Calhoun County BoE hears of health insurance requirement for substitute teachers

Nov. 15--Calhoun County Schools could face a $2.4 million penalty if it doesn't offer health insurance to substitute teachers, a school official said Thursday.

At a Board of Education meeting, Calhoun County Schools Chief Financial Officer Leslie Bollendorf said under the Affordable Health Care Act, the school system would need to offer insurance to any employee working more than 29 hours a week, or else face federal government fines.

The school system has anywhere from 30 to 40 substitute teachers working in the 17 county schools on any given day, Bollendorf said. She said the law could complicate hiring long-term substitute teachers to fill in during maternity leaves.

Bollendorf suggested the school could outsource substitute teachers through another company. Bollendorf said she estimated the school system would pay an additional $240,000 to use such a service, basing the figure off the pay and substitute teaching hours of the previous school year.

"That's $240,000 right off the desks of our students," said board member Dale Harbin.

Superintendent Joe Dyar said because the changes wouldn't take effect until the 2014-15 school year, the board should hold off on making decisions about health insurance for substitute teachers.

The board on Thursday also appointed a new Director of Safety for schools, Randy Reaves. Reaves will replace Mike Fincher, who is retiring in June.

Reaves, 47, currently serves as Chief Probation Officer at the Calhoun County Courthouse. Prior to working at the courthouse in 1994, he served as an Oxford Police Officer for two years. He is a graduate of Saks High School.

The board also approved the hiring of CMH Architects out of Birmingham for a proposed addition to Ohatchee High School.

Staff Writer Brian Anderson: 256-235-3546. On Twitter @BAnderson_Star.

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