Muncie Community Schools November 13 Board Meeting

MUNCIE, Ind. - With the adoption of a revised health benefit plan for a large employee group of Muncie Community Schools, including support staff, administrators, and Food Service employees, the Corporation will see a reduction in health insurance premiums of 10.6 percent for this non-bargaining group of employees in 2008.

The outcome of the adopted plan will result in a savings to Muncie Community Schools of 19.2 percent of the scheduled premium increase on the corporation’s current insurance plan. The Corporation’s cost for premiums for health care coverage of the district’s remaining employees - the bargaining unit – is an increase of 10.7 percent under the current plan. 

Health insurance premium costs to the corporation increased 57 percent from 2003 to 2007. In addition to the scheduled 10.7 percent increase for the corporation’s bargaining unit, costs to Muncie Community Schools reflect a 74 percent increase for employee health care expenses for the four-year period. 

Supt. Marlin B. Creasy, says the adoption of the plan is a result of the “absolute need to reduce health insurance costs and will bring about a dramatic reduction in health care costs to the school corporation.” The basic plan for non-bargaining unit employee health benefits will not change, but it will allow for these participants to accumulate money in a health reimbursement account to be used for health care costs at the employee’s discretion.

The adopted health benefit plan will become effective January 1, 2008, and the corporation will move forward with hiring a health insurance coordinator. Dr. Creasy states that there are plans to schedule group meetings to explain the health care benefits and the health reimbursement account at which time questions by non-bargaining unit personnel can be answered and copies of the plan, as well as the health reimbursement account information, will be made available to the affected employees.

The Board approved claims for payment as submitted and that the October 2007 General Fund Budget Report be received as a matter of Board information.

The Board accepted donations as follows:

Mark Burkhart, Associate Superintendent/Business, noted that the last three donations are in support of the continuation of the Community Learning Centers by the designated Foundations.

Beth Ann Gibson, Construction Control, Inc., reported anticipated completion dates for the six facilities under renovation. They are

• Mitchell Elementary - November 1, 2007 
• North View Elementary – November 30, 2007 
• Longfellow Elementary – December 31, 2007 
• Central High School – December 31, 2007 
• West View Elementary – December 31, 2007 
• Southside High School – December 1, 2008 

 
Dr. Creasy presented a first draft of a proposed 2008-2009 School Calendar that replicates the current 2007-2008 school corporation calendar.

In a report to the Board, William Hughes, MCS legal counsel, responded to a taxpayer group request for information regarding the composition of the Common Construction Wage Committee. Mr. Hughes stated that there was no basis for the accusation by the group that the composition of the above mentioned committee was “unethical.”

Steve Edwards, Assistant Superintendent/Instruction, shared a detailed 2006-2007 Annual Report on the 21st Century Scholars Program, showing that since 1997, 473 students in our seven-county region received tuition for post-secondary education through the 21st Century Scholars Program. He also stressed that in addition to the student’s five-point “pledge of good citizenship” that parents must be willing to commit to the requirements including signing of a pledge and release earnings information. Income-eligible students who enroll in the 21st Century Scholars Program and fulfill the pledge are guaranteed the cost of eight semesters of college tuition at any participating Indiana public college or university. This year’s goal for Muncie Community Schools, according to Mr. Edwards, is to enroll every student eligible for the program. The enrollment process begins July 1 of the student’s seventh grade year and ends June 30 of the student’s eighth grade year.

Dr. Creasy also presented information regarding the Balanced Scorecard for the 2007-2008 school year and the Board approved the Balanced Scorecard for the current school year as presented. The outline will be shared with all employees and posted on the Muncie Community Schools website.

A non-teaching coaching appointment was approved for Mitch Cassell as Boys’ Head Golf Coach for Central High School for the spring of 2008.

A moment of silence was observed for Patricia Carter, former Wilson Middle School librarian instructional assistant.  

Source: Muncie Community Schools

Technorati Tags: Local News Delaware County Education Mark Burkhart Marlin B. Creasy Muncie Muncie Community Schools - MCS Muncie School Board William Hughes

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