Employees of the Acadia Parish School System will see an increase in insurance premiums for the coming year.
At its monthly meeting Monday, the Acadia Parish School Board approved the recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum Committee regarding the renewal of employee and retiree health insurance with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana for the 2020-2021.
During discussion it was explained that premiums would be increased by about 7.1 percent a month.
Justin Carrier, chief finance officer for the parish, explained that the reason for the increase is directly related to usage throughout the group plan. He explained that last year the APSB had numerous substantial health insurance claims which drove up premiums for this 2020-2021 school year.
He explained that the system actually saw a 9.1 percent increase, of which the board absorbed 2 percent by utilizing the rate stabilization fund. The other 7.1 percent increase will have to be absorbed by the employees and school system. The employee will pay 35 percent and the district will pay 65 percent of the rate increase.
Other routine items approved by the board were:
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding revenue for the 2020-2021 Budget.
The exact numbers for revenue are still fluctuating due to the pandemic and various other factors such as tax deadline extensions, according to Carrier. The board is hoping to have more concrete numbers at the June 22 committee meetings.
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding expenditures for the 2020-2021 Budget.
Currently, the APSB is predicting a flat revenue, however, as explained earlier, the exact numbers for revenue are still fluctuating and more exact figures are expected in time for the June 22 committee meetings.
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee to conducting a public hearing on the proposed 2020-2021 budget at 5 p.m. on July 13.
• The recommendation of Budget and Finance Committee regarding approval of Title 1 Methodology.
This is a standard procedure the board passes every summer that ensures that the funds supplied by the government are distributed equally among the district and the funding does not replace general fund expenditures.
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding approval of the updated Property Schedule of Values.
Each summer the board updates its Property Schedule of Values in order to set up the amount needed for property insurance on the district’s various properties. The Property Schedule of Values is about $184 million of properties.
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding Child Nutrition Bids: pots, pans and chemical; frozen foods, milk, dairy, juice; paper and cleaning supplies and bread.
This is a routine process of ordering cafeteria supplies in preparation for the upcoming school year. The board had previously approved replacement of the district office’s freezer, however, the project was put on hold due to the pandemic.
• The recommendation of the Budget and Finance Committee regarding approval of bids received for the roof replacement at Iota High School.
The roof replacement will include a second layer of the currently existing roof at a cost about $143,000, which also includes about $15,000 extra to cover any complications that may come up during the roof replacement.
• The recommendation of the Personnel, Insurance and Curriculum Committee regarding approval of property insurance renewal for fiscal year 2020-2021 with Dupre Carrier Godchaux Insurance Agency.
The board is facing a $125,000 increase in property insurance premiums for the 2020-2021 fiscal school year.