T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS Marshalltown High School science teacher Chad Pietig speaks in opposition to the proposed health insurance changes up for a vote at Monday’s school board meeting. He was joined by several dozen other teachers and staff from throughout the district.

The Marshalltown School Board voted Monday to pursue more information on proposed changes to employee health insurance plans amid calls from school teachers and staff to reconsider the process.

Dozens of school employees filled the board meeting room in anticipation of the vote. Though no final decision was made by the board, staff shared their concerns about the plan to do away with the district’s current low-cost insurance plan option.

“We deserve to know how much this change is really going to cost us and you,” said Marshalltown High School teacher Rachel Nelson-Loupee.

The proposed plan for changes to the district’s health insurance plan was summarized by consultant Mark Becker of Mark J. Becker and Associates at a special meeting Feb. 6. At that time, the board requested more key information be provided, including the monthly premiums employees would pay and what other school districts’ insurance plans are like.

The proposal would eliminate one of the three plans available to district teachers and staff. That “premium” plan, as school officials call it, comes with an annual $100 out-of-pocket price for single employee members and $200 for family plan members, much lower than the other two insurance plans. School employees pay other costs depending on their rates in the district.

Along with eliminating the lowest-cost plan, tweaks would be made to the remaining two insurance plans. One plan would see the members’ annual out-of-pocket cost go up by $250 for singles and $500 for a family.

That same plan would see the insurance copay for primary care visits go from $15 to $20. To visit a specialist, the copay would increase from $15 to $35.

Both of the insurance options under the proposed plan would see changes to prescription drug contributions by members. Now, the drugs come at options of paying $5 for generic or $10 for anything name-brand or specialty.

In the proposal, a tier system would be set up, costing members $8, $20, $40, $60 or $85, depending on the prescription.

“We’re trying to do our best to work at this incrementally, not tearing off the Band-Aid all at once,” said Superintendent Theron Schutte. “We need to ensure that these plans are solvent and that they’re sustainable financially.”

He said the district is losing money with the current health insurance system and it is draining reserve funding. He said district administration and the Marshalltown Education Association teacher’s union had been unable to come to an agreement on a health insurance plan recommended by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the insurance administrator.

The board’s vote was preluded by several comments from school staff, all of which were against the proposal to drop the district’s low-cost premium health insurance plan and make changes to the two remaining insurance plans.

Miller Middle School teacher Katie Mayotte said she wanted to board not to make any rash decisions about changing the health insurance plan.

“Our community isn’t Ankeny, our community isn’t Ames, we have a completely different dynamic of children and problems,” she said. “I ask you today to postpone this decision until you have your answers that you paid somebody to find.”

Those sentiments were echoed by many others, who asked the district administration to consult MEA more about the plans going forward.

“It’s been a great place, we’ve never ever had any complaints, but right now the uncertainty has us very nervous,” said MHS teacher Chad Pietig.

He said his son was born premature and the district’s affordable health insurance has helped he and his wife, Franklin Elementary teacher Angie Pietig, keep their focus on their son rather than financial concerns.

MHS teacher Scott Smith said the proposed changes also have him worried. He said he came to the district in 1994 and the attractive health insurance benefit was one major pull.

“There is no dollar amount that can be placed on piece of mind,” Smith said. “I just think you could ultimately lose some quality employees from this district.”

Some board members voiced agreement that a final decision should wait until more information is provided.

“I don’t know why we need a board resolution to ask Mark Becker to go do what we asked him to do three weeks ago,” said board member Mike Miller, who is also the CEO of RACOM Corp. “I have to make this decision every year for our employees, and I never make it without knowing how much the employees have to pay.”

With Monday’s decision, the district will continue to pursue more information to help inform an eventual decision about the health insurance plans.

The next Marshalltown School Board meeting is set for 5 p.m. March 4 at the Central Administration Office, 1002 S. Third Ave.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or

asodders@timesrepublican.com

Editor’s note: This article was updated to reflect the district administration and the Marshalltown Education Association teacher’s union had been unable to come to an agreement on a health insurance plan recommended by Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, the insurance administrator.