SCS looking seriously at staff benefits
And administrators are keenly aware the road may be rocky if what the city of
The school board is most concerned about the
Right now, SCS pays 70 percent of retirees' insurance premiums. If it paid 50 percent and instituted a
If it eliminated coverage for spouses of all retirees, it could save another
Supt.
It's not clear when the board will vote on benefit changes. It was presented a smorgasbord of options that district staff said would be fine-tuned into recommendations.
"We've asked to meet with the superintendent to get some clarification," said
But for dozens of teachers calling his office, he said, the question is: "I'm close to retirement; what does this really mean?"
Retirees are not the only ones facing changes. The district is considering a
It is also thinking of making employees participate in biometric screenings or be moved to the district's least expensive health plan.
Before board member
"It's on them (the administrators). They are the ones that made the supposition," Caldwell said. "It's our obligation as a board to look over everything with a fine-tooth comb. I am not interested in forcing anyone into a substandard option."
Chairwoman
The school board has a vested interest in reducing retiree costs. Its current liability is
"The promises we made for tomorrow should be budgeted today," said board member
Foster said the board faces "unintended consequences" in cutting benefits, including that teachers with "performance" issues will be less likely to retire.
"If I'm 62 and have my 30 years in, I'm going to be trying to save my job. That means I will go through the tenure process, and the district will have to spend legal time and energy preparing for the tenure hearings."
___
(c)2015 The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.)
Visit The Commercial Appeal (Memphis, Tenn.) at www.commercialappeal.com
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC
All things public finance at 2015 GFOA conference in Philly (with related video)
Advisor News
Annuity News
Health/Employee Benefits News
Life Insurance News