BUSD bargains for health care
Molly Shore
Hoping to curb spiraling health-insurance costs, the Burbank Unified
School District is negotiating with the Burbank Teachers Assn. to
drop its existing health coverage in favor of more affordable
insurance plans, officials said Tuesday.
District and union officials met in closed session late Tuesday to
discuss the plan, which school board member Dave Kemp estimates could
save the district between $1.5 million and $2 million annually if
the district opts not to renew the California Public Employees
Retirement System health plans carried by hundreds of
union-represented teachers. He also hinted that teachers could
receive raises as part of district concessions.
“If there is a savings and it ends up being a go, we have to
decide what we’re going to do with the money we save,” Kemp said
prior to the special meeting. “I would imagine if the district will
save a ton of money switching, that somewhere in there ... [teachers
will] ask for a share of the savings. I don’t blame them for that. We
haven’t given them much of a raise in the last couple of years.”
When asked what teachers stand to gain from the negotiations, BTA
co-President Kim Allender said: “That remains to be seen on how the
district reacts at the negotiations [Tuesday afternoon]. It certainly
figures into the scheme of things.”
According to Allender, who is participating in the negotiations,
the union represents 850 Burbank Unified teachers, nurses and
counselors.
“At this point, there’s certainly a possible chance that we could
reach an equitable agreement that would allow teachers to pull out of
CalPERS,” Allender said.
If the two sides agree to discontinue with CalPERS, Kemp said any
new coverage would be comparable to what teachers receive now.
“The problem is, there’s a lot of people who want to stay with
their own doctors,” Kemp said. “People will have to make some choices
about getting new doctors.”
Kaiser Permanente, a health provider offered through CalPERS,
charges $312 a month for one party, but is planning to raise its
premium to $366, Kemp said. If the district discontinues CalPERS and
signs with provider PacifiCare, the monthly premium for one party
would be $330, he added. Health Net and two additional HMOs would
also be offered at the same price as PacifiCare, Kemp said.
Another aspect of the negotiations might be capping benefit costs,
Kemp said.
“We have to explore every way to reel in these costs,” he said.
“We’re saving money, but then it costs employees money, so that’s
where negotiations come in.”
If the district and the union agree to discontinue the union’s
existing health coverage provider, the district must notify CalPERS
by Friday, Kemp said. If a decision is not reached by then, the
district is obligated to remain with CalPERS for another year, he
said.
Supt. Gregory Bowman said a follow-up, closed-session meeting has
been scheduled for Thursday, but declined to disclose any details of
the negotiations.