A consultant told the Saint Croix School District Board of Education on Oct. 22 that the district’s employee health plans compared favorably with regional peers and recommended extending the HealthPartners contract one year to lock a lower renewal cap.

Alicia Schwartz, an employee benefits consultant with the Alara Group, briefed the board on plan design, utilization and market pressures. "Your plan currently offers two different plans," she said, describing a core plan with a 70% employer premium contribution and a buy-down plan designed to allow employees to obtain no-cost coverage. She said preventive care participation was strong and that the district’s recent renewal “came back really great” compared with double-digit market increases elsewhere.

Schwartz described specific metrics the district monitors, including a target loss ratio of about 80 percent and the district’s actual recent loss ratio around 90 percent. She told the board HealthPartners initially proposed a 9.35% renewal but, through negotiation, the district obtained a reduced renewal and an extension offer that would cap increases at a lower rate for 2027.

Board members asked about affordability and long-term sustainability. Schwartz said the district could consider options such as going partially self-funded in the future but that administrative costs and stop‑loss insurance would need evaluation before making that change.

The board voted to extend the HealthPartners contract for one year and accept the negotiated renewal terms. The motion was made and seconded on the record and carried by the board.

The extension keeps current plan designs in place for the coming year while giving the district a cap on potential increases for the next plan year; the board discussed continuing to evaluate benefit costs and participation as part of annual budget decisions.