[{"_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",6504372,"mediaKeyId","5681205-add6e480e59d9dc38a540d0fdde5565d","parentId",5681205,"title","Board hears details of health insurance renewal; district to increase contribution as negotiated","audioSeconds",953,"startMs",2021000,"endMs",2974000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681205-add6e480e59d9dc38a540d0fdde5565d&start=2021&end=2974","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681205-add6e480e59d9dc38a540d0fdde5565d/thumbnail_2021000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6504372/Kansas/Board-hears-details-of-health-insurance-renewal-district-to-increase-contribution-as-negotiated","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504372-3f612ecf1a8aa234efc05d4a4a124ad0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773612227&Signature=d9GetOEnqaIAGx4svz8jv4fpM2uSJ1yVaZe8d4wgPqyKxkUov5lNMrkgqUY1W8fea-2SvpkHR1NYBHJLEY~NFndZ1WVnG5a6G46~MVSEDuPNXD-DWmuYx3dSIGfAIZYh~RLRhgyKQplyg0F9YzTS6xE~HRxE1PRvSe9KTjUUiKGlKk8itxjOJjCgmllbdKWA295gGdbV~usawPpYBfItKM-dNXYuiF28Zw4OwDX4SsM1R0-n6LSdSwd8KGPAmLZmhxuG2cgvopXiZLzZm9sMQZ9ypphzTXUV54gmvX0VyZKVbb8QhLrwOuAS5Zv0K3R~F-vQPTaJ6RGpWINtIiPUYg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shawnee Mission School District","date","2025-08-26T12:16:29Z","article","District staff presented the proposed benefits renewal for the 2026 plan year and answered board questions before the board approved renewing the district’s medical insurance program with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.

Jeremy Higgins, associate superintendent of human resources, introduced the recommendation and noted the renewal figures had already been used during interest-based bargaining (IBB) negotiations. Dave Johnson, senior benefits consultant with CBIZ, explained the insurance carrier’s renewal calculations and singled out prescription drugs and a small number of very large claims as the primary drivers of cost increases.

\"Last year at this time, we were negotiating the medical plan. The we ended up with a 9 and a half percent increase,\" Dave Johnson said, then summarized that prescription drug expenses rose by about 13 percent, with prescription cost per member per month up 8 percent even though the number of prescriptions declined. The district reported 27 large claims above the carrier’s pooling threshold ($150,000), the same number as the prior year but with a 10 percent higher total dollar value.

The recommended renewal increases overall plan cost by 9.8% and raises the district contribution to $982 per month. The district emphasized that four employee-only plans remain premium-free at the employee-only tier and that the two qualified high-deductible plans include district HSA contributions. Open enrollment dates were announced as Sept. 29–Oct. 17, with staff available to help employees choose plans.

Why it matters: The health-insurance renewal affects employee premiums, district personnel costs and budget planning. The board had previously reflected these projected costs in negotiations with district staff and included them in the adopted budget.

Board discussion and clarifications
- Board members asked whether the cost increase stemmed from greater utilization or from market-driven price inflation; staff and the consultant said it was a combination but emphasized that national medical trend (about 8.8% medical inflation and over 10% for prescription drugs) was a major factor.
- The consultant described steps carriers take to reduce prescription costs, including switching patients to biosimilars (for example, Humira conversions) and an appeals process when a physician recommends not switching; staff said they had heard \"very little noise\" so far from members affected by formulary changes.
- District staff highlighted the value of the on-site clinic (low-cost visits and strong HSA contributions) as a cost-containment element.

Action taken: The board authorized renewal of the medical insurance program with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, effective Jan. 1, 2026, reflecting a 9.8% increase in plan cost and an increase in the district contribution to $982 per month. The board record shows the motion passed with an approving vote recorded as 6–0.

Ending: Staff will proceed with open enrollment and continued employee communications; benefits coordinators and a call center will be available to assist employees with plan selection and appeals related to prescriptions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","SMSD Board Meeting August 25, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Shawnee Mission officials presented a detailed review of the district’s 2026 benefits renewal, citing a 9.8% medical-plan cost increase driven largely by prescription drug inflation and large claims; the board authorized renewal with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City.","taxTitle","Shawnee Mission Pub Sch, School Boards, Kansas","taxId",13093,"location","Kansas","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},6504376,"Shawnee Mission board adopts $618.2 million budget, votes to exceed revenue-neutral tax rate",3627,732000,4359000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5681205-add6e480e59d9dc38a540d0fdde5565d&start=732&end=4359","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5681205-add6e480e59d9dc38a540d0fdde5565d/thumbnail_732000.jpg","/articles/6504376/Kansas/Shawnee-Mission-board-adopts-6182-million-budget-votes-to-exceed-revenue-neutral-tax-rate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6504376-909cf57d3e277c967bad29126ff2c66e/orig.mp4?Expires=1773612227&Signature=MWfUELf0F0uLlYjEASjeascSHKjtFUHn6xvMt5OtO2WPpz7qWAF~T3R74C0LYEUq-WOdunWzhih8o3TuOO8XGeFUIfP~sfpW8k4vf6DhZaItOFatemlp~fzyu88VeYlAgz3tyMklaVtMR-XwLFg3GjmZX1gh3s4O5gv3gXRK-~qjISE~Qjzsn1q3etCL2sSTI2lsWrtYhIg6g-xHq9EIFDMw~EJ2DvVqUqRgcRZ58IXOor1dy7qfgpHk0T4N-j~FzxKnZjKXShFFqTowwWZHXNq~9n-jtWvG2zo1lQn07ize0WU9C~0PyOmCf7spRdEPenlU4liQIoGQJW~J4Ie5xA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shawnee Mission Board of Education voted to exceed the state-calculated revenue-neutral tax rate and adopted the district’s 2025–26 budget at its Aug. 25 meeting.

The board opened a public hearing under K.S.A. 79-2988 on the revenue-neutral rate (RNR) and allowed members of the public five minutes each to speak; no patrons presented comments on the tax rate. \"I do recommend adopting the resolution to exceed the revenue neutral tax rate for financing the annual budget for the 2025–26 school year,\" Dr. Schumacher said before the board took its roll-call vote. The district’s RNR was stated as a mill rate of 48.525; the district proposed a mill rate of 50.835.

The board then opened the statutorily required budget hearing under K.S.A. 79-2929 and later approved the total published budget in the amount of $618,209,561. Heather read the budget motion verbatim during the meeting, noting that the district had prepared state budget forms and the district profiles and needs assessments required by K.S.A. 72-1163 were available on the district website and on file at the Center for Academic Achievement. The approved budget will be filed with the Kansas Department of Education and the Johnson County Clerk before the statutory deadlines.

Why it matters: Exceeding the revenue-neutral rate allows the district to levy additional property tax revenue beyond what state law would otherwise allow for unchanged services; the adopted budget and mill rate determine local property tax levies that fund operations and staff across the district’s schools.

Key details
- Revenue-neutral tax rate (as stated at the hearing): 48.525 mills. Proposed mill rate to exceed RNR: 50.835 mills.
- Adopted 2025–26 budget total: $618,209,561.
- Local option budget (LOB) percentage adopted: 33% (resolution read and adopted at the meeting).

Votes at a glance (formal actions recorded in the meeting)
- Resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate: approved (roll call: Boyd — yes; Hembry — yes; Boardman — yes; Garcia — yes; Owesley — yes; Sinclair — yes; Westbrook — yes). Motion recorded as \"Motion passes 7 0.\" (outcome: approved)
- Adoption of the 2025–26 budget (total published budget $618,209,561): approved (outcome: approved; motion passed 6–0 per meeting roll call)
- Local option budget (LOB) percentage resolution (33%): approved (meeting record shows \"Motion passes 6 2 0\"; recorded outcome: approved)
- Other action items taken at the same meeting (see below) were likewise approved; individual vote tallies are recorded in the meeting minutes for each item.

Other formal actions recorded (summary)
- Authorization to renew the medical insurance program with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City (effective 01/01/2026) with a 9.8% overall plan cost increase and raise district contribution to $982 per month: approved.
- Ratification of an emergency roofing contract at Horizons High School with Delta Innovative Services, Inc., not to exceed $1,098,721 (3% contingency), funded from the capital fund: approved.
- Authorization to purchase the Genetec Security Center platform (hardware, licensing, implementation) from CDW-G: $1,202,878 over five years with a 5% contingency from capital outlay funds: approved.
- Authorization of a contract with the Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired to provide supplemental staffing as needed for 2025–26, cost not to exceed $275,000 from special education operating funds: approved.
- Authorization for Shawnee Mission East choir student travel to Budapest, Bratislava, Vienna and Prague (expenditure not to exceed $400,000; no district funds to be used): approved.
- Approval of revised district transfer and open-enrollment policies (policy references read and approved as presented): approved.

Context and next steps: Board members noted that the budget and associated levy work represent many months of preparation and that budget adoption will now be followed by required filings with the Kansas Department of Education and the Johnson County Clerk. The administration emphasized that the district’s budget summary, needs assessments and related documents are available on the district website.

Ending: The board closed the regular action items after votes and moved to scheduled executive-session business.","The Shawnee Mission Board of Education held public hearings and approved a budget of $618,209,561 for 2025–26 and a resolution to exceed the revenue-neutral tax rate; the board also set a local-option budget (LOB) percentage and approved multiple action items including contracts for roofing and security upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

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Board hears details of health insurance renewal; district to increase contribution as negotiated

Shawnee Mission board adopts $618.2 million budget, votes to exceed revenue-neutral tax rate