Educators give emotional testimony over insurance hikes, urge board to widen bargaining authority
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Dozens of Anoka-Hennepin educators told the school board Dec. 8 that steep health‑insurance premium increases and stagnant pay have left many taking second jobs or considering leaving; union leaders urged the board to give negotiators authority to reach a fair settlement and warned that a strike authorization vote has broad member support.
Dozens of teachers, support staff and parents told the Anoka‑Hennepin Public School District board on Dec. 8 that sudden increases in health‑insurance premiums have cut take‑home pay and are jeopardizing staff retention.
"None of us should have to fear whether we can afford to stay in the profession we love," said Scott Zachman, a 21‑year district employee who described paying about $1,500 a month for family coverage and working extra jobs to make ends meet.
John Wallhofter, president of Anoka Hennepin Education Minnesota, told the board the union has surveyed members and found more than 90% would support a strike authorization vote if necessary to reach a fair contract. "A strike is not inevitable, but the district must act now," Wallhofter said.
Several veteran and specialist educators described real‑world impacts. Diane Schultz, a teacher facing an $8,000 annual reduction in pay because of insurance changes, said she returned to work after surgeries because she could not afford unpaid leave. TJ Bubalo, a speech‑language pathologist, contrasted district starting pay for SLPs with Twin Cities market rates and said the district is no longer competitive for specialized staff.
Speakers asked the board to provide negotiators with greater authority to settle contracts, to consider placing a levy before voters and to prioritize affordable benefits. "I would rather pay that money and have the positions back that we laid off last year," said parent Shaylin Burbig during the Truth in Taxation hearing portion of the meeting.
Board members acknowledged the hardship and described the dilemma of a fixed budget and rising costs. In later agenda items, administration described a roughly 22% increase in premiums this plan year — a shift the district attributes to higher medical spend and a handful of high claims in its self‑insured pool.
What happens next: union leadership said it will proceed with member actions including a strike‑authorization vote; the district continues mediation with teachers and has an insurance advisory committee reviewing plan design and third‑party administrator options.
Ending: Public testimony concluded before the board moved on to other business. Several board members thanked speakers and said they would continue to weigh negotiation authority and budget choices as bargaining continues.