The Thomas Edison Charter Schools governing board held a special meeting on June 4, 2026, to discuss employee benefits and insurance renewal options. The meeting focused on the long-term sustainability of health benefits and potential plan design changes to manage rising medical costs.
During the meeting, Ernie Sweat presented information regarding the school's transition from Cigna to the Public Employees Health Program (PEHP) in 2025. Sweat stated that the current renewal increase for the upcoming plan year is 7.2%, which aligned with budget expectations. The board discussed the benefits of a pooled insurance structure to help mitigate claims risk.
Thomas Edison Charter School currently provides employee coverage at no cost to employees and offers a Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to offset deductible expenses. The board reviewed several future plan design options, including maintaining the current structure, offering high-deductible health plans (HDHP), allowing employees to buy up to higher coverage, and utilizing Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
Sweat noted that a higher deductible plan could potentially reduce overall insurance costs by approximately 27%, which could generate savings for the school budget. Board members discussed the need to balance employee retention and competitive benefits with financial sustainability. Discussions also included the importance of providing staff with education and transition support regarding HSA plans and tax advantages.
Mr. Peterson reported that the current approved budget assumes the 7.2% insurance renewal increase under the existing plan structure. The board decided that no action would be taken during the meeting, as staff will continue to analyze financial scenarios and budget implications before bringing further recommendations back to the board.
The meeting was called to order at 11:33 am by Lindsey Fowers and adjourned at 12:43 pm. Board members present included Lindsey Fowers and Ryan Reeves, with Mikelshan Bartschi and Courtney Carpenter attending electronically.
