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Independence, MO —
While Independence teachers will see a pay increase next year, there will also be an increase in health insurance premiums.
The Independence School District approved both the 2012-13 salary schedule and health insurance premiums Tuesday.
The base teacher’s salary will increase $300 to $36,000. Including the $1,200 stipend given to new teachers for the Teacher Academy, a beginning teacher’s salary in the Independence School District is $37,200. Step movement was also approved, which allows teachers to move across or up the salary schedule based on the number of years in the district and the number of additional credit hours earned.
The district’s group health insurance will remain with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The increase in premiums will be 8.9 percent, but the benefits and plans will remain the same. Employees will still be able to choose from a board-paid base plan that offers a PPO and an HMO option or will be able to use a three-tiered structure.
The premium will increase on a PPO employee-only plan from $370.63 to $403.25. The employee plus spouse PPO plan increases from $778.63 to $846.80.
Assistant Superintendent Dale Herl said the increase was kept low because of the district’s participation in biometric health screenings and other health and productivity programs.
“Our health insurance provider once again agreed to a rate cap if we participated in the health screenings again this year,” he said. “This saves big on health insurance increases and makes a big push for employee wellness.”
Board member Jana Waits said she is excited the district offers the wellness programs, and not just because it saves the district and employees money.
“This is a benefit to the health of our employees, and I think we are already seeing that,” she said. “Not only are we lowering premiums, but we are promoting healthy lifestyles.”
LUNCH PRICES INCREASING
Lunch prices in the Independence School District are increasing slightly for the 2012-13 school year.
Prices are increasing 5 cents at all grade levels and were approved Tuesday by the Independence Board of Education.
“This will affect lunch prices only,” Superintendent Jim Hinson said. “The goal every year is to break even. We do not make any money through the cafeteria meal prices.”
With the change, elementary lunch prices will be $2.25 and middle and high school prices will be $2.40. Adult lunch prices will be $2.85. Milk, snack and breakfast prices will remain the same.
Hinson said the increase is because of changes at the federal level that have increased prices. These federal changes are in relation to the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The purpose of the act is to help decrease childhood hunger and improve nutrition standards. One of the requirements is to increase “paid” lunches or regular priced lunches over a period of time until the price is equal to the federal reimbursement level for low-income students.
“One of the issues we are grappling with is all of the new federal requirements that have been implemented recently,” Hinson said. “They are requiring us to do certain things and those things cost money.”
While Independence teachers will see a pay increase next year, there will also be an increase in health insurance premiums.
The Independence School District approved both the 2012-13 salary schedule and health insurance premiums Tuesday.
The base teacher’s salary will increase $300 to $36,000. Including the $1,200 stipend given to new teachers for the Teacher Academy, a beginning teacher’s salary in the Independence School District is $37,200. Step movement was also approved, which allows teachers to move across or up the salary schedule based on the number of years in the district and the number of additional credit hours earned.
The district’s group health insurance will remain with Blue Cross/Blue Shield. The increase in premiums will be 8.9 percent, but the benefits and plans will remain the same. Employees will still be able to choose from a board-paid base plan that offers a PPO and an HMO option or will be able to use a three-tiered structure.
The premium will increase on a PPO employee-only plan from $370.63 to $403.25. The employee plus spouse PPO plan increases from $778.63 to $846.80.
Assistant Superintendent Dale Herl said the increase was kept low because of the district’s participation in biometric health screenings and other health and productivity programs.
“Our health insurance provider once again agreed to a rate cap if we participated in the health screenings again this year,” he said. “This saves big on health insurance increases and makes a big push for employee wellness.”
Board member Jana Waits said she is excited the district offers the wellness programs, and not just because it saves the district and employees money.
“This is a benefit to the health of our employees, and I think we are already seeing that,” she said. “Not only are we lowering premiums, but we are promoting healthy lifestyles.”
LUNCH PRICES INCREASING
Lunch prices in the Independence School District are increasing slightly for the 2012-13 school year.
Prices are increasing 5 cents at all grade levels and were approved Tuesday by the Independence Board of Education.
“This will affect lunch prices only,” Superintendent Jim Hinson said. “The goal every year is to break even. We do not make any money through the cafeteria meal prices.”
With the change, elementary lunch prices will be $2.25 and middle and high school prices will be $2.40. Adult lunch prices will be $2.85. Milk, snack and breakfast prices will remain the same.
Hinson said the increase is because of changes at the federal level that have increased prices. These federal changes are in relation to the 2010 Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act. The purpose of the act is to help decrease childhood hunger and improve nutrition standards. One of the requirements is to increase “paid” lunches or regular priced lunches over a period of time until the price is equal to the federal reimbursement level for low-income students.
“One of the issues we are grappling with is all of the new federal requirements that have been implemented recently,” Hinson said. “They are requiring us to do certain things and those things cost money.”
