By Steven Stilt
The Kaskaskia College Board of Trustees on Monday evening approved the renewal of employee health insurance with BlueCross BlueShield that will include sizable increases in costs.
According to college officials, the renewal will include a 15.3 percent increase in health, dental, and vision insurance, after BlueCross BlueShield’s initial proposal which involved a more than 23 percent increase.
KC President George Evans says three of the four major insurance carriers declined to offer a quote, and he notes that the college will have to explore different options moving forward as the current path is unsustainable.
“We obviously need to think long-term and strategically on what we want to do as an institution to make sure that we make it a very attractive place to work while also maintaining the fiscal balance. … It’s not a very fun, pleasant decision, but it’s one that we have to make on behalf of our employees, but also recognizing that the funding apparatus, as is, is not sustainable for these increased costs.”
The renewed health insurance with BlueCross BlueShield will take effect on September 1st.
In other action, the board voted to accept a donation of precision agriculture equipment from Bayer. Officials say the equipment will greatly enhance the instructional delivery and training opportunities within KC’s agriculture and precision agriculture programs.
Trustees also approved the purchase of computer lab desktop stations at a cost of $48,871.90 and, on a split vote, approved the purchase of a gymnasium floor cover and accessories at a cost of just over $30,000.
In personnel items, the board approved the hiring of Laura Huge as controller and accepted the resignations of WEI Workforce Partnership Coordinator Reece Rutland, Trenton Education Center evening coordinator Gina Astroth and culinary arts professor Robert Rhymes.
