There were a few tense exchanges between Bradford Area School District board members and administrators at Monday’s meeting while discussing a proposed trust agreement for the district’s health insurance plan.
In the end, the amended Seneca Highlands Regional Insurance trust agreement was defeated in a 4 to 3 measure until the plan can be reviewed by an attorney.
Judy Bodamer, district director of finance, said the trust agreement with the Intermediate Unit Nine insurance consortium would include a three-year commitment for the district’s $22 million payment for health insurance during that timeframe.
“We’re just reorganizing the way we do things,” Bodamer said after the meeting. She said participating school districts shared the expenses of insurance claims in the past, as they were paid out of a pool of money.
“Now, the new bylaws reflect that every school district will be responsible for their own claims,” she remarked. “Bradford’s claims are now our claims and we basically own them and pay them. “But we will still get the group rate for negotiating using Highmark.”
Bodamer said under the trust, the school district will pay an administrative fee to Highmark to administer the district’s claims.
An explanation of the term “administrative costs,” however, was raised by board member Pat Vigliotta in the meeting. Vigliotta asked Bodamer to explain how the administrative costs could tack on a surcharge as high as 15 percent. When he didn’t get an answer that satisfied him, Vigliotta suggested the district have the trust reviewed by an attorney. A majority of board members present agreed with him and voted the trust down until a solicitor can review it and give his opinion. In addition to Vigliotta, other directors who voted against the proposal were Frances Forbes, Dave Feely and Joe Troutman. Voting in favor were Shane Oschman, Paul Ridley and David Krantz. Absent were Helen Schuster and Carla Manion.
“The trust agreement is a complicated document because there are multiple costs that are variable to health insurance,” Vigliotta said following the meeting. “And I would like them to clarify what administrative costs they’re referring to.”
In addition, Vigliotta noted his belief that the consortium has done nothing to help the district control its health care costs.
On a related note, Bodamer said she is certain the board will reach an agreement on the trust after an attorney can review it. She said a special meeting will likely be called in the near future for another vote.
In other business, the board accepted a bid for the purchase of a 72-passenger bus from Blue Bird Bus Sales of Pittsburgh, at $92,685 with a rebate.
The board also heard a presentation from high school principal David Ray who said the campus will include three new courses for the 2017-18 school year. The courses include an advanced production art course, a computer design course, a computer programming class and a horticulture science course with classwork in a greenhouse.
In personal matters, the board approved tenure for Douglas Atteberry and Greg Gleason; and approved the hiring of Nicole McFarlin as a part-time general aide at School Street Elementary School. The board also approved leaves of absence for Amanda Tanner; Samuel Johnson; Nancy Vinelli; Jessica Vigliotta; Nancy Crissman; Lisa Fedak; Mary Hamer; Susan McMurtrie; and Julie Speaker.
In her report, Superintendent Katharine Pude said registration for kindergarten students for the 2017-18 year is set for May 1-5 at George G. Blaisdell Elementary School. She said all parents of children who turn 5-years-old by Sept. 1 are encouraged to register at this time.
On another note, Pude said an educational representative from the attorney general’s office will be in Bradford on March 1 and will speak to middle school students about cyberbullying and social media dangers.
“That same night, we will be inviting all district parents to attend a session called Social Media 101; this will focus on laws and parental controls,” she said.
