Votes at a glance: annual meeting agenda, employee insurance plans and consent items approved

At its Sept. 8 meeting, the West Bend Joint School District No. 1 Board of Education approved a set of routine and policy items and adopted employee benefit plans for 2026.

Agenda and resolutions for the Sept. 22 annual meeting

The board voted to approve the agenda and the advisory resolution to set the levy for the district’s annual meeting scheduled for Sept. 22, 2025. Lenny Hansen briefed the board that the proposed budget would result in a flat mill rate — no change from $6.14 per $1,000 of assessed value — compared with the prior year. The board’s vote authorized required publication of the budget and public notice ahead of the annual meeting.

2026 employee insurance programs (health, dental, vision)

The board approved the 2026 employee health insurance program as presented. Administration said there were no plan‑design or network changes and that premium adjustments align with regional trend projections; the most common single plan premium was described as increasing by about $6 per month for employees, and the most common family plan employee share rising by about $10 per month. The district proposed added benefits including reduced‑price physical therapy through ATI (employees and covered family members would pay $10 per visit under the direct‑bill arrangement), free virtual mental health counseling through UMR, a free weight‑loss coaching program through UMR paid by the district, and a discounted gym membership program.

The board also approved the 2026 employee dental insurance program (premiums adjusted modestly; plan design unchanged) and the 2026 employee vision insurance program. For vision, administrators recommended shifting to an expanded network (opening access to providers including Costco) at negligible cost difference; vision premiums are fully employee‑paid and will be released in October by the vendor.

Consent agenda and executive session

The board approved the consent agenda, which included minutes from the Aug. 25 regular meeting and disbursements posted through Sept. 5, 2025. After regular business, the board voted by roll call to adjourn to executive session under Wisconsin law to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance data of public employees; the stated subject for the executive session was compensation for all employee groups.

Votes and attendance

Several motions were moved, seconded and carried by voice vote with no recorded dissents during open session. At roll-call for the executive session motion, the board recorded the following: Krueger — yes; Jenkins — absent and excused; Lang — yes; Dr. Tamez — yes; Zweigart — not present; Ergot — yes; Pickler — yes. The roll‑call vote carried and the board entered executive session.

No motions were tabled or failed during the meeting’s open session.