Active Members

Purchasing Service
All information displayed only relates to the Defined Benefit Plan. Click on Defined Contribution Plan or Combined Plan for information on these retirement plan options.
Types of Purchasable Credit

Service as an Ohio Public School Board Member

Section 3307.78, Revised Code

Eligibility Requirements
Credit of one-quarter year can be purchased for each year of service as a school board member. Service must occur between Sept.1, 1920, and July 1, 1991. Beginning July 1, 1991, school board members are required to contribute to either SERS or Social Security. 

Health care coverage implications:

  • Members who buy this service and enroll in an STRS Ohio health care plan pay the full premium for health care coverage until they attain retirement eligibility without the use of this service.
  • Once a member attains retirement eligibility without the use of this service, the premium for health care coverage is determined including the credit, assuming 15 years of eligible health care service credit.
  • STRS Ohio health care coverage is optional for members who are eligible for coverage.
  • Members retiring Jan. 1, 2004, or later must have at least 15 years of service credit, not including the non-Ohio-valued credit, to have access to the STRS Ohio Health Care Program.

Note:  Members should talk to an STRS Ohio benefits counselor before buying this service. Call us toll-free at 1-888-227-7877.

Certification
A letter from the school district which states the dates of employment as a school board member is required.

Cost
The cost is based on the extra reserves required to fund the additional liability of the retirement benefit resulting from the service credit purchased.

Note:

  • The member must retire within 90 days of receiving the cost statement. Credit can be purchased only in quarter-year increments. Each quarter-year increment must be purchased in full. 
  • If the member does not retire within 90 days, the credit will be withdrawn and the money paid to purchase the service will be returned to the member.
  • Payroll deduction is not available with this purchase.
  • This credit must be purchased in the retirement system paying the benefit.

Exclusions
Credit cannot be purchased if the member has already contributed to SERS or Social Security on this service. Total service credit in OPERS, SERS and STRS Ohio cannot exceed one year in any STRS Ohio fiscal year.