Arlington ISD trustees workshop reviews three paths to rein in rising employee health costs

Arlington ISD trustees on Nov. 6 held a workshop on employee health benefits to review claim trends, premium pressures and three broad policy options staff and consultants said could slow rising costs.

Superintendent Dr. Smith opened the session and introduced presenters Scott Kale and Holly Stanbaugh, who led trustees through table exercises and data showing the district faces a funding gap between premiums collected and paid claims. "For 2024–25, we collected about $37,000,000 and had about $45,000,000 in paid claims," Stanbaugh said, adding, "Our loss ratio for 2024–25 was a 122%." She warned that continuing year-over-year increases would make the district's benefits program harder to sustain without changes.

The workshop focused on three options staff presented as the district's primary paths forward. Option 1 is to remain in TRS ActiveCare, which presenters said offers coverage stability and employee…