Bob Foos
Entities in this area with self-funded insurance plans covering approximately 8,000 employees are on the verge of a major change.
Brenten Byrd, superintendent of the Webb City R-7 School District, is also president of the organization those entities have formed, the Tri-State Health Coalition. The City of Webb City, also provides a self-funded plan for its employees and is a member of the coalition.
Byrd told the School Board Tuesday that negotiations between the coalition and Mercy, which have been going on since 2016, have basically broken down.
In the next few days, Byrd said the coalition may dissolve as the individual members “rent a network” and allow the amended contract with Mercy to expire.
The benefits of a self-funded plan renting a network include no restrictions on which health care provider to choose. In other words, employees would be able to go to Freeman in addition to Mercy. There would also be nationwide coverage.
Meanwhile, the self-funded plans will likely retain their benefits manager to make decisions about which procedures to cover.
On top of that, he said coalition members would save a total of $477,000 per year under the proposal being considered. The school district’s share of that would be $170,000.
Byrd noted the district’s self-funded plan has a healthy $5 million balance.
Board members voted unanimously and with vigor to authorize Byrd to inform Mercy that other options are being considered and if necessary proceed with one of those options.
Byrd updated the board on the future of the district’s driver’s education program, which is at a crossroads since longtime instructors Tim Doss and Dusty Allen have retired.
He noted that certification is difficult to obtain, but one teacher is certified and hopefully another one will come forward. Webb City is one of the few districts, if not the only one, that still offers driver’s ed.
High school principal Jeff Wilkie said about 85 students take the course each summer.
Board member Erin Taylor said she hopes the district can keep the program going. She recalled Doss as her instructor and more importantly said, “That’s where I met my husband.”
In other action:
• Parent Amanda Jolly asked the board for more transparency rather than hide behind the reason of confidentiality when serious issues are already public knowledge.
She also asked that an administrator be held accountable for accusing her junior high son on three occasions of being a racist.
• Two high school juniors, Allie Shuster and Hadley Butcher, were honored for attending the Missouri Scholars Academy during the summer.
• Senior Carter Slinker was honored for becoming a National Merit semifinalist. Stacy Stockton, high school gifted and enrichment instructor, said the cutoff PSAT score for the award was raised this year, but she knew for sure that Carter would make it because he had a perfect score. “This is remarkable,” she said because Carter also got a perfect score on the ACT.
• The consent agenda included John Roderique returning as athletic director under the critical need provision. It also included the resignation of Allyson Stolte as softball coach. She will still be a physical education instructor.