Proposed health insurance changes spark concerns in Superior School District [Superior Telegram, Wis.]

Apr. 4—SUPERIOR — As the Superior School District

hurtles toward a financial cliff

, proposed health insurance changes sparked concerns at the Superior School Board Committee of the Whole meeting Monday, April 1, at Superior High School.

The district seeks to meet a projected $4.5 million budget deficit for the 2024-2025 school year.

"Please remember that these recommendations come after

we have already cut 27 teachers and administrators

," said District Administrator Amy Starzecki. "Tomorrow I'll be rolling out an email that will articulate that we'll be reducing another 40 support staff across the district. That's almost 100 employees that have been reduced to get us to a $1.4 (million) deficit."

Recommendations included moving to a narrow network health insurance plan with Medica that would limit providers to the Essentia Choice Care Network and removing retirees from the option of staying on the district's health and dental insurance. The changes would take effect July 1 and are expected to save the district $1.1 million. There are currently 33 retirees who use the district's insurance, according to Director of Business Services David See.

"Why is the district recommending this change that's going to affect every single person, including me? It's because of these numbers right here. If we make this change we are still at a $400,000 deficit," See said.

Current and former teachers spoke up against the changes.

Northern Lights Elementary School teacher Jenni Wolfe said it was disheartening to see this proposal come up again, as it did in 2021. Retirees gave up many pay raises in the district to secure health care options they were told would be there, she said.

Taking that benefit from them "is like changing rules in the middle of the game," said Superior Middle School teacher Kelly Kantarik.

Board members said they felt rushed to make a decision.

"We're getting this information the same time as everyone else," said Brooke Taylor, who encouraged educators and staff to provide feedback to board members prior to the final vote at the Monday, April 8, regular board meeting.

Vice President Ed Gallagher said making these type of irreversible decisions right after starting to discuss the possibility of an operating referendum felt like putting things in the wrong order.

But, said Nick Schumacher, "We've got to move it forward because discussion needs to be had."

The board moved the proposal forward to the April 8 meeting, and set a special board meeting for 4 p.m. Thursday, April 4, at the board office to discuss the health insurance proposals.

Wording that would lock teachers into a more rigid timetable when the district adds more minutes to the school day in the 2024-2025 school year was removed from proposed handbook changes.

The board also voted to advance proposals for a 2% base step salary increase for teachers, professional staff and administrators and a 2% increase to each step on the salary schedule for support staff. The April 8 meeting will be held at Superior High School and is expected to move into open session around 6 p.m.

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