On Monday, the Monroe school board:
• Changed the health insurance plan offered to employees to an HMO to keep costs down, based on the recommendation of the board's finance committee. The district initially faced an increase of 14 percent for health insurance plan renewal. Unity, the district's insurer, agreed to lower that increase to 9 percent, which district business manager Ron Olson said was still too high. Because about 95 percent of all claims during the past year were in-network, Olson said most of those covered have been already using their health insurance as an HMO. Switching to the HMO option with Unity will result in an increase of 3.5 percent, or about $190,000 for next year. That represents a savings of about $298,000 than if the district continued with the point-of-service plan. Employees will still have the option of selecting the POS plan over the HMO but will be responsible for the higher premium.
• Accepted the resignations of Mary Robertson, Monroe Middle School library specialist, and Jennifer Johnson, first-grade teacher at Northside Elementary School.
• Approved the retirements of Bonnie Homerding, special education aide at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy; Susan Anderson, nurse/health assistant at Parkside Elementary School; and Ron Tousignant, district maintenance coordinator.
• Hired new instructional staff members: Jacob Grinnell, Parkside fourth grade; Allison Carroll, Northside first grade; Beth Abelmen-Bernet, district/elementary library media center director; Brenda Seagreaves, Abe Lincoln fifth grade; Elizabeth Roidt, Monroe High School science; Emily Bartels, MHS business education, Stevy Held, MHS English; Susan Lawson, MHS English; Curt Zastrow, MHS special education; David Kazda, MHS special education; and Nathan Wallman, MMS special education.
• Accepted donations of $400 from Colony Brands and $500 from Monroe Lions Club to the Project Worlds Class at MMS.
• Agreed to an annual contract with Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 2 for a cost of just under $4,000.
• Accepted the resignation of Myra Mueller form the public library board of trustees.
- Times staff
• Changed the health insurance plan offered to employees to an HMO to keep costs down, based on the recommendation of the board's finance committee. The district initially faced an increase of 14 percent for health insurance plan renewal. Unity, the district's insurer, agreed to lower that increase to 9 percent, which district business manager Ron Olson said was still too high. Because about 95 percent of all claims during the past year were in-network, Olson said most of those covered have been already using their health insurance as an HMO. Switching to the HMO option with Unity will result in an increase of 3.5 percent, or about $190,000 for next year. That represents a savings of about $298,000 than if the district continued with the point-of-service plan. Employees will still have the option of selecting the POS plan over the HMO but will be responsible for the higher premium.
• Accepted the resignations of Mary Robertson, Monroe Middle School library specialist, and Jennifer Johnson, first-grade teacher at Northside Elementary School.
• Approved the retirements of Bonnie Homerding, special education aide at Abraham Lincoln Accelerated Learning Academy; Susan Anderson, nurse/health assistant at Parkside Elementary School; and Ron Tousignant, district maintenance coordinator.
• Hired new instructional staff members: Jacob Grinnell, Parkside fourth grade; Allison Carroll, Northside first grade; Beth Abelmen-Bernet, district/elementary library media center director; Brenda Seagreaves, Abe Lincoln fifth grade; Elizabeth Roidt, Monroe High School science; Emily Bartels, MHS business education, Stevy Held, MHS English; Susan Lawson, MHS English; Curt Zastrow, MHS special education; David Kazda, MHS special education; and Nathan Wallman, MMS special education.
• Accepted donations of $400 from Colony Brands and $500 from Monroe Lions Club to the Project Worlds Class at MMS.
• Agreed to an annual contract with Cooperative Educational Service Agency No. 2 for a cost of just under $4,000.
• Accepted the resignation of Myra Mueller form the public library board of trustees.
- Times staff