In an attempt to try to control insurance costs and have input in those costs, while at the same time providing all the benefits currently available, the Gallatin R-5 School Board voted Monday on a plan that has been in the works for two years.
This website brought to you in part by the following sponsor:
The plan is to become a charter member of a group attempting to form a state-wide health insurance pool. At their regular meeting held Jan. 12, the board learned that within the next two weeks the proposal will be presented to Secretary of State Robin Carnahan for approval.
"A 14% increase in insurance each year is the national trend," said Superintendent James Ruse. "By forming a pool, we hope to provide long-range health insurance with costs that don’t spike. We’ll be re-working some benefits for the staff and there should be significant savings."
Gallatin is one of three not-for-profit charter members who organized the pool. The other two school districts are Kennett 39 and Malden R-1, both in southeast Missouri.
Forest T. Jones will be the broker and Blue Cross and Blue Shield the provider for the pool called MEUHP ( Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan).
"We have 80 school districts right now that have already signed up for the pool," said Mr. Ruse.
Health insurance is presently brokered to schools through individual insurance providers. However, property and liability insurance for schools is provided by MUSIC insurance, which is offered state-wide. The financial and operational part of the new pool proposed for health insurance is copied after MUSIC. MUSIC started with 30 schools and grew to 250.
"It’s not an original idea," said Mr. Ruse. "Many parts of the state have been doing consortiums and cooperatives to provide health insurance. The new part is that this pool would be state wide."
According to Mr. Ruse, the new pool also puts a board of control in the school’s hands. The board of control would be made up of school superintendents from seven regions who would answer to their own local board. Those local school boards would receive input from the school’s staff before making a decision.
In other business at the Jan. 12 meeting, bills in the amount of $664,612 were approved for payment.
The calendar for 2009-2010 was presented and improved. The staff was given three optional calendars. The calendar they selected has three days vacation at Thanksgiving. Next school year starts on Wednesday, Aug. 19, for a half day; teacher in-services will be held on Aug. 17-18; Christmas vacation will start on Dec. 22, a half day. If there are no snow days, school will end on May 17.
Mr. Ruse presented a budget report. To save money, the school will be cutting back on supplies and equipment and will not be adding programs and will also consider cutting vocational school at Chillicothe, since it was the last program added. Staff member positions will hopefully be saved, especially since the school has the largest student population in 20 years. The board will consider not filling positions for those who are retiring. These considerations are not final, but rather a list of proposals that are being considered to cut large chunks out of the expense budget.
The board entered into executive session to hear the superintendents evaluation and upon returning to open session offered Mr. Ruse a contract.
An update was heard regarding the Social Security 218 agreement. A regional Social Security Administrator who covers Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska and Iowa will try to resolve the issue. Social Security was proposing that some school staff, such as counselors and coaches, pay into social security rather than the school’s retirement plan. The social security proposal was to go into effect July 1, 2009. Now it will be delayed until a new plan is agreed upon.
The board discussed the new gambling limits law which was approved in November. Mr. Ruse said the money was to go strictly to public education, but now seems to be "up for grabs" in the Missouri Legislature, with some of the money being proposed for higher education.
At their meeting held on Dec. 17, the R-5 board approved bills in the amount of $283,868. A bid for insurance, including property, workers compensation, vehicle, and liability was approved. The bid was $67,000 with CPSK as broker.
During their Nov. 13 meeting, the R-5 board approved bills in the amount of $309,775 for payment and heard the ledger report. Their final opinion on a smoking policy will be heard in June or July. The CSIP improvement plan review will be held on Jan. 20. The school’s crisis plan was updated. The board carried a motion to continue with the CEE lawsuit. The board agreed to delay buying a bus this year.