JACKSON SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES EASEMENT

JACKSON, Mo. -- The Jackson Board of Education approved a utility easement for city construction crews and health insurance for staff during a meeting Tuesday night.

The school board unanimously approved a request from the city for an easement to install a new water distribution line near Jackson Middle School. Schools Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson said work on the project could begin in the spring, but he did not have other details about the project or how it would affected by future maintenance or road expansion needs.

The board also approved a change in the health insurance plan provided to district employees. The Robert D. O'Byrne and Associates insurance consulting company was hired last year to assist administrators in obtaining competitive health insurance bids.

Jackson and Cape Girardeau school officials contacted the consulting company following an extremely large increase in premiums by the Missouri Consolidated Health Care Plan that was experienced statewide by schools and other public entities who had contracted with the state-sponsored insurance carrier.

The school board considered two insurance quotes Tuesday submitted by the consulting firm before electing to switch the district's health insurance carrier to the Missouri Educators Health Program beginning Jan. 1. The program will make use of an expanded service area network that includes providers who accept Alliance Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance.

"This is a very good benefits plan compared to a lot of the private-sector plans I've seen," said Board of Education member Brent Wills, who works as an insurance agent. "It's actually a stronger plan that what we had previously."

In other business, Wills and Mark Baker asked administrators to continue researching the procedure for forming a foundation that would handle major donations to the school district. There appears to be growing interest in the community for providing individual and group financial support to the district that should not be overlooked, they said.