Health Care Law Cited In Greendale Open Enrollment Expansion
Greendale school officials said the new federal health care law is certain to increase costs, and wanted to add Open Enrollment seats at the high school to generate more revenue.
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Budget uncertainty—and the new federal health care law in particular—has prompted the Greendale School District to add 14 ninth-grade seats through the state's Open Enrollment program.
While the specifics of the federal Affordable Care Act are still unfolding, Greendale school officials say it's clear health costs will increase.
The district expects at least a 4 percent increase in rates due to impact fees. In addition, at least 50 staff members not currently covered will obtain coverage through the school district—or else the district pays a penalty, Business Director Erin Green wrote in a memo.
The district also proposed adding Open Enrollment seats because sections of some core classes may have to be added due to high class sizes, Green said.
"For these reasons, we would like the certainty of knowing the $95,000 in additional revenue is available to address these additional costs, which are likely to happen," Green said. "This will assist us in building the budget for 2013-2014."
The Open Enrollment program allows students to attend schools outside their home district. The state pays districts for each student attending through Open Enrollment—in 2013-14, it's expected to be $6,574 per student.
The school board previously approved adding seats at the sixth- and seventh-grade levels. The number of students attending Greendale schools is still projected to drop next year, from 319 to 307.
"It is not expected that adding these ... seats would in any way diminish the quality of education available at GHS," Green said. "In fact, as the curriculum continues to diversify with offering more options and choices to students, they are needed to support our programming."
Adding the ninth-grade seats passed 3-2, with board members Anne Szcygiel and Melanie Kuzmanovic in opposition. Szcygiel said she is concerned about growing enrollment at the high school. Kuzmanovic said she wanted to wait until the possibility of added sections became more certain.
GSD teach
3:35 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
What was Dr. Tharp's statement about using open enrollment just for more money, more Heath insurance and anything about this being good for students? Some schools are reducing hours or changing work schedules. I guess Greendale is not.
Greg
8:42 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
How many employees does a district of 307 students have?
thinkoutsidethebubble
9:50 pm on Wednesday, March 20, 2013
There's a lot more than 307 students. There's more than that at the High School, and more than that at the Middle School. Probably about that many at each elementary.
pooksilby
1:46 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Right on their website: The Greendale School District, home to more than 2,600 students, prides itself in providing an excellent public education for all students from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Greendale High School, Greendale Middle School, and three elementary schools - Canterbury, College Park, and Highland View - serve the district. The Time 4 Learning Charter School offers pre-school experiences to four-year-old children.
pooksilby
1:57 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
...and Greendale had a student/teacher ratio of 13.9 and a student/staff ratio of 8.4 in 2011-2012 school year. You do the math, Greg.
Greg
3:23 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
No math required if you read the story above.
"The number of students attending Greendale schools is still projected to drop next year, from 319 to 307."
I didn't write the story.
Ron Burgundy
7:58 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
So now the school district is at fault because the writer got the number wrong? What is the context of the number. Since there are more than 2600 students, which could easily be found on the website as the previous poster stated, the story doesn't make sense.
Greg
8:12 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Who said anything about the school being at fault?
FL Born
3:33 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
sounds like Affordable Health Care to me.....
Mary
7:45 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Is it the public schools job to provide health care for employees not covered? How much are they charging these newly covered people - is it all the new open enrollment expansion? Schools are cutting staff or hours to avoid the Affordable Heath Care laws. Not Greendale.
Ron Burgundy
7:59 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Mary, what schools are cutting staff or hours to avoid the Affordable Health Care laws. And is that the proper way to keep the school district top notch, to cut staff?
Ron Burgundy
8:00 pm on Thursday, March 21, 2013
Are you perhaps confusing this with Act 10?
Grace Knot
6:14 pm on Saturday, March 23, 2013
Shift all teachers in the State on the States new system once its in place by the federal government. That way we can hold the cost of Insurance down for the taxpayers, and they can be on Obamacare as a fantastic alternative.
TouchstoneDeux
4:56 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
State insurance is really basic., but it is more than many get. Gdale's teachers' insurance package may be the difference in getting and/or keeping beter teachers.
Please, Grace Knot, let's Slip Knot.
Christina
8:12 am on Sunday, March 24, 2013
Moving their teachers and other employees to the federal system can start as soon as 2014. That would get administration that knows little about health insurance plans out of those decisions. It also gives the employees the same plan the feds and other people going on Obama Care. Seems to save money and give the employees a decent health care plan.
Marie
7:03 pm on Sunday, March 24, 2013
If you have to choose between teachers jobs and smaller classes/more programs and insurance? Paying them competitively or cutting some teachers to keep the primo insurance plan the high paid now Greendale teachers while they pay less for their insurance than most of us? These are the choices they are going to have to make. Another choice is to pay higher taxes.