Insurance change on school board agenda

With the Fulton Public School's health care plan's funding depleting, the Board of Education will discuss an alternative on Wednesday.

"The past 18 months the Board of Education has been informed that the current self-funded health insurance plan has experienced substantial claims, which caused a drain in cash resulting in the current plan being underfunded and trending toward significant volatility in liabilities in the future," Superintendent Jacque Cowherd stated in a document prepared for the upcoming meeting.

The school district's benefits committee has unanimously recommended ending the current health plan and joining the Missouri Educators Unified Health Plan, he stated. During the meeting, which starts 7 p.m. at Fulton High School, board members will discuss whether to approve the change. If approved, it will go into effect Jan. 1.

The recommended employer contribution for MEUHP is $501 per eligible employee per six months, according to the board packet. That's less than the current plan, which costs the district $532 per employee for the same time period.

MEUHP is run by a nonprofit governed by school administrators and offers insurance through the Cigna health network. There are a variety of plan options available for employees, and MEUHP and Cigna offer wellness incentives, the packet states.

For information on the employee plan options and more information about MEUHP, see the board packet: bit.ly/FPSBOEOct.

Also on the agenda is a curriculum update from Assistant Superintendent Ty Crain. He will address the passage of Senate Bill 788, which introduces state-mandated curriculum additions to sex education.

"These changes include adding content on sexual harassment, sexual violence, and consent," he stated.

Board members will discuss a pair of policy changes resulting from the passage of Senate Bill 603 and House Bill 1606. The legislation created the Missouri Course Action Program, which allows students to enroll i virtual courses approved by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Other agenda items include:

A review of bus routes.

A presentation from patron and parent Robert Monroe regarding the coding classes.

A yearly program report on the vocational department.

The full agenda may be seen at bit.ly/FPSBOEOct.