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Teacher raises Blue Shield premium increases, asks board to review city‑negotiated contract
Summary
A Lowell High School teacher told the board that Blue Shield premium increases have largely been passed to staff and urged the district to review or reopen the city‑negotiated contract or refer the matter to the personnel committee.
Jeremy Gribler, a math teacher at Lowell High School, told the board Oct. 13 that Blue Shield premiums for 2016 have risen and that most of the cost increase has been passed through to teachers. Using figures provided to the board, Gribler said single‑employee premiums increased steeply in some categories and that the increase eroded recent negotiated raises for staff.
Gribler asked the board either to adjust district contribution rates or to reopen the city‑negotiated Blue Shield contract so teachers would not shoulder disproportionate increases. The board suggested referring the matter to the personnel committee for further discussion; commissioners noted that some health‑benefit negotiations are part of broader city contracts and civil‑service arrangements.
The speaker requested the issue be reviewed at the personnel committee and provided the board with a written summary of his calculations.
