Trustee Urges End to Board’s Health Plan

School board member Hank Adler lost his battle to eliminate the $400-a-month stipend paid to the school district’s five trustees, but he has not given up.

Adler will ask Irvine Unified School District trustees next week to end health insurance benefits for future school board members.

Adler estimates that school board members get a $600-a-month benefit from the free health insurance they are provided by the district.

“When you start talking about $1,000 a month compensation for serving on the school board, it seems excessive,” Adler said. “It never bothered me with everybody taking $100 a month, but I don’t see how it could cost any more to do this job.”

The school board cut its monthly stipend to $100 per member in the aftermath of the county bankruptcy but voted to reinstate the $400-a-month stipend in December. Adler and Trustee Tom Burnham voted against the increase.

School board members are entitled to free medical, dental and vision coverage, with the option of paying $75 a month to include family members in the district’s medical coverage.

School board President Mary Ellen Hadley said a new law will require school board members elected after Jan. 1 to pay for district health insurance. She said that without the benefits given to school board members, the rigors of holding office might discourage candidates from running.

“These benefits increase the pool of good people who choose to be a school board member,” Hadley said.

Adler applauds the new law but said the school district should not bear the financial risk of providing health insurance to school board members.

“It’s a box we shouldn’t get into,” he said. “I’d rather see that money go to the classroom.”