Teachers, retirees press Caddo Parish board to reject insurance changes and seek permanent pay raises

Dozens of current and former Caddo Parish School Board employees urged the executive committee on Nov. 18 to reject proposed health insurance changes that would raise premiums, add or increase co-pays and alter retiree coverage.

At a packed public-comment period, Aubrey Garcia, speaking for the Caddo Association of Educators, said educators "have not received a permanent cost-of-living raise since 2017" and described the proposed increases — including an advertised 7.5% premium rise and higher emergency-room and specialty medication co-pays — as "nothing less than a permanent pay cut." Garcia also called for a permanent salary increase instead of recurring stipends.

The testimony that followed echoed Garcia's concerns. Retirees and current employees described real-world impacts: higher out-of-pocket costs during cancer treatment, increased difficulty affording medications and the compounding effect of multiple years of premium hikes. Linda Thomas said she faces difficulty paying for medicine during routine cancer checks; Marybeth James, a retired bus driver, recounted decades of service and asked the board to protect retirees who depend on their health coverage. Several speakers warned the changes could worsen recruitment and retention, noting neighboring parishes have offered raises.

Why it matters: Board staff told the committee they are considering a group Medicare Advantage option for eligible retirees that staff said lowers premiums for covered retirees because of federal funding rules, and the administration reported a 97% satisfaction rate among retirees who had been on that Medicare Advantage option for at least a year. Board members and speakers pressed for clarity on eligibility, opt-outs and guarantee of provider access.

Details and next steps: The public record and staff presentations identified the district's recent history of consecutive premium increases (previous 7.5% increases in prior years) and the administration's proposal includes both plan design changes and exploration of Medicare Advantage group options for eligible retirees. Board members asked staff to clarify language and promised follow-up: staff said any major change would be reviewed annually and could be reversed if problems emerged. No final formal action on the insurance package was recorded in the executive session portion of the transcript; the item was listed on the upcoming Nov. 18 board meeting agenda for further consideration.

Attributions: Testimony and numbers quoted in this article come from public commenters and staff remarks during the Nov. 18 executive committee meeting, including Aubrey Garcia (Caddo Association of Educators) and retirees who described personal medical and financial impacts.