Roaring Fork advisers lean toward preserving PPO but identify $600,000 gap; staff survey planned

Roaring Fork School District No. Re-1's Health Insurance Advisory Team said it is leaning toward recommending the district retain a PPO employee health plan for the 2025-26 school year, but acknowledged a roughly $600,000 funding gap and opened a two-week districtwide effort to surface savings ideas and staff preferences before making a final recommendation.

The advisory team told members that district budget forecasts for 2025-26 are uncertain because enrollment projections are down from last year and regional health-insurance rates reported by benefits vendor CBT are rising (participants in the valley saw increases in the 16.5% to 22% range). That combination, team members said, makes it difficult to guarantee the more expensive PPO plan without finding new recurring savings or reallocations.

Why it matters: health-plan design, employer contribution levels and any salary step/COLA decisions affect take-home pay, recruitment and retention of teachers, classified staff and bus drivers. Team members repeatedly tied benefits choices to staffing stability and student impacts, noting that higher out-of-pocket costs could deter employees from seeking routine care and heighten turnover.

Most important facts - Funding gap: The advisory team identified an approximate $600,000 shortfall to fully…