More health cost squeezing

Pioneer Press Wed, 19 Dec 2007 22:46:26 -0700
North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale and Mahtomedi school districts reach new contracts with teachers

Two more east metro school districts have reached new two-year agreements with their teachers for salary and benefits. ... In the North St. Paul-Maplewood-Oakdale district, the total two-year package - which covers 659 full-time teaching positions - is about a 10 percent increase over the old contract. During the 2006-07 school year, the district spent about $51.8 million on salary and benefits for its teachers and on retiree benefits. That will increase to $57 million during the 2008-09 school year. Some teachers will have to start contributing more toward their health insurance plans in the 2008-09 school year. Teachers will pay $159.68 a month for family insurance coverage next year, up from $90.77 this year. The district's monthly contribution will be $1,051.80 next year, up from $965.91. The district will still pay 100 percent of the $456.53 insurance premiums for single teachers during the 2008-09 school year. All those numbers are based on a projected rate increase of 15 percent.

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