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Board approves MOU with Education Minnesota Worthington to change employee health insurance offerings
Summary
The board approved a memorandum of understanding with Education Minnesota Worthington that eliminates the district's $500-deductible plan and temporarily replaces it with a $1,650 non‑embedded high-deductible plan through Sanford HealthCare; one board member abstained.
The Worthington Public School District board approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Education Minnesota Worthington affecting employee health-insurance plan options.
Carmen (district staff) summarized the MOU: the agreement eliminates the $500-deductible plan and replaces it, for the 2025–26 plan year, with a $1,650 non‑embedded high-deductible plan offered through Sanford HealthCare. The district’s contribution to the traditional $1,000 plan remains unchanged. Carmen stated the district contribution amounts for HSA plans as presented in the packet: a single HSA contribution of $10,700 and a family HSA contribution of $11,700. The MOU takes effect July 1, 2025, and will expire once a successor collective-bargaining agreement is ratified.
The motion to approve the MOU was made by Lori (board member) and seconded by Anne. The motion passed; one board member, Mister Henry, recorded an abstention. A board member noted that not all members had received a copy of the MOU prior to the vote and requested that in the future the full board receive materials earlier.
Why it matters: Changes to plan designs, deductible levels and district contributions affect employee out-of-pocket costs, eligibility for health-savings accounts and the district’s budgeted benefits expenses. The MOU is an interim step and will be superseded by the ratified labor contract once negotiations conclude.
What happened and what’s next: The board approved the MOU as summarized. The MOU is effective July 1, 2025, but will be null and void once the full contract with Education Minnesota Worthington is ratified; board members asked for improved circulation of contract materials before future votes.
