[{"_1":2,"_88":-5,"_89":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6578105,"mediaKeyId","3075156-372875035d0bb70e65cd637ef718ae59","parentId",3075156,"title","Sartell‑St. Stephen chooses USI as benefits broker after RFP; district cites long‑term savings","audioSeconds",207,"startMs",2301000,"endMs",2508000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3075156-372875035d0bb70e65cd637ef718ae59&start=2301&end=2508","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3075156-372875035d0bb70e65cd637ef718ae59/thumbnail_2301000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6578105/Minnesota/SartellSt-Stephen-chooses-USI-as-benefits-broker-after-RFP-district-cites-longterm-savings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578105-08183c9e563d7e65f16d812e18837cbc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075929&Signature=Vildua2EuuODJAb6GbXzRrLs1uH-O9Iprl70xJEYhN59bwVCHuDPk5WZRmpQ1Ed-broOcTltj5cKENb3fRZ2lWC4kqrU4Gb9ThsSBvc6hzLjQA3xwJXFDGH4uYhdU4VeSvbqRfNHiytch~XJd8em-7DU7dC~AO9r1Bygu2O5PslTGZdNtl7fcF-dY6AGMUGqzbb4emyM3VeF0V~8V3R~7cw~7FCX7R1OzvtMSUcj1Ff6-2chIq~nkNfQwSBqHDDJ9FYkA3-qvxc-4-QjCcWy8~7CDgFFwgEm6jUhTkSRbW~iW8xjjG8j0OxJTmM7~pOAfMaDqw3CevOx3B-QZeYZPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Sartell-St. Stephen School District","date","2025-04-22T01:22:39.643Z","article","The Sartell‑St. Stephen School District administration told the board at its April meeting that, following a request for proposals and finalist interviews, it recommends hiring USI as the district’s employee‑benefits broker; the board consented to the administration’s recommendation.

Administrators said they issued an RFP in February to evaluate brokerage firms for employee health, life and dental benefit plans. Of six firms solicited, all responded and three finalists were interviewed by district staff and representatives from the Sartell Education Association Insurance Committee and the principals’ association. The firms’ fees ranged from about $45,000 to $60,000 annually; the administration recommended USI with a service fee of roughly $60,000 a year. The district said its current broker fees have been about $53,000 annually.

The administration described USI’s advantages as stronger negotiating leverage with insurance carriers, additional reporting capabilities for a self‑insured plan, and two services the district lacked with other finalists: a population‑health (wellness) offering and a pharmacy consultant. \"They stood out to us as the firm best positioned to meet our district's needs,\" a staff member said during the presentation.

Timing and contract: the district plans to engage the broker on July 1; benefits plans renew January 1 and no plan changes would take effect until the next open‑enrollment cycle. The administration said it expects a minimum two‑year contract because the firm needs time to implement strategies and demonstrate savings. The board discussed fees and asked about the difference between the chosen firm’s fee and the lowest cost proposal; the administration noted a roughly $15,000 fee gap between the lowest bid and USI and about a $7,000 increase compared with the current broker’s total revenue to the district.

Why it matters: district leaders said annual premiums have continued to rise and that the chosen broker’s strategies — including on‑demand virtual care, low‑cost prescription programs and targeted population‑health initiatives — could reduce claims costs over time and limit future premium increases for employees and taxpayers.

Next steps: the administration will finalize the contract, begin onboarding with USI on July 1 and work with the broker through the summer and into fall to prepare 2026 plan options for January open enrollment. The board acknowledged this is an administrative action that will return to them with contract documents.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 21st 2025 School Board Regular Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","After a formal RFP and interviews, district administrators recommended and the board agreed to hire USI as the district’s employee‑benefits broker, citing its population‑health strategies, pharmacy consulting and reporting capabilities despite a higher fee than the lowest bidder.","taxTitle","SARTELL-ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, School Boards, Minnesota","taxId",59458,"location","Minnesota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6578110,"Sartell‑St. Stephen board approves revised 2024–25 budget and authorizes staffing reductions",5271,1479000,6750000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3075156-372875035d0bb70e65cd637ef718ae59&start=1479&end=6750","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3075156-372875035d0bb70e65cd637ef718ae59/thumbnail_1479000.jpg","/articles/6578110/Minnesota/SartellSt-Stephen-board-approves-revised-202425-budget-and-authorizes-staffing-reductions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6578110-1bc6449a7798a287a9459252fcf576dc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075929&Signature=nPFcOY8BNUrUJkkUaLkO511ifvvn-q545kFIzq~ugmkCWudFgUZ8cwJZrFKWQNWkwYTzPmDeshr6rZICvibfkDZhVCosffrbHlh7XZCDSRwVl8tIeyYiWOHHLQ81dqR5KeSNwC5zrwLUM7w4qM8mJ6w-d72A~puKcdP5g-oetUiOvB5~0b3MgD83xRTgfiMIY6qzVrC4f9kDi5DL5Otz53DYIB2ZH-nHmXbf~YST8yLGSNn13jD44R4CYh53z6zZhQL63Skq-XnE1v2JcbcFize8Ik29KyBkNYkj8g1PQ0JGoG4O6hnS0korZPO7BRPvSplpouA1FcvfbxTqK6-IkA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sartell‑St. Stephen School Board on its April regular meeting approved a revised 2024–25 budget and authorized staffing adjustments, including reductions totaling about 7.8 full‑time equivalent positions districtwide.

District administrators told the board they expect a 4.3 FTE reduction at the elementary level and about 3.5 FTE at the secondary level after reviewing enrollment projections, class section counts and program needs. The board voted to approve a revised budget that shows a projected general‑fund deficit for the year of roughly $434,000 and a planned decrease in the district’s unassigned fund balance of about $328,000, bringing that balance to approximately 13% of expenditures as of June 30, 2025.

Why it matters: the staffing changes and budget revision reflect lower sections in elementary grades and shifts in secondary course offerings tied to registration and student choice. Administrators said many of the elementary reductions will be covered through retirements and one resignation, rather than nonrenewals, and that secondary reductions required careful licensure and program balancing.

Administrators outlined the process used to set staffing and budget recommendations. They said they examined cohort trends by grade, applied class‑size ranges and met individually with principals to align staff to projected enrollment. \"We spent about two months working with principals\" on registration and staffing, a staff member said, describing multiple reviews before presenting recommendations to the board.

The revised budget includes several line‑item updates: a modest increase in state special education revenue tied to prior‑year spending, an increase in substitute‑teacher costs (around $85,000) driven by higher absence rates and some long‑term leaves, and higher activity and athletics expenditures linked to greater participation and associated costs. Administrators also reported an operating capital increase to replace three lawn tractors and to add a golf simulator funded in part by donations.

Food service and other funds: the district projects a smaller deficit than originally budgeted in food service ($67,000 on the revised budget) and said it will continue to monitor food‑service equipment replacements in light of legislative discussions about allowable uses of food‑service funds.

Board action and context: the board approved the revised budget by voice vote after committee review. Board members and administrators repeatedly emphasized the difficulty of the decisions. \"This is hard,\" a board member said, adding that they appreciated the administration’s transparency and the length of the staffing review. Several members encouraged community advocacy with state legislators, citing recent changes to education funding that administrators said have pressured local budgets.

Votes at a glance (from this meeting):
• Consent agenda — approved (voice vote).
• Resolution accepting donations (multiple donors listed in meeting packet) — approved (voice vote).
• Resolution ratifying nonrenewals of employment (administration’s personnel actions as presented) — approved (voice vote).
• Revised 2024–25 budget — approved (voice vote).
• Other routine policy items and first readings — approved or moved forward as noted on the agenda.

What’s next: administrators said they will continue preparing the fiscal 2025–26 preliminary budget while monitoring the state legislative process for changes to state aid formulas, and they expect to present a preliminary budget in June. Staffing reallocations and any formal personnel notices will follow the district’s personnel process and applicable labor agreements.","The Sartell‑St. Stephen School Board approved a revised 2024–25 budget and a set of staffing changes at its April regular meeting, including a combined reduction of about 7.8 full‑time equivalent (FTE) positions across elementary and secondary levels and approval of related nonrenewals.","actionData","errors"]

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Sartell‑St. Stephen chooses USI as benefits broker after RFP; district cites long‑term savings

Sartell‑St. Stephen board approves revised 2024–25 budget and authorizes staffing reductions