PHARR‑SAN JUAN‑ALAMO ISD approves multiple employee voluntary insurance contracts; agent RFQ tabled then awarded amid brief debate

PHARR‑SAN JUAN‑ALAMO ISD — The PHARR‑SAN JUAN‑ALAMO Independent School District Board of Trustees on March 28 approved a series of employee voluntary insurance contracts and took additional, mixed actions on a request for qualifications (RFQ) for agent services after a closed executive session.

Becky Gonzalez, Assistant Superintendent for Finance, told the board the finance committee (five committee members) recommended returning the district—s voluntary group disability coverage to incumbent Hartford, saying, "We're recommending, that the disability return to Hartford. They are the incumbent. They're offering a no rate change with the same benefits." The motion to approve Hartford for group disability was moved and seconded and passed unanimously, according to the meeting record.

The board also approved a change in the district—s voluntary group vision insurance, accepting the committee—s recommendation to move from the current carrier to Aflac. Gonzalez said the committee—s decision was substantially influenced by provider and employee complaints about the incumbent: providers had been unable to verify employees— benefits for "about 90 to 120 days," she said. The motion to approve Aflac carried unanimously.

On a package of supplemental voluntary products—accident, whole-life, critical illness and cancer coverages, and a new hospital indemnity product—the committee recommended multiple vendors. Gonzalez said Aetna was…