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RSU 04 budgets for steep health‑insurance rise; wellness coordinator retained as SPS closure could cut positions
Summary
Administrators warned the district faces a large health‑insurance increase and budgeted a 15% rise (with an 18% scenario noted); the wellness‑coordinator stipend remains and SPS closure would remove some positions and reduce the cost center by roughly $65,000.
District administrators told the RSU 04 School Board the district faces a substantial rise in health‑insurance costs and that the budget currently assumes a 15% increase while the MEA Benefits Trust has signaled the actual increase could approach 18%.
Administrators described steps the Benefits Trust and insurers are taking to reduce the impact, but said district staff will not change the budget lines until insurers and the trust provide a definitive rate band. Administrators said the board should expect updated totals at the next round of budget meetings; they identified March 28 as a date when more definitive figures should be available and said additional meetings are tentatively scheduled for April 2 and April 16 to finalize decisions.
The presentation also described a wellness coordinator position funded by a stipend; administrators said the coordinator runs voluntary programs, monthly health challenges and incentives available through the Anthem‑linked program and the MEA Benefits Trust. Board members asked whether participation and return on investment (ROI) are tracked; administrators replied participation data could be obtained and tracked going forward but said it has not been systematically linked to insurance‑cost metrics in district reporting.
Administrators emphasized the interaction between the health‑insurance assumptions and the SPS closure scenario. If Sabattus Primary School (SPS) were to close, the presentation showed salary and benefit reductions tied to positions at SPS (including a cited IT SPS position and a health‑aide line) and said the cost center savings in that scenario would be about $65,000.
No final board action on an SPS closure or changes to benefits was taken at the meeting; administrators said they will return with final insurance rates and updated budgets.
