
Defined Contribution plan (401(k)) through City of Kingsport.  Also offers 457 plan.
Employee Contribution
5% mandatory for certified
No contribution for classified
5% mandatory to TCRS
2% automatic to Empower, but employee can opt-out
5% mandatory into 401(k)
(KCS will match an additional 3% at the employee’s option. The employee portion of that 3% is deposited into a 457 account and the employer portion is deposited into the 401(k) account.)

6. TCRS (Legacy)
Hybrid
ICMA
KCS Contribution
Funded for both certified and classified-  amount determined by state of TN.  
TCRS: 4%
Empower Contribution: 5% regardless of employee participation
5% match to 401(k)
Additional 3% match available.
Vesting Schedule
(applies to KCS contributions only, employee contributions belong to the employee)
5 years
TCRS:  5 years
Empower/Great West 401(k):  Immediately vested in both employer and employee portion
Years of Service         % Vested
        0-1                         0%
 2                              20%
          3                              40%
          4                              60%
          5                              80%
          6                             100%

7. TCRS (Legacy)
Hybrid
ICMA
Contact Information
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System
Tennessee Consolidated Retirement System :
Empower/Great West (401 Plan):
Tim Crawford
ICMA-RC Retirement (401 Plan)
Trey Sizemore
Other Account Information
TCRS no longer sends paper statements. Annual statements can be accessed on-line.
Any changes should be made on-line.  
Mail paper statements or accessible on-line.

8. Retiree Medical Benefits
Two Questions:
1. Am I eligible to receive retiree medical benefits?
2. If so, what are my premiums?

9. 1. Am I Eligible for Retiree Medical Benefits?
Pre-65 retirees may be eligible for retiree medical with the state of Tennessee if they meet requirement for creditable service and participation on the state medical plan prior to retirement.
Post-65 retirees (age 65 or older) are eligible for medicare and may be eligible for the medicare supplement, POMCO, if they meet eligibility criteria.

10. 1. Am I Eligible for Retiree Medical Benefits?
Eligibility for retiree medical benefits from the state of Tennessee.
a. Employees hired after June 30, 2015 are no longer eligible for retiree
medical benefits with the state of Tennessee due to changes in state
law. (Classified employees hired after June 30, 2012 may not be eligible for benefits depending on whether they have an account with TCRS.)
i. “Hire date” is determined by the date hired into any position and any status, including certified, classified part time or full
time.
b. Minimum of 10 years of creditable service in the state of Tennessee.
c. Carry medical insurance with the state of Tennessee for a minimum
of three years (where service is between years) or one year
(where service is 20+ years) immediately prior to retirement.
d. Must have a retirement account with TCRS.

11. What Happens When I Turn 65?
Retirees become eligible for Medicare and will no longer be eligible for medical insurance through the state of Tennessee. (Active employees at age 65 or over remain on the state health insurance plan until retirement.)
POMCO is a Medicare supplement that pays for some cost not paid for by Medicare. This supplement is available to employees hired prior to July 1, 2015 and who have a TCRS retirement account.

12. 2. What Are My Premiums for Retiree Medical?
Premiums are set each year by the state of Tennessee. Certified staff have different levels of premiums depending on years of creditable service with the state.
Certified Retirees from Kingsport City Schools pay 30% of the state premium if they meet eligibility requirements:
Retire from KCS
Those hired as of July 1, 2010 must have 10 years of service with KCS in order
to receive this credit.
Final premium amounts are automatically deducted from your monthly TCRS retirement check.

13. Other Retirement Benefits:
Life Insurance
Kingsport City Schools carries life insurance for all eligible retirees at no cost to the retiree
This policy is valued at 25% of annual salary at the time of retirement

14. What Do I Need to Do When I Am Ready for Retirement?
Reach out to Human Resources:
Certified: Debbie Risdon at
Classified: Debra Depalo at
If you have a TCRS account, you will need to contact TCRS for a retirement estimate.
Applications for retirement with TCRS are now initiated on line. In order to complete an online retirement application, member must first create/log in to their My TCRS account.
After logging in, the member will access the Online Retirement Application under the “Services” tab or by clicking the “Online Retirement Application” link on the home page.
Once the retiree submits the application, it will be in the queu for KCS to certify the application