A report of the Albert Lea Area Schools district-sponsored health insurance plan shows an overall average 7.21 percent premium increase amongst its three plans for the 2018-19 year.

Deputy Superintendent Lori Volz said during the Monday school board meeting the eight-year track record since partnering with the district’s current health insurance company, NJPA Health Partners, has been an average premium increase of 4.51 percent. Volz said this is a good average for insurance renewal. Volz said this year’s 7.21 percent premium increase was driven by claims.

Volz also reported on the Well@Work Clinic, a clinic on-site at Brookside Education Center open to all employees covered by the district-sponsored health insurance plan.

“The good news is that it continues to be very much utilized by the staff that is covered under the district health insurance plan,” she said.

School board Chairman Ken Petersen noted he has seen several other businesses also move in this direction of care.

In 2017, the Well@Work Clinic had 1,956 reported visits and dispensed 1,345 medications. Volz said the savings for the district have especially been noted in lab and prescription costs. She said the renewal costs for the district’s health insurance plan would have been higher if not for the clinic, which she said saved the district approximately $364,700.

The school board postponed a review from insurance consultants regarding the district’s health insurance options due to an error found in the report, which Volz said would factor in to the outcome. The school board will review the insurance consultants’ findings at the next board meeting.

In other action, the school board approved a resolution appointing election judges for the May 8 special election. According to the Office of the Minnesota Secretary of State, precincts with more than 500 registered voters must assign at least four election judges. According to Volz, the head count at several polling places is up to eight to allow a rotating schedule to cover the day’s positions. Volz said covering the cost of the election will be pulled from the district’s general fund.