Federal Section 218 Task Force for Missouri School Districts

Updates

1/5/2009

The Federal Section 218 Task Force for Missouri School Districts held a preliminary meeting on December 16-18. Participants at this preliminary meeting included the Regional Commissioner, the IRS Regional Manager and an IRS auditor, the Missouri Office of Administration’s Director and Assistant Director of Division of Accounting, representatives of the policy staff from SSA Headquarters, and representatives of the policy staff from SSA's regional office. Representatives of the Missouri State Public School Retirement System will be participating in future meetings of the Task Force.

This preliminary meeting was intended as the start of a fact-finding process that will involve the various Federal and State agencies that have been directly involved in the Missouri section 218 issue regarding school districts. Our efforts were directed toward formulating an accurate and mutually-agreed-upon understanding of what has transpired to date; identifying the additional information that will be required for a fuller understanding and equitable resolution of the present situation; and further identifying the known issues, concerns and interests of the various parties.

During a portion of this preliminary meeting, two representatives from the Missouri State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education discussed what data may be available in their system for our use in identifying those positions that should be covered or should not be covered under the Missouri Section 218 Agreement. These representatives also discussed the State's certification requirements as they relate to the exclusion from coverage under the Missouri Section 218 Agreement.

The next task force meeting is in January.  An update will be provided after that meeting.