School systems throughout Alabama are already experiencing the effects of an act passed by legislators earlier this year that changed the Public Education Employees Health Insurance Plan (PEEHIP) law.

The new law will require employees to contribute higher amounts to the plan and employers to contribute lower amounts over a five-year period.

Currently, employees who are not retired as of Dec. 1, 2011, will have to pay higher premiums.

Chilton County Schools Superintendent Dave Hayden said he does not think the state will extend the retirement deadline at this point.

“It would take legislative action to move it,” Hayden said. “The time is getting short now. It’s next to impossible for anything to happen.”

Hayden said about 26 employees in the Chilton County school system have filled out resignation paperwork for the Dec. 1 deadline, and more are anticipated.

The Board of Education must then approve all resignations.

“I don’t think it will be a detriment to our program, but a minor hindrance right in the middle of our school year,” Hayden said. “There’s just going to be an abnormally large amount of hiring done in the middle of the year.”

Hayden said teachers and athletic coaches may need to be replaced, as well as janitors and other positions.

“So far, we have been able to find highly certified and qualified people,” Hayden said. “I just hope that continues to be the case.”