The Douglas County School District board voted unanimously to approve the health plan’s stop‑loss renewal under the option identified in meeting materials as "option 2" (presented as an Izzie/Izzy option) after a lengthy public and trustee discussion about claims history, premiums and fiscal risk.

Jeanne Dwyer and benefits administrator Leanne Garris reviewed bids from several carriers and explained tradeoffs between staying with the current carrier (Granular, newly under WellPoint/Anthem ownership) at a $275,000 specific deductible and switching to an alternative with a higher deductible and lower premium. The health advisory committee recommended the option that staff and the district’s consultants said would save up to roughly $94,000 in premium costs but would raise deductible exposure and include timing rules that could affect reimbursement for claims billed or paid outside specified windows.

Trustees and members of the public debated whether the short‑term savings justified greater exposure if several large claims occur in a single year. Several trustees cited district budget strain; Dwyer said the district’s projected ending fund balance for the health plan was a negative $213,000 before planned plan changes. Trustee Knighting moved to approve option 2 of the Izzie proposal; Trustee Jansen seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

District staff said they will implement the plan changes and continue monitoring claims activity and fund balance in the health plan.