PWCS Offers Special One-Time Retirement Opportunity

Thinking of retirement but just have not quite reached retirement age or never took the time to check it out? The Office of Benefit and Retirement Services has scheduled four Retirement Information Meetings in March for individuals who may consider retiring by July 1, 2010. 

Pending approval by the School Board on March, 24, this year, Prince William County Public Schools is offering a one-time exception to the terms of the Retirement Opportunity Program (ROP). Individuals who are eligible to receive a retirement benefit from the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) and who have met all eligibility criteria except for reaching the age of 55 may still be able to retire and participate in the ROP program if they meet the following requirements:

• Full-time Employee;
• 10 years of services with PWCS, including seven (7) years completed immediately preceding retirement;
• 17 years of VRS service or service in education;
• Employee is not eligible for disability retirement; and
• Employee has received satisfactory performance reviews for the last three(3) years prior to the scheduled retirement.

Individuals who want to take advantage of this option must announce their intent to retire no later than March 31 with a retirement date of July 1, 2010. The maximum length of ROP service will remain at seven (7) years.

The following Retirement Information Meetings will be held at the Edward L. Kelly Leadership Center:

• Thursday, March 11, Conference Room 1101 at 4:30 p.m.;
• Thursday, March 18, Conference Room 1502 A & B at 4:30 p.m.; and,
• Thursday, March 25, Conference Room 1101 at 4:30 p.m.

Individuals who plan to attend one of the meetings should contact the Office of Benefit and Retirement Services in advance by emailing benefits@pwcs.edu. This will allow staff to prepare and provide personal retirement figures for individual employees to review at the meeting. Opportunities for individual evaluation will follow the initial presentation. Family members are welcomed and encouraged to attend the meeting.