Poplar board approves new carrier, authorizes bargaining on plan options

The Poplar School District board voted to approve a recommendation to contract with Bridger as the district's health insurance carrier and authorized staff to bargain specific plan designs with employee groups.

The superintendent told the board Bridger offers a set of high-deductible plans and the district would be able to give employees options rather than placing everyone on a single plan. He said the change would move classified employees under the same carrier as certified staff and could reduce the district's classified rates. "We can give employees options on plans," the Superintendent said, arguing bargaining with unions could produce buyout or alternative-plan options for different employee groups.

Board members discussed timing and the legislative context. The superintendent and other speakers said Bridger's outreach coincided with state-level actions that would provide the carrier with funding if enough districts signed on; that created a limited window to decide. Board members pressed for clarity on rates and the length of any commitment; the superintendent said the carrier had moved the minimum term to three years in the current proposal and removed a clause that would have required districts to absorb certain post-termination claims.

After discussion, a motion to approve the Bridger carrier proposal was moved and seconded; the board took a voice vote and the chair declared the motion approved. The board agreed to convene a small team of board members and staff in the coming weeks to negotiate plan details with bargaining units before final enrollment paperwork.

The board did not record a roll-call tally in the minutes; the chair announced the motion carried by voice vote. Staff said plan rates and final design details still must be bargained with the unions and that the district will aim to finalize enrollment well before typical spring rate-release deadlines.