School Health Insurance: Gaining handle on insurance costs must be state, local priority

A Lansing State Journal editorial





The Lansing School District has less money to educate local youth. Some teachers are suggesting pay-free work days for instructors.



A school board member notes a $3 million increase, in one-year, in the district's health care costs.



And the Michigan Legislature is looking at bills to create a different way for schools to buy employee health insurance.



Changing the rules on health insurance won't end Lansing's enrollment drain. It will, however, make Lansing better able to help the children who are here.



As board member Hugh Clarke Jr. noted in an LSJ story, contractual obligations force big payments on the district, even when drooping enrollment leads to less state aid. Staff downsizing is inevitable for Lansing schools right now, but it should be wise downsizing.



That means having a smaller, but skilled work force. And that means having the finances and flexibility to get - and hold on to - good, veteran teachers.



Legislation now under review at the State Capitol would give school districts a new way to band together to buy insurance. There are major flaws in this approach, not the least of which is the lack of mandates for financial reserves for these pools.



But lawmakers are right to seek action; to seek new ways to help Clarke and Michigan's other school board members.



The status quo is a luxury Lansing cannot afford.