The Cumberland County Board of Education budget-finance committee voted to approve extending its voluntary employee-benefits broker agreement to accommodate a five-year carrier proposal, staff said. The extension will allow the district to offer expanded voluntary benefits — such as accidental, life and hospital-indemnity coverage — through a new carrier arrangement while keeping costs at or below current levels, according to staff remarks.

What the committee approved: The committee approved a recommendation to extend the broker agreement so the district can enter a five-year arrangement with the carrier introduced by the broker. “What we’re recommending is a 5 year agreement with... our current broker for voluntary health benefits,” a staff member identified in the meeting as Jay said. Jay said the carrier (Unum) presented plans that work with local partners Cape Fear Valley Health and PwC and that those plans offered “a far richer plan for our employees at the same or below cost.”

Why it matters: The district provides two separate benefit enrollment processes: the state health plan (a mandatory statewide plan whose premiums are rising this year) and locally run voluntary benefits administered through the broker. Jay said the state plan’s premiums are increasing this year “on average from $10 to $55 a month depending on your income bracket,” and that voluntary benefits are offered in addition to the state plan and are optional for employees. The committee’s action was timed to allow the district to include the new voluntary offerings during the district’s fall open-enrollment period.

Questions and operational details: Board members asked how employees would be informed and whether agents would visit schools. Jay said the district provides two options: a self-service enrollment path and a full-service, appointment-based option. He added that the broker (Old Fayetteville, as referenced in the meeting) schedules its own calendar and sometimes offers evening appointments to fit employee schedules. Board members also raised that employees must complete two separate open enrollments — one for the state plan and one for the broker-run voluntary plans — and noted this causes recurring confusion.

Discussion versus formal action: The committee’s vote approved extending the broker agreement to match the carrier’s proposed five-year term so the district can offer the richer voluntary plans at open enrollment. The motion to approve was moved and seconded during the budget-finance committee meeting and recorded as approved by the committee.

Next steps and timing: Jay said open enrollment for the voluntary plans will occur this fall; the broker will coordinate appointment scheduling and employee outreach. The committee did not set additional district-level deadlines in the public portion of the meeting.