Board approves health plan change and several routine agenda items; consent agenda passes by roll call

The DC Everest Area School District board approved a new employee health insurance plan and several routine items during the meeting.

The board voted to approve the district's consent agenda in a roll-call vote. During that roll call the board clerk called names and the record shows affirmative votes from the members asked: "Shannon? Yes." "E? Yes." "Josh? Yes." "Katie? Yes." "Larry? Yes." "Ben? Yes." and an additional affirmative vote recorded on the roll call.

The board also approved the agenda for the district's annual meeting and budget hearing scheduled for Oct. 22, 2024. A voice vote passed the agenda approval.

On a separate motion, the board approved a change in the district's health insurance offering and directed staff to implement the new plan on Jan. 1, 2025. District staff described the choice as a move to the Aspirus network (the plan materials identified the network as "Signature" and the broader "Freedom" option for employees who prefer Marshfield Clinic access). Staff said the change was intended to address a sharply rising renewal from the prior insurer and to preserve a no-employee-premium option for full-time employees where feasible.

Kelly, a district staff member who led the health-insurance presentation, told the board the district had faced an initial renewal estimate of about a 27.66 percent increase from the existing carrier and that the proposed Aspirus options would reduce that pressure while maintaining a no-employee premium option under the signature network for full-time employees. The district also plans open-enrollment meetings and communications for staff in October and November.

A board member moved the health-insurance motion and a second was recorded; the motion passed on a voice vote. At the call for votes, members indicated assent and one member verbally indicated an abstention. The board president recorded the motion as carried.