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Board warned of a 22% medical-insurance increase; members weigh co-op options
Summary
Trustees were told a projected 22% jump in medical-insurance costs will trigger bargaining-unit discussions; members debated how part-time employees are counted toward a co-op eligibility threshold (50% of eligible employees).
A finance-committee update to the Chisholm Public School District board flagged a projected 22% increase in the district's medical-insurance costs, prompting trustees to restart bargaining-unit conversations and to consider plan adjustments.
The finance committee reported it had met with bargaining-unit representatives and that a roughly 22% increase in insurer costs was under discussion. Board members said the increase likely triggers additional negotiations with unions and could prompt consideration of adding an alternative plan with a different deductible and premium profile to give staff a lower-cost option.
Trustees also discussed how membership in the insurance co-op is determined. Board members said the co-op uses a threshold based on the percentage of eligible employees (a 50% threshold was cited). The district's current eligible-employee participation rate was reported in the mid-to-high 40s percent, which led to questions about how part-time positions are converted to full-time-equivalent counts and whether changes in hiring patterns (for example, more part-time bus drivers) affect the district’s standing with the co-op.
Board members directed staff to continue discussions with bargaining units and to bring back options, including a potential third plan option that would reduce premiums with a different deductible structure. No formal policy changes were adopted at the meeting.
