Franklin County board, after heated debate, keeps MJ Insurance and Anthem/Sun Life for current year

The Franklin County Community School Corporation board voted on Dec. 8, 2025 to retain MJ Insurance as the district’s broker and to keep Anthem as carrier and Sun Life as third‑party administrator for the current contract year, following a protracted debate over timing, bargaining rights and continuity of coverage.

The motion to keep the current brokerage and carrier arrangement was made by board member Greg Burris and seconded by a board member; the board chair called the vote, which passed 6 in favor, 0 opposed and 1 abstention. The item had been the subject of earlier procedural votes — including an initial motion to table the discussion — and an extended public exchange between board members, teachers and administration.

Board members and employees repeatedly raised concerns about changing insurance midterm and the legal implications under collective bargaining law. A teacher representative, Kelly Middendorf, told the board that under the district’s existing contract and Indiana law bargaining is required for changes that increase employee-facing costs and that “any change in insurance coverage or carrier shall be mutually agreed upon by the employer and the association,” language she said is already in the ratified contract.

Superintendent Dustin Gearing urged the board to consider timing and the practical impact on employees, saying, “We are not under contract with any broker…so the decision tonight is a safe decision,” and emphasizing that staff who rely on coverage need certainty as Jan. 1 approached. Finance staff clarified contract language for the board: coverage refers to financial structure while carrier refers to the vendor delivering that structure, and carrier changes do not necessarily trigger bargaining if employee exposure remains the same or better.

Board members who advocated listening to outside brokers said potential savings of more than $1 million were at stake; members who opposed a midterm carrier change cited the need to protect employees and the negotiated contract terms. The meeting included presentations from two brokers, questions about whether proposals were fully comparable, and repeated requests that the association (teachers) be included in discussions before any change took effect.

The board’s final vote named MJ Insurance as broker and confirmed Anthem and Sun Life as the operational carriers for the current contract year; the board chair noted that approving the broker for the short term preserved continuity while allowing the district to examine options for future bargaining cycles. The motion’s passage means the district will continue with the current insurance servicing arrangement at least through the remainder of the covered contract year.

The board did not record individual roll‑call votes by name in the public discussion; the chair announced the tally as 6 in favor, 0 opposed, with 1 abstention. The board indicated the topic will be revisited later in a forum that allows fuller participation from the teacher association and further analysis of proposals.