Janesville board unanimously approves employee benefits renewals after hearing spouse-coverage questions

The School District of Janesville Board of Education on April 22 unanimously approved a package of employee benefit renewals, including district-paid life insurance, voluntary life insurance, long-term disability, dental coverage and the district's health insurance renewal after staff presented rate changes and answered questions about spousal coverage options.

The approvals came after Jamie Brown of the district's benefits team summarized the renewals and projected cost impacts. Brown said the district-paid life insurance renewal will raise district costs by about $12,000, voluntary life insurance premiums (paid entirely by employees) will increase by about 5% and long-term disability premiums will not increase. She told the board the district's MetLife dental plan will rise roughly 3%, costing the district about $30,000 and increasing employee-paid portions by about $4,000 in total. For medical coverage, Brown said Dean…