JANESVILLE — Janesville teachers, staff and paraprofessionals dressed in all black Wednesday in protest of the district’s recent decision to have staff pay more for insurance starting in the 2024-25 school year.
Janesville Education Association President Laura Mattison said the intent was to highlight the number of staff affected by the decision, on International Labor Day, when there were demonstrations for workers’ rights across the globe.
“It’s just our day to be visible. We usually do ‘red for ed (education)’ and that was just positive for education, but with this we wanted to show our disappointment,” Mattison said.
The board decision followed an increase of $1.3 million overall in insurance costs this year. Now, the district pays 90% of the insurance plan costs for employees. Going forward, the district will pay 88%.
“We are encouraging the district to look into ways to offset the costs of the health insurance plan,” Mattison said.
There is also a petition circulating that states, “we call upon the School District of Janesville’s School Board commissioners to identify concrete ways that the impact of the new health insurance plan can be financially offset by the district.”
School district staff can choose between two carriers, Dean or Mercy, both of which are raising their rates as a part of the renewal. Dean’s increase is 21.9% and Mercy is 18.5%.
Under the Mercy plan, the employee monthly premium for single tier will be $76.08, up from $68.24. For employee and spouse, it will go up to $168.16, from $150.84. For employee and children, it’s $141.53, up from $126.95. For family, it’s $229.07, up from $205.46.
Under the Dean plan, the employee monthly premium single tier cost is $211.24, up from $143.72. For employee and spouse, it will be $439.01, up from $294.29. For employee and children, it will be $401.23, up from $274.31. For family, it will be $614.57, up from $414.85.
Also under the plan, the single tier deductible goes up to $3,200, from $1,500. For families, it goes up to $6,400. The district added co-insurance last year but eliminated it in the new plan. The district’s health savings account contribution goes to $800, up from $600.
“Just under the previous plan a teacher would have to have almost $20,000 of medical bills to have the max out of pocket,” Mattison said, adding the new plan will make it even more difficult.
The district and the JEA have entered salary negotiations, Mattison said, which she would not comment on directly.
“If the district were to give us the 4.12 CPI (consumer price index) for Wisconsin, it would not cover the costs for most employees. This is essentially asking the employees to take less take-home pay,” Mattison said.
The decision came with little notice. The plan change did not go through a committee. It was presented to the board on the night of the approval. Mattison saw the proposed price increase for teachers and staff on the Friday before the meeting through BoardDocs, an online platform that has agendas and other documents related to the school board.
“It was very sudden,” Mattison said.
On Sunday, the JEA posted on its Facebook page, in part, “The district administration’s effort to save SDJ hundreds of thousands of dollars by having employees pay for insurance increases and the board’s decision to pass the proposal is beyond disappointing. JEA members are understandably extremely upset at the cavalier way the insurance proposal moved through the district/BOE (Board of Education).”
When asked Wednesday, School Board President Kevin Murray said he hadn’t been made aware of the protest or petition.
“That’s their privilege and right to express themselves on anything, including their wages,” Murray said. “The 20% increase on insurance was hard to manage. Some of the cost was passed on to the employees. If I was in their shoes, I probably wouldn’t like it either.”
A district spokesperson said Wednesday afternoon they were not aware of the protest or petition. Just after 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, in response to a request for comment through email, the district spokesperson replied, “there is nothing I can add.”
Mattison didn’t rule out more protests.
“I can’t guarantee there will be, or won’t be, more protests. That depends on how the board will react to this,” Mattison said.
Mattison told The Gazette she will share the number of signatures on the petition with the board, Holzman and Assistant Superintendent and Director of Human Resources Scott Garner.
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