Hillsborough County Public Schools

Amanda Friel on August 15, 2025

August 15, 2025

Hillsborough County Public Schools

Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS or the District), located in Tampa, Florida, is the largest employer in the county, with a team of 23,000 employees. As the seventh largest school district in the nation, one might assume that such a vast organization could feel impersonal. However, that couldn’t be further from the truth—especially within the District’s benefits and retirement teams. Step into their office, and you’ll immediately feel the warmth of close-knit relationships, a strong sense of camaraderie, and pride in the work they do to support the District, its staff and the surrounding Tampa community.

“We’re the seventh largest district in the nation and we’re also geographically large—the size of Rhode Island. I like to think of us as the smallest family you ever want to meet. Everything we do is about making sure our employees are well, whether it’s financially well, physically well, socially well, or emotionally well,” shared Dr. Tracy Schatzberg, the General Manager of Employee Benefits & Insurance at HCPS.

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~$2M Annual Savings from the Special Pay Plan

As the District’s partnership with Daybright has grown, so has the range of solutions Daybright provides. Building on the foundation of the existing FICA Alternative Plan, HCPS introduced the Special Pay Plan—an IRS-approved 401(a), 403(b), or 457(b) retirement plan funded using unused sick leave, annual leave, and vacation pay.

“If I had a colleague who was in another district and wanting to know why they should [implement a Special Pay Plan], I would say they should jump right on it. There’s no reason not to. There’s no loss. There’s no downside for the district. There’s no downside for employees. It’s a win-win for everybody,” stated Dr. Tracy Schatzberg, the General Manager of Employee Benefits & Insurance for HCPS.

Click below to hear more about Hillsborough County Public Schools’ experience with Daybright and how the Special Pay Plan saves HCPS ~$2M each year on taxes.

Watch the video