A slight increase in the 2021 health insurance plan was reviewed by the Neenah Joint School District Board of Education at its October 6 meeting.
The health insurance proposal remains with WEA Trust and has no changes to the providers or wellness plan. The lone changes are in employee premium cost with a 3.9 percent increase in all plans, which is well below the budgeted increase of 12 percent. The dental premiums will increase by 2 percent. The relatively low increase is due to the District’s health insurance utilization dropping to 87 percent for the current year, compared to 99 percent last year and at least 115 percent in the previous four years.
Some Board members suggested with the budget savings that the Board pay for employee premiums for the upcoming year as a reward for the job employees have done navigating the pandemic. However, other Board members were opposed, stating that there is too much uncertainty in future state budgets and with the community recently providing the District $114.9 million in referendum money it would not be viewed favorably. The plan will be voted upon at the next meeting on October 20.
The Board also approved changes to the District re-entry plan, reflecting current practice of not requiring students in the early childhood program to wear a mask. The yellow scenario was also updated with a calendar for the rest of the semester and some revised descriptions for better clarity.
In other action, Amy Geiger and Catherine Wittmann were hired as half-time school nurses. Three educational assistants were hired in Savanna Mueller at Hoover, Alexandra Janssen at the high school and Colleen Gast at Spring Road. Resignation letters were approved for Wilson teacher Sharon Parker, effective November 6, and Horace Mann teacher Ariel Schmoldt, effective November 16. A crisis intervention policy was also adopted.
In the superintendent report, Dr. Pfeiffer provided specifics about the District’s recent move to online learning. She stated that only one school met the criteria to remain in a green scenario and the COVID-19 case numbers within the community were too high to keep schools open. She noted that a decision will be made on Thursday, October 15 as to whether students will return in person on October 19. Pfeiffer also said it will take a community-wide commitment to being safe for schools to reopen.
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