By Michael S. Hoey
Correspondent
The Delavan-Darien School Board approved switching from Anthem Insurance to Wisconsin Education Association Trust on Sept. 24.
The switch will help the district avoid an 18 percent increase in costs, and the district will save 4 percent over the amount it spent on health insurance last year.
Business Administrator Anthony Klein said the district has seen double-digit increases in health insurance costs the past several years and was facing another 18 percent increase for the coming year. Klein said the district also switched its financial advisor, and that led to the savings in health care costs. The district had been using Town Bank’s financial services. Klein was familiar with the services provided by Associated Bank from his work at the Parkview School District in Orfordville.
Klein said Associated looked at what Anthem was proposing and saw no legitimate reason for the 18 percent increase. Associated looked at a WEA Trust plan and recommended it to Klein. Klein said the plan will cost 4 percent less than the amount the district has been paying and is a better plan for the employees and the district because it has lower premiums and lower deductibles.
Read more meeting coverage in the Oct. 4 Delavan Enterprise.