WBESC makes health insurance changes

VW independent/submitted information

The Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board heard some concerns about health insurance costs, especially with the pullout of United Health Care, the nation’s largest health care provider, and Aetna have pulled out of several states’ Affordable Care Act exchanges.

Unlike Van Wert City Schools, which has seen relatively small increases of the past nine years, Superintendent Brian Gerber noted insurance premiums overall have skyrocketed — especially with businesses with more than 50 employees, such as WBESC.

“In order to align insurance cost that is similar to our partner school districts, it was necessary to make adjustments,” Gerber told the board, noting that it was necessary to revised an outdated 2009 policy and replace it with a new policy that requires employees to become responsible for a portion of their Health Savings Account premiums, as well as pay the difference in premium costs if they choose to add dependent children to their health insurance.

After approving those changes, as well as a move to make employees hired after January 1, 2017, only eligible for a Health Savings Account, the WBESC Governing Board also took a number of personnel actions, as follows:

Accepted the following resignations: Candice Elliot, health coordinator at Lincolnview Local Schools, due to retirement, effective June 1 (she was later rehired as a substitute health coordinator at the lower rate); Angie Zartman, effective August 2; Kerry Shelton, effective July 1; and Kim Barnhart, effective August 2.

Approved the following contracts: a one-year supplemental contract to Harry Florence as a custodian at the Van Wert Resource Center for the current school year; a one-year non-teaching contract to Kathryn Long, a paraprofessional at Lincolnview; a one-year non-teaching contract to Maddison Moore, a one-on-one aide at Wayne Trace Local Schools for the current school year; a one-year non-teaching contract to Brenda Zern, paraprofessionals at Wayne Trace, for the current school year; a 120-day administrative contract to Ken Markward, gifted coordinator for the current school year; a one-year certified contract to Ashley Shepherd, interim part-time gifted teacher for the 2016-17 school year; and a one-year non-teaching contract to Zach Hermiller as truancy officer for the current school year.

The board also approved a job description for the attendance officer and approved the following grant awards: Alternative Education Challenge Grant, $53,473; Parent Mentor Grant, $25,000; 21st Century Continuation Grant, $75,000; 21st Century Grant (Antwerp/Lincolnview), $200,000; and a 21st Century Grant (Oakwood), $200,000.

The next meeting of the Western Buckeye Educational Service Center Governing Board will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday, September 21, at the Paulding ESC office.