Published: March 27, 2008 10:59 am            

Lanesville school system considers insurance switch

Administration to review policy before returning to board

Lanesville Community School Corp. employees may see a change in their health insurance provider pending further review.

Rick Kochert of Kochert Insurance briefed the board on several health insurance options available to school employees at the recently monthly school board meeting.

Present health insurance is provided by Anthem at a cost of $35,508 per month. At least one other plan being considered would result in savings of $2,395 per month.

“The difference in these plans is nearly the cost of (paying) a beginning teacher, for about the same coverage,” said Sam Gardner, interim superintendent of Lanesville Schools.

Donnie Hussung, Lanesville School Board president said he was concerned the premiums would be cheaper now but would escalate in the coming years.

Cost isn’t the only issue to be considered, he said.

“I want to save money like anyone else here, but I don’t want to get into a contract issue,” Hussung said. “I don’t want to say we’re switching whether teachers like it or not — we’re a team here.”

Gardner said teachers would be consulted and health insurance would be reviewed before the board gets an update.



In other business

• Jerry Finn, program manager for Youth Philanthropy Initiative Indiana briefed the board on a $4,000 grant the school received. The group sponsors events and programs designed to teach students the value of philanthropy.

Lanesville was selected as one of 35 schools to take part.

The purpose of the grant is to provide funds for Lanesville students to perform philanthropic work, as well as provide support for selected students to attend philanthropic training.

“You already have an outstanding reputation as a school. You do good things in the community, and this enhances it,” said Finn.

Melissa Jackson, Lanesville Junior/Senior High School counselor, said the philanthropic work for this year is for Lanesville students to work with Community Unity and that organization’s World On The Square event held each summer in Corydon.

• The board received a briefing from Eric Schulze, Sara Schmelz and other students on their entry in the Rube Goldberg competition to be held April 4 at Purdue University.

The competition is based on a machine design that performs a designated task. The Lanesville students’ entry prepares a precooked hamburger, including spreading ketchup and mustard.

The project started in December.

“We worked on it a couple of hours a day since December, then about 30 or 40 this past week,” Schulze said.

• The board approved a grant of $16,400 from the Harrison County Community Foundation.

• The next school board meeting is 7:30 p.m. April 15 at Lanesville Junior/Senior High School.

— Patrick L. Boucher is a freelance journalist who lives in Harrison County.

        

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