The Idaho School District Council has completed its thirty-eighth year of operation as a cooperative service agency, serving Idaho school districts and affiliate organizations. The following report is provided to the membership and is being made available on the ISDC website www.idsdc.org for review by the general public.
The staff of the ISDC remained the same as in the previous year. Dr. Michael Friend served his fourth year as the part-time ISDC Executive Director, and Debbie Fausett completed her sixth year as the Office Manager. Tim Rosandick, Homedale, served as the Chairman of the Board for the 2009-2010 term.
Throughout the course of the year, there were many opportunities to review the various services of the Council’s operation. Website hits continue to increase from the previous years. As a continuation of its efforts to provide quality supplies, good service, and low prices, the Council’s e-commerce site continued to be offered to the membership. Formal agreements continued with WAXIE and the King County Director’s Association (KCDA) to enhance the offerings to the member districts. Business relationships with Costco, Staples, Quill and Interstate Batteries were also maintained.
The Council had a visible presence as an exhibitor at the Idaho School Superintendents’ Association Annual Meeting and Idaho Association of School Business Official’s Convention. Through this exposure, the role and mission of the Council has been reinforced.
The partnerships with Blue Cross of Idaho, Willamette Dental of Idaho, Standard Life Insurance, People Systems, Valuation Northwest, MasterCare Solutions, and Business Psychology Associates were renewed and strengthened through on-going communications. At the Council Board’s direction, the staff continues to seek business partnerships that will offer products and services for Council member consideration at a reduced price.
For several years, the Council has been able to provide a refund to the participants in the Statewide Schools Health Insurance Program, based on its Surplus Premium Agreement with Blue Cross of Idaho. This Agreement provides a sharing of the risks as well as the profits in the partnership between Blue Cross of Idaho and the ISDC. We have sought to reach a 91% target-loss ratio, striving to have the premiums collected and the claims paid, balance. Refunds in total excess of $4M were distributed in November 2009 reflecting the terms of this agreement.
The provision of a wellness/preventative “first dollar benefit” of $500 and a benefit of $1,000 for a colonoscopy procedure; a Basic Plan with a high deductible, high out-of-pocket benefit continued with no minimum participation required; the $50,000 claim ceiling for purposes of spreading high claims across the pool continued. For the 2009-10 renewal, a three-tier pharmacy benefit was added, and the Traditional Plan will no longer be available after the 2009-2010 renewal. These and other changes are a result of the work by both the Council and its health insurance partner, Blue Cross of Idaho.
In May 2009, the Council and Blue Cross of Idaho entered into negotiations resulting in several changes to the Surplus Premium Agreement. These changes were approved by both parties in August 2009 and went into effect immediately. As the Council and Blue Cross of Idaho move forward with the Statewide Health Insurance Program, the changes will serve as the foundation of the Surplus Premium Agreement and its benefit to the participating districts.
The 2007 study of the Statewide Schools Health Insurance Program continues to be used as a blueprint for Board consideration and future actions. Kelly Grebinsky, Principal Senior Actuary from Actuaries Northwest, has served as the health insurance consultant for the ISDC since 2007.
As a part of the staff responsibilities, various issues of statewide and national concern are also monitored. Federal Health Care Reform has presented more questions than answers to date. As rules and regulations to implement the new legislation are created, the staff will continue to keep the Board and the membership informed of any necessary actions in relationship to the offerings of the Council. Monitoring the discussions of groups continues to enable the Council to be informed of the issues and to provide input as appropriate.
Idaho districts have already met the GASB45 regulations. The Council continues to provide support to the school districts in addressing this issue. An endorsement of the services of Actuaries Northwest has been granted by the ISDC Board of Directors.
The membership of the ISDC for the 2009-10 school year totaled 146 members. This total represents 113 school districts, six affiliates, 26 charter schools, and COSSA.
There were 124 members enrolled in one or more portions of the Statewide Schools Health Insurance program. Thirty-six members offered the Willamette Dental option to their employees.
Nearly $140,000 of cooperative purchasing was handled through the ISDC office during the year.
The unemployment claims monitoring program had 20 participants.
Employee assistance programs, offered through Business Psychology Associates and endorsed by both the Council and Blue Cross of Idaho, were offered in 19 districts.
Standard Life Insurance, a long-time ISDC endorsee, was offered as a benefit in 60 districts.
The long-term care endorsement offered through John Hancock and MetLife continued to attract new policy holders. This program has been offered for two years and marketing will continue to be phased-in throughout the state by MasterCare Solutions’ representatives.
Three new districts have taken advantage of the discounted rates for the services of Northwest Valuations, an endorsee of the Council.
This report was prepared by Mike Friend, Executive Director and Debbie Fausett, Office Manager and presented to the Board of Directors on August 4, 2010.