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MABE executive director briefs Wicomico board on services, insurance pools and advocacy priorities
Summary
Milton Nagle, executive director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), explained MABE programs including pooled insurance, legal services, training, advocacy and the Time to Care Act timeline; he said Wicomico participates in MABE insurance pools and that there will be no dues increase for FY26.
Milton Nagle, executive director of the Maryland Association of Boards of Education (MABE), told the Wicomico County Board of Education that MABE offers member services including professional development, legal and policy support, communications and pooled insurance programs.
Nagle said Wicomico County Public Schools participates in MABE’s property and casualty pool and its workers’ compensation fund. He described MABE as a conduit to facilitate procurement and risk-pooling: "We re not an insurance company. We are merely a conduit to purchase those products and services," he said.
Why it matters: MABE’s pooled coverage and legal-policy services affect district risk management and could influence costs and legal support for the district. Nagle advised boards to use local control when advocating to state officials and summarized MABE’s advocacy workload during the Maryland General Assembly: MABE monitors roughly 400–500 pieces of legislation each session and focuses attention on about 50–60 substantive measures.
Key programs and items Nagle covered included free board retreats and training (one free retreat included with dues), the Maryland school law desk book, an OPEB trust, an ESMC health insurance trust, and a group health-insurance procurement collaborative that represents 106 government entities. Nagle described the Time to Care Act timeline as pushed out and said certain implementation dates have been postponed, giving districts additional time to plan for possible changes.
On specific legislation he noted MABE’s work to defend the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future funding levels; he said MABE advocated to prevent reductions to the foundation funding during reconciliation. Nagle also described MABE’s use of outside lobbying firms to engage with key legislators and staff because most substantive negotiations and amendments are handled in legislative offices.
Operational items: Nagle reported no dues increase for FY26 for current members and encouraged board members to use MABE resources, committees and free training materials now offered online at no additional cost.
Board members asked questions about federal funding risk, the potential for state shifts of responsibilities and local pension cost impacts; Nagle said he found federal funding and pension-shift risks uncertain and that MABE was watching developments closely.
