Employee Benefits

Health Insurance Benefits 

Garrison Forest offers a variety of medical benefits to meet the needs of its employees. See this year's Open Enrollment page for more details about your options. 

Flexible Spending and Health Savings Account

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA) allow employees to set aside a portion of their earnings to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care and/or dependent care expenses. For more information, click here.

Leave

Paid vacations are granted as recognition of service to the school. The vacation year begins on July 1 of each year and ends June 30 of the following year. Use the Leave Request Form when requesting time off. For more information on FMLA, Short-Term and Long-Term Disability forms, click here. 

Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

The Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offered to employees and eligible dependents at no cost. Find more information about this program in the EAP Brochure. 

The EAP can help if employees or their family members need assistance with problems that may respond to short-term problem solving. EAP services are not tied to the medical plan through Garrison Forest School, Inc. The EAP counselors can be accessed 24 hours a day, yearround by calling 1-866-248-4094. The EAP is free to use and is strictly confidential. Information is not released to Garrison Forest School, Inc. without the written consent of the employee or dependent.

All employees of Garrison Forest School are covered by workers’ compensation insurance at no cost to the employee. This insurance will compensate for lost time from work, medical expenses and loss of life or dismemberment from a work-related injury or illness.

Employees must report any work-related injury or illness immediately to their Supervisor. It is for your benefit to report the incident and complete a “Workers Compensation – First Report of Injury or Illness” form. 

• Failure to report such incidents may result in a loss of benefits.
• Employees will not be retaliated against solely for reporting incidents and filing a claim with Worker’s Compensation Insurance.
• It is recommended the employee seek medical attention and provide Garrison Forest School with a note from the attending physician as to the time recommended to be away from work and/or restrictions.
• There may be a three-day waiting period before worker’s compensation benefits for lost time begins.
• You are eligible to use your accrued sick time or any other accrued paid time off for compensation during this waiting period.
• Employees will not be eligible to receive Short Term Disability (STD) pay concurrently with Worker’s Compensation benefits. Time off from work while receiving Worker’s Compensation benefits will run concurrently with FMLA, if the injury qualifies for FMLA leave.

Basic life insurance coverage is offered and is equal to two times an employee’s annual earnings (rounded to the nearest $1,000), or $175,000, whichever is less. Garrison Forest School, Inc. pays 100 percent of the premium. The life insurance is a term policy with the term being the period of employment with Garrison Forest School, Inc. The policy does not earn interest or pay dividends to policy holders. Life insurance coverage in excess of $50,000 is subject to Social Security, or Federal and/or State employment taxes. Basic life insurance is provided after 30 days of employment and to those employees who are 75 percent full-time equivalency or more.

Beneficiary Form

Plan Highlights

Additional Information Part 1

Additional Information Part 2

Financial assistance with tuition, awards for curriculum development and summer sabbaticals are available to full-time faculty, subject to the availability of funds and relevance of course work to Garrison Forest School curriculum and programs. Some of these programs are available to staff as well. See the Professional Development page for more information.

Lunch is provided at no cost to all faculty, staff, and active GFS students of faculty and staff during the school day and evenings (on-campus, residential life members) during the academic year.

Garrison Forest School offers limited on-campus housing for faculty and staff. On-campus housing is determined by the needs of the residential program and availability.

On-site day care facilities are available to children of faculty and staff. The facility is certified by the State of Maryland and provides a nurturing and caring environment for children aged infant to three years old. Space is limited and there is a charge for this program.

Garrison Forest School offers an interest-free technology loan program.

Employees have access to other benefits as well: 

Riding Lessons: Children of faculty and staff receive a 20% discount on riding.

Summer Camp: Children of faculty and staff may enroll in Summer Camp at GFS at a discounted rate.

Music Lessons: Private music lessons are available at a discount rate for faculty, staff, and active GFS students of faculty and staff.

GFS School Store: All employees receive a discount in the school store of 40% on GFS merchandise. Discounts for children of faculty and staff will be 20%.

Retirement Savings Plan

Garrison Forest School's 403(b) Retirement Savings Plan offers its employees a retirement plan. For more information, click here.

Employees are paid semi-monthly, on the 1st and 15th, over twelve months.

• In the event that a regularly scheduled payday falls on a bank holiday, employees will be paid on the last day of work before the regularly scheduled payday.
• In the event that a regularly scheduled payday falls on a weekend, employees will be paid on the Friday before the scheduled payday.

Full-time faculty and staff members who have children in grades Kindergarten through twelfth are eligible for an 80% tuition remission benefit. Part-time employees receive a prorated amount based on their full-time equivalency (FTE). For example, if an employee is a 50% FTE, they will receive 50% of the 80% remission, or 40%. In addition, part-time employees may also apply for need-based financial aid for any amounts needed over and above the remission benefit.

Employees of preschool-aged students are allowed to apply for need-based financial aid; however, certain restrictions may apply. Please contact the Director of Finance and Operations with questions. Preschool extended day, 12:00-3:45 pm is also a free benefit that is provided. If additional time is needed beyond 3:45 pm, additional fees may apply.

There is no waiting period for this benefit; however, employee children must meet the same standards for admission that apply to all students. Returning children of faculty/staff-employees need to complete a Tuition Remission Benefit form if they intend to have their child/children re-enrolled for the next school year. This form is due by December 1st of each year for the following school year.

For more information on tuition and financial aid, click here.