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Know the Steps for Hiring Critical Shortage Positions in Schools
Schools have options when hiring retirees, especially for designated critical shortage positions or retiree school security officers. But it's important to know the rules and report these positions correctly to VRS.
To return to work in critical shortage positions or as school security officers, retirees must have a 12-calendar-month break in service — a key difference from part-time or interim return-to-work situations. This break in service means not working in any full-time, part-time or volunteer position with any VRS-participating employer, nor working for a contractor with any VRS-participating employer.
Hiring critical shortage positions: Certain school division jobs may be designated as critical shortage — teachers, administrators and bus drivers — meaning a school division received three or fewer qualified applicants when recruiting for the position. Certain other criteria apply to teacher critical shortage positions. The Virginia Department of Education designates critical shortage areas annually.
Retirees employed in critical shortage positions must complete one of the following forms each year they are employed in the position:
- Certification of Eligibility for Critical Shortage Teachers or Administrators (VRS-160)
- Certification of Eligibility for Critical Shortage Bus Drivers (VRS-160D)
The completed forms must be certified by employers and submitted to VRS by September 1. If hired after September 1, the form should be submitted as soon as possible.
Employers must enroll each critical shortage retiree in myVRS Navigator with the VRS Job Name Critical Shortage Teacher or Critical Shortage Bus Driver, as applicable, to ensure that the retiree's monthly retirement benefit continues while serving in the position.
For more information, review Critical Shortage Key Considerations.
Hiring retiree school security officers: Retired sworn law-enforcement officers may be eligible to return to work full time as a retiree school security officer at a Virginia public school. Positions are full-time; and if retirees qualify, they will continue to receive retirement benefits but will not earn additional service credit. However, employers will continue making contributions to the retirement plan for these employees.
Retired employees should complete the Certification of Eligibility for Retiree School Security Officers (VRS-160C). Employers should certify and submit the form to VRS by September 1.
Employers must enroll VRS retirees hired in the Retiree School Security Officer position with the VRS job name Retiree School Security Officer. myVRS Navigator will recognize the employee as a retiree, continue the monthly retiree benefit and place the retiree SSO in the VRS Employer Contribution Only plan.
For more information, review Hiring and Reporting School Security Officers or School Resource Officers.
Important: At the end of the school year, the employer must separate all of their critical shortage teachers, critical shortage bus drivers and retiree school security officers. Schools can request a Return to Work Exceptions report from the Report Repository in myVRS Navigator for a list of all the retirees enrolled in these positions.
If a retiree in one of these exception positions returns for next year, then you will submit a new form (VRS-160, VRS-160C or VRS-160D) by September 1, and enroll the retiree in myVRS Navigator with the appropriate job name.
Still have questions? Before you make a critical shortage hire, reach out to your employer representatives for school divisions: Beth Valdrighi at 804-771-7765 or Julia Minnigh at 804-775-3487. They can walk you through the process and help you avoid pitfalls.
