Decision delayed

Jay Schools listened.

Board members agreed Monday to conduct a second survey of school employees on a potential switch in health insurance coverage providers.

A survey conducted earlier this summer resulted in a virtual tie between the current provider, Anthem, and Indiana University Health.

A committee involving teachers, administrators and the board had recommended a switch from Anthem to IU Health.

But because a third provider — Cigna — was included as an option in the survey, board members agreed with Jay Schools staff that a second survey would provide better data upon which to make a decision.

“We would like to have a voice in the decision that is to be made,” fourth grade teacher Susan Lechlitner told the board.

Noting that she respected and thanked the committee that had worked to develop the health insurance recommendation, Lechlitner outlined what she saw as shortcomings in the IU Health proposal.

“Anthem has greater coverage,” she said. “IU’s network is very small. … I’m going to be paying for insurance I cannot use.”

Other school employees echoed those thoughts.

“Anthem has been good to my family,” said Katie Kerns. “All of my family’s got to find new primary care doctors” if the switch to IU Health is made. “To me, Anthem is a better choice.”

Prior to the survey, employees were provided with detailed information on rates, coverage and networks. IU Health’s premium proposal was lower, but its network is significantly smaller.

“At the end, it’s claims (vs.) premiums,” said board member Ron Laux. “It’s a tough balance to make.”

“The complexity of this requires some additional analysis,” said superintendent Jeremy Gulley, adding that a second survey with just two options — IU Health and Anthem — makes sense.

“I think that’s doable in the time available,” he said.

The timeline will be tight.

The renewal date for the school corporation’s health insurance is Sept. 1, and any change in providers will require a month.

A new online survey will be set in motion today, with automatic calls going out to school employees telling them to check their emails and participate.

“I hope we get good participation,” said Gulley.

The survey will only be open for responses for one week, then the matter will come back to the board for a decision at a special meeting set for 7 a.m. July 29 at the administrative office building.

As with the prior survey, detailed information about the plan options will be provided online.

The final decision will rest with the board.

“At the end of the day you have to vote your conscience,” said board president Phil Ford.

Board members agreed on a 6-0 vote, with Krista Muhlenkamp absent, to accept the proposal from Jay County Council and Jay County Commissioners for a school resource officer from Jay County Sheriff’s Office.

Calling the agreement with the county “a good fit,” Gulley said the school district will pick up 75 percent of the cost, while the county will cover the other 25 percent. The school district’s costs will be covered in part by a school safety grant from the state.

“The agreement is not a lock-in thing,” he said. “The county still needs to act on this too.”

On a related note, the board formally accepted a $10,000 donation from Watch Communications for the district’s school safety program.

The board agreed to give Jay County Development Corporation time to work with the Pennville community on a potential future for the former Pennville Elementary School building.

One option that surfaced Monday came from Berne Christian Fellowship, which is outgrowing its current space and is interested in acquiring the building.

“We like the location,” said church representative Dan Neuenschwander. “We are interested.”

Gulley said the issue is likely to return to the board next month for some sort of action.

“Time is unforgiving on buildings,” he said.

In other business, the board:

•Appointed Amber Yadon as the interim assistant principal at East Jay Middle School on a one-year contract during a period of further consolidation.

•Approved meeting dates for 2020.

•Adopted a new elementary school handwriting program.

•Approved fees and textbook rental charges for the coming school year.

•Hired Jeff Svehla as a science teacher at West Jay Middle School, Abigail Chapman as an instructional assistant at Westlawn Elementary School, Ryan Johnson as a school bus aide, Ted Habegger and Dennis Dwiggins as summer driver education teachers, and Kelly Lauber as a physical education instructor at General Shanks Elementary School.

•Accepted the resignations of custodians Nicolas Raines and Don Roberts.

•Approved leaves of absence for assistant band director Rebecca Cloud and custodian Russell Hartman.

•Agreed to contract with ClaimAid Consulting Corporation for Medicaid reimbursement assistance.

•Approved extracurricular assignments for Renae Laux as girls’ assistant soccer coach at Jay County High School, Mitchell Snyder as band percussion assistant at JCHS, Sarah Ullum as band guard assistant at JCHS, Charles Wood as JCHS freshman football coach, Lindsey Willoughby as seventh grade volleyball coach at West Jay, Violet Current as sixth grade volleyball coach at West Jay, Shannon Current as eighth grade volleyball coach at West Jay, Irene Taylor as sponsor of student council, honor society and pep club at West Jay, Kendra Stouder as intramural track coach at Redkey Elementary School, Jenny Outcalt as yearbook sponsor at Redkey, Phillip Puschel as middle school football coach, and Dustin Guggenbiller as assistant middle school football coach.