WRIGHT TWP. — The Crestwood school board found itself revisiting a nearly quarter-century-old issue when a vote in favor of health insurance took place at Thursday’s regular monthly meeting. The agenda called for renewing coverage for teachers and administrators with Imagine 360 for the 2024 calendar year. But teachers union President Janice Ciavarella insisted the item be tabled so that the board could sit down with the Northeast Pennsylvania School District Health Trust to determine if it could get better savings.
The Trust is a consortium of regional districts formed in 1999 with the aim of using their greater collective bargaining power to reduce health insurance costs. Crestwood was a founding member, but withdrew after a year — attorney Jack Dean noted the decision was driven by union concerns. Several other districts have also since opted out, all thinking they could get cheaper coverage themselves.
Ciavarella said the board should delay its decision until it can meet with union and Trust representatives to see if more money could be saved by joining the Trust. Saving money has become paramount in a district that saw large-scale layoffs earlier this year to stem a large budget deficit, and Ciavarella said she wants to avoid further layoffs.
But Dean said the district has tried to get numbers from the Trust. He said the district needs to act now because the district must have coverage in place by Jan. 1. He also said that although the Trust requested a meeting in September, when asked for numbers so the district could review them in advance, they were not provided.
Business consultant Thomas Benz said the district negotiated with Imagine 360 and received changes and incentives that collectively could save the district up to $1 million.
Ultimately, with two members absent, the board voted unanimously to renew the agreement with Imagine 360. The board approved a related motion to have Conrad Siegel Inc., a consulting firm used by many local districts and the Health Trust over the years, for health care-related work, to conduct a review of claims made through Imagine 360. The cost of $30,000 will be split equally between the district and Imagine 360.
Benz and Dean said the review was a proactive measure to ensure everything was done correctly, although Dean said he expected no problems to be found.
The board of directors also:
• Approval of a 5-year lease with Quadient Leasing Inc. starting October 1, 2023 for a digital mail system, at a monthly cost of $148.25.
• Approved an agreement with the Luzerne Intermediate Unit for dual diagnosis therapeutic services at a cost of $155 per 6.5 hour day.
• Approved a proposal from BerkOne for printing, packaging and mailing annual Act 1 Homestead/Farmstead applications for a total cost of $1,500.
• Approved Stacey Rosario as a special education aide and Carley Karaffa as a special education behavior technician, both at $17 an hour.
• Approved the purchase of a used Skyjack scissor lift from Sky Works, LLC, for $6,080.
• Appointed Sean Phelan as part-time custodian for 20 hours per week at $18.11 per hour with a 10% rate reduction for the first 60-day trial period, Sharon Stibick as service worker/waitress part-time food service from Monday to Friday, not to exceed 4.75 hours per day at $18.32 per hour with a 10% reduction during a 60-day probationary period, Samantha Shoemaker as part-time babysitter Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Monday 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at $18.11 per hour, Nicole Wall as a part-time paraeducator must not exceed 5 hours per day at $17.51 per hour with a 10% discount for the 60-day probationary period, and Nichole Bruzgilis as a full-time general food service employee/server Monday through Friday not to exceed 6.5 hours per day at $19.29 per hour.
• Accepted the resignation of Robert Ankner.
• Approved an agreement with WVIA for three school years (through 2025-2026) for the Enhanced Scholar program at $2,500 per year.
• Mandate approved for Jay Thomas and Sue Ryan.
• Accepted the resignations of Theodore Geffert and Angel Mae Webby from the Distinguished Alumni Awards Selection Committee.
Contact Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish
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