Over the next three weeks, we will begin involving our TFFR business partners, meaning you, in the testing process and provide materials for you to learn how to use the system for your reporting to RIO. Tami Volkert and Deneen Gathman will communicate with you as we roll out these materials and opportunities. Among the learning opportunities will be a training presentation at the upcoming NDSBA conference and weekly “office hours,” during which RIO staff will be available to answer questions and troubleshoot issues. We will also provide a user guide and release short how-to videos.

Software Unlimited, RDA, and Tyler Technologies have developed patches to produce enrollment and contribution reporting files from your software to upload to MyTFFR. If your vendor has not yet contacted you to learn about their new process, please reach out to them now. During our initial testing phase with business partners, we will ask each of you to upload one enrollment report and one contribution report to ensure you can do that before the system goes live.

In closing, this system is leap years ahead of the processes we currently use for reporting. After we get past the learning curve, I am confident you will see huge time savings and far fewer errors in your reporting, ultimately making everyone’s lives easier. We ask that every business partner be actively involved in this transition phase and encourage you to dedicate time to learning the new system to make the transition as smooth as possible.

Beginning July 1, 2025, member contributions to TFFR that are paid by an employer must be in full percentages (e.g., an employer may contribute 1% or 2%). Employers will no longer be able to make partial contributions (e.g., an employer cannot contribute 1.5%). As long as contribution are in a full percentage increment, employers can continue to make member contributions for employees.

When a participating employer hires or rehires a TFFR-covered employee, a Member Action form must be submitted to RIO within 30 days of employment. If the agency does not receive the form within 30 days, the employer may be assessed a $250 penalty.

If the new hire does not have a current TFFR account, the individual should also complete a Designation of Beneficiary form.

The Member Action form can also be used to report:

• A TFFR member taking or returning from a leave of absence.
• A returning retired teacher who will exceed the annual hour limitation.
• Someone who was previously employed by the state of North Dakota.

Not sure if your new hire is a TFFR-covered employee, please refer to NDCC § 15-39.1-04.

How submit a Member Action form:

1. Download the current form from RIO's website. (If you submit an outdated or incomplete form, you may be asked to complete it a second time.)
2. Scan the form and supporting documents creating one PDF. (Only the pages that provide member information are needed.)
3. Send the form and supporting documents using a secure link. (Contact RIO to receive a link to the state of North Dakota's Secure File Transfer System.)
4. Upload the PDF to the file transfer system and click submit.

A little bit about me... 

My name is Lori Dahl. I have been the Business Manager / TFFR reporting personnel for 41 years; 9 at Lakota and 32 at Dakota Prairie Schools. I grew up in Doyon, ND, and graduated from Lakota High School. My husband, Kenny, and I have two kids, seven grandkids, two dogs and a grand puppy. 

What is your favorite (book, author, tv show, or movie)?

I enjoy reading, and don’t really have a favorite author. Anything is fair game as long as it is interesting! TV makes me fall asleep and we haven’t been to a movie in years!

Where is your favorite place to vacation?

Any place warm in the winters is a perfect vacation spot. Florida is high on my list.

What is your favorite hobby?

I crochet blankets. All the nieces and nephews have gotten full size blankets. Now I am making baby blankets for all of them and their grandbabies!

What do you like best about your job?

The best part of my job is the people that I work with. You have to like what you do to get up every day and do it again! The people you work with are a big part of the appeal. When I first started, I was the youngest staff member, now I am at the other end of that timeline, but still enjoy coming to work.

What advice/tips would you offer other Business Managers?

Don’t be afraid to ask questions! Call your software vendor, call the neighboring business manager, call the state. After all these years, I have helped a few local schools when they got new business managers, and I am not afraid to tell them to call someone smarter than me!

Alexis Rasset is a special education teacher at the Mandan Public Schools and represents active teachers. Ms. Rasset was appointed to the TFFR board in 2024.

Tell us a little about yourself? I am born and raised in Mandan. Married to my husband, Jon, of 17 years. We have a 16-year-old son, Jacob, who is a junior in high school. I also have a 26-year-old stepson, Chandler, who is recently married. I graduated from Dickinson State University and have been employed at Mandan High School as a specialist for the last 8 years.

What motivated you to join the TFFR board of trustees? I was motivated to join the TFFR board because I felt the need to do what I can to protect the retirement plan for teachers. I know I have a lot to learn but I am very passionate about keeping TFFR safe and stable so all can continue in the profession knowing their retirement being taken care of.

What do you see as the greatest challenge the TFFR is facing? The biggest challenge that I see TFFR potentially facing is with the state legislature. As we know, PERS’s defined benefit plan was closed to new members and it is only a matter of time before TFFR becomes the next target. Our retirement is so important, and we need to do everything we can to protect it.

How do you stay informed about issues affecting the education profession? I stay informed about issues affecting the education profession in a number of ways. First and foremost, I am an active member in our union at the local, state, and national level. At my local, Mandan Education Association, I am finishing my term as president elect; next year I will start my two-year term as president. At the state level I serve on the board of directors for the southwest region, and I also participate in the lobby days. At the national level I participate in both NEA and AFT events that keep us in the know for issues we could be facing and how to be effective leaders during those challenging times. I also frequently check what is happening in the news at the state and national level that are relevant to our profession.

Share a time when feedback led to a significant change or decision? Being an active member of my union provides many opportunities for feedback leading to change. When you have good working relationships it allows for hard discussions to happen. Whether the discussion is around a school calendar, things needed for a classroom or policy changes, being involved in those conversations can impact positive change.