Information

COMPLETING YOUR RETIREMENT FORMS

DFT unit members planning on retiring at the end of the 2024-2025 school year should complete all of the forms related to retirement by May 1, 2025.  These forms include:

1.  A Separation from Service Survey (SFSS) found on the District's Hub.  Please remember that in order to be paid for sick days upon retirement from DPSCD, eligible employees must submit a SFSS to the District's Human Resource office (HR) no later than May 1, 2025 and retire effective July 1, 2025 (or August 1, 2025 if working during the month of July).

The SFSS should be emailed to HR by May 1, 2025.  (Follow the instructions on the Hub.)  The "effective date of separation" on the SFSS should be listed as June 14, 2025 (or July 31, 2025 if working during the month of July).  After the SFSS is submitted to HR, a confirmation email will be sent to the employee.  Employees should print a copy of that email for their records.

Eligible employees meeting the May 1, 2025 deadline will be paid $45 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 1 to 100 and $65 for each unused sick day in their sick bank for days 101 to 200 for a maximum payout of $11,000.  Payout for sick days upon retirement does not include a payout from the catastrophe bank.  (To calculate the number of sick days in one's sick bank, divide the number of sick bank hours by eight [8].)

2.  The pension application forms found on an employee's miAccount with the Michigan Office of Retirement Services (michigan.gov/orsschools).  (Click on the menu item "Ready to Retire", then the box that says, "Apply for Retirement", and then follow the instructions.  Use the same date for "the last day worked" as was used on the SFSS (June 14, 2025 or July 31, 2025).

3.  The application forms for Social Security (if eligible) and Medicare (if eligible) found on Social Security's website (ssa.gov).  (This website is separate and unrelated to the Michigan Office of Retirement Services' website and an employee's miAccount.)

Questions about retirement can be directed to the DFT's retirement counselor, Patrick Falcusan, at 313.875.6783 at any time during the year.

There is much concern about the recent statement from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announcing it would end a policy restricting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents from arresting undocumented immigrants at sensitive locations such as hospitals and schools.  

We want to share some resources with our members that AFT National is providing as we deal with this uncertainty. We have also posted these resources in our January 2025 The Detroit Teacher. 

RESOURCES: https://www.aft.org/our-community/immigration

• Rights for Immigrant Students/English
• Rights for Immigrant Students/Spanish
• Deportation Defense Toolkit/English
• Deportation Defense Toolkit/Spanish
• Educators' Guide/English
• Know Your Rights Information for Students and Families/English
• Know Your Rights Information for Students and Families/Spanish
• 15 Things to Do to Protect Students/English
• Family Immigration Raid Emergency Plan/English
• Family Immigration Raid Emergency Plan/Spanish
• Share My Lesson Immigration Lesson Plans
• Colorín Colorado Serving and Supporting Immigrant Students

Do you know a member who is an outstanding STEM teacher. If so, check out this information on the Presidential Awards in Math and Science Teaching website. Applications are due by February 6, 2025.

• Employee Assistance Program through Ulliance Page 1
• Employee Assistance Program through Ulliance Page 2

As DPSCD employees, you are eligible for the confidential support, at no cost. Reach out to a counselor at Ulliance, More information can be found on the attached flyers.

The DFT benefits open enrollment takes place from now to September 30, 2024. This is your opportunity to ensure you choose to apply for the benefits best for you or to make changes to your elections. You may click this link: My Aflac MyLogin to access your account.

The Aflac Group offering includes Short Term Disability, Accident, Hospital, and Critical Illness with direct pay options from Checking, Savings, or Credit Card. You don't need to be overwhelmed with these options. We have a team of local Aflac representatives that will provide you with one-on-one support that you need to feel secure in your decisions.  For more information, click here for Aflac/DFT enrollment.

Here are products that are offered to DPSCD employees by Combined, a Chubb Company.  For more information on any of the following, please reach out to Deb Stotler, 231-750-9266, or by email at deb.stotler@combined.com, the account manager who handles DPSCD.  Please read this product flyer brochure which briefly describes the types of coverages which are available for all DPSCD. 

1. Disability Insurance
2. Accident Insurance
3. Critical Illness Insurance
4. Hospital Enhanced with Surgery and Diagnostic 
5. Universal Life Protector
6. Life Insurance (Lifetime Benefit Term)

Please click here to read information about what Corebridge Financial offers to DPSCD employees.

Please click here to read what National Teachers Association Life Insurance offers to DPSCD employees. Insurance coverage is for cancer, heart attacks and strokes, accident, disability, and hospitalization.

Do you need quick tips for working with ELL students? Please check out these two documents from Colorin on the Go:

1. overview of Colorin on the Go
2. what ColorinColorado offers

Schools To Tools, a State of Michigan grant funded program, aims to provide educators with the tools and incentives to offer students the option of considering career opportunities available in union construction trades apprenticeship programs. Designed for middle and high school students, Schools to Tools has a Mobile Experience that brings the field trip to you. They also offer FREE SCECH training for educators that include a meal, a training center tour and material to share with your students and some fun swag.

Learn more at https://schoolstotools.org/resources/ and https://schoolstotools.org/scech/.