Meeting Preview: Muskego School Board Revisits Insurance Issues

For another school board meeting agenda, the question of insurance carriers will be discussed as well as how costs for opting out of the health insurance plan will bode for any expected savings.

The board has taken up the issue of a report prepared by a health insurance consultant at the Oct. 10 and 25 meetings, suspending discussion for yet more information and study.

Changing carriers for the first time in 28 years is causing concern for many staff members, while there is more consensus for acceptance on the board, which is looking to save the district $1.5 million through a change.

In addition, the same report recommended that the board review a policy where a stipend incentive is offered to staff in lieu of enrolling in the district's health plan.  The stipend is currently 90 percent of the cost of a single health plan (currently $8,675), which would be reduced to 87.4 percent under a new plan, a savings (or pay decrease) of $1,675-$1,875 per member annually, or $170,000 throughout the district.

The caution is that the decrease may cause more staff to opt into the program, which could wipe out any savings.  The recommendation from the administration is to keep contract language the same for employees still under contract.  For others, the district's payment would be 49 percent of a family plan contribution which is nearly identical to the current incentive, or $8,764.

The board will convene for its regular session at the at 7:30 p.m. Monday night and the public is invited to attend.