NORTH LEWISBURG – Triad Local Schools’ personnel are getting new health plan options next year, which is expected to decrease costs for employees and the district.
The changes required the school board to approve Memorandums of Understanding for both the Triad Education Association (teachers union) and the Ohio Association of Public School Employees (OAPSE) Local #693 union contracts.
The school board approved those contract changes at its Dec. 12 meeting.
Triad Superintendent Chris Piper said the district joined a health insurance consortium, which is different from the insurance broker used in the past. The consortium’s health insurance policies stipulate that if an employee’s spouse can obtain health insurance through his/her own employer, that should be done. Since both union contracts were vague on that point, the MOUs clarified the language.
The switch to the consortium also changed dental plan coverage, Piper said. The consortium only offers a family plan, not single plans.
Despite the changes, Piper said the district is estimating it will save $125,000 annually, and employees districtwide are estimated to have $110,000 returned to them in their paychecks from lower insurance costs.
“Instead of a double-digit percent increase, there will be a huge decrease in cost,” he said.
In other action, the board:
•Accepted the resignation of cafeteria worker Alicia Wells, effective the end of the day Dec. 4, 2015, contingent upon being approved for full-time custodial position beginning Dec. 7, 2015.
•Approved a partial-year contract for custodian Alicia Wells for the 2015-16 school year, starting Dec. 7, 2015.
•Approved Tracy Butz as boys 7th grade basketball coach, for the 2015-16 school year.
•Approved basketball volunteer Shane Ober for the 2015-16 school year.
•Approved the overnight trip for eighth graders to attend Gettysburg and Washington, D.C. from Oct. 18, 2016, to Oct. 22, 2016. The trip will be financed by parents and no district transportation will be used.
•Approved holding the 2016 Budget Hearing and Organizational Meeting at 6:45 p.m. Jan. 14, 2016. Regular meeting to follow.
•Accepted $150 in donations from Donay Chiropractic for the Athletic Department, and hats and gloves from the First Church of God in West Liberty for Triad students.
