Elmwood Park board approves Blue Advantage HMO, grants physical-education waiver and sets superintendent raise

The Elmwood Park CUSD 401 Board of Education on Monday approved a change to the district’s HMO plan, approved a public‑heard waiver to allow substitution of physical education with college and career pathway options for grades 6–12 as presented, and set Superintendent Dr. Leah Gocce’s salary per her contract.

Board members voted to move the district’s HMO enrollment from HMO Illinois to Blue Advantage HMO after hearing from the district insurance committee that Advocate Medical Group would be leaving the HMO Illinois network and that change would affect district employees who use Advocate providers. The committee said the switch would let district members keep their current medical groups and would yield a modest premium savings for both the district and employees. The board carried the motion during the action portion of the meeting.

The board opened and closed a public hearing on a physical-education waiver for middle- and high-school students. Superintendent Dr. Leah Gocce told the board no community members had contacted her office about the waiver prior to the hearing; the board heard no public testimony at the hearing and later approved the waiver as presented.

In other business the board approved a salary adjustment for Dr. Leah Gocce under paragraph 4 of her superintendent contract and approved a list of administrator agreements. The consent agenda passed as presented.

Insurance plan: the insurance committee reported that Advocate Medical Group planned to leave the HMO Illinois network and that change would affect dozens of current HMO members. The committee recommended switching the district HMO to Blue Advantage HMO so employees who use Advocate providers could keep their current providers. Committee presenters told the board this would produce a roughly 3% savings for both the district and employees (as presented at the meeting) and that the district will offer the Blue Advantage HMO alongside the district PPO during open enrollment. The committee said it will continue to explore high‑deductible/HSA plan options for future years and reconvene stakeholders next school year.

Physical‑education waiver: The public hearing was opened to receive comments on a requested waiver or modification of state board rules and/or school code mandates related to “section 27‑6 of the school code” to permit college and career pathway options beginning in sixth grade to substitute for physical‑education requirements. Superintendent Dr. Gocce said she had received no community contacts about the waiver; no audience members spoke during the hearing. The board later approved the waiver "for 20 20 five‑twenty 6 through 20 nine‑thirty school years for grades 6 through 12 as presented" (text as read into the record).

Superintendent salary and staffing actions: The board approved a salary adjustment for Dr. Leah Gocce under paragraph 4 of her contract; the motion as read set Dr. Gocce’s salary for the 20 20 five‑twenty 6 school year at a 4% increase of her 20 20 four‑twenty 5 salary (language as presented in the meeting). The board also approved administrator agreements for a list of named administrators (names captured in the meeting record).

Votes at a glance
• Change HMO plan to Blue Advantage HMO — motion carried (roll call votes recorded in the meeting transcript as yes by the members called; motion carried).
• Physical‑education waiver for grades 6–12 (text as presented) — motion carried (roll call votes recorded in the meeting transcript as yes by the members called; motion carried).
• Superintendent salary adjustment pursuant to paragraph 4 of contract (4% increase as presented) — motion carried.
• Administrator agreements and consent agenda — approved.

The board adjourned its open session and reminded the community of the upcoming spring break noted during the meeting.