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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2001-09-05, Page 80 1\1 P44, "Creating Connections" ••1 You are invited to attend the • • Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership 2001 Annual Community Meeting g404, Tuesday, September 11, 2001 7:00 p.m. (Reception to Follow) Mitchell Golf & Country Club Guest Speaker: Dr. Carol Herbert, Dean, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry The University of Western Ontario Everyone Welcome! RSVP to 527-3012 or 527-3014 Here's something you can really smile about! We've got a deal for you... `44, Students away at college or university can receive news from home every week with a special 8 month subscription to The Citizen Only '16.00 + GST Clip this coupon and return to The Citizen r The Citizen Note: This offer is valid for students only Box 152 Brussels, ON NOG 1H0 Box 429 Blyth, ON NOM 1H0 Find enclosed $17.12 ($16.00 + $1:12 GST) for an 8 month subscription to The Citizen for: Name -Address • Postal Code FISH FRY Saturday, September 8 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. $7.75/person (Children 1/2 price) Stickers Family Restaurant Auburn 526-7759 PAGE 8. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2001. Board reconsiders insurance benefits of retiring teachers By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen The Avon Maitland District School Board has one of the few remaining board-based benefits packages for its retired teachers in the province. But with the rising costs of insurance premiums, that doesn't mean it's something board officials will fight to retain. Jody Schilbe, Avon Maitland ben- efits officer, says between 85 to 90 per cent of retiring teachers choose to retain comprehensive drug and dental coverage under the board's benefits package, with the major change being that the board stops paying a portion of the premiums and asks retirees to foot 100 per cent of the bill. She says many retirees look into coverage either through private or teachers' union-based agencies but, even with recent increases in premium payments, decide the board's package provides the best value. The package is only available until retirees reach age 65. Bill Osborne, a retired Avon Maitland high school teacher from St. Marys, calls the program "a serv- ice" provided by the board, and notes that most Ontario school boards have stopped the practice. He says he's thankful for the opportuni- ty to continue his coverage, mainly because his drug costs would increase considerably if he opted for another plan. At least one retired teacher, how- ever, has complained to the board and to teachers' union officials that the board has been slow to process his premium cheques. Dan Webster of Wingham suggests a failure to cash approximately $800 worth of premium cheques points to "a tremendous bookkeeping problem" and is an indication that the board doesn't receive enough money from the provincial government for administration. Schilbe doesn't cite a lack of administrative funds, though she agrees a heavy staff workload some- times prevents the board from pro- cessing retired teachers' premium cheques as quickly as some people find suitable. Instead, she calls it a question of priorities. "I'm not trying to make excuses," Schilbe said. "But . . . my main pri- ority is making sure these people have insurance programs and that they're covered for drugs and den- tal." Despite the lack of in-school activ- ities during the summer months, she adds, July and August are very busy for much of the board's human resources department. Challenges include negotiating new collective agreements with teachers, which usually have some effect on the specifics of the benefits gackages, and reclassifying teachers into the "retired" and "active" categories for the purposes of the insurers. And Schilbe, the only full-time staff person dealing exclusively with benefits packages, is currently work- ing with the different banks to initi- ate direct, in-branch payment. Schilbe stresses the ongoing efforts of insurance companies to decrease the money they spend on benefits packages means premium costs have gone up in the past few years and the board has been asked to carry out more administrative duties. She said when she started her employment over 12 years ago. insurance companies took responsi- bility for much of the administrative work. Now, that's no longer true. In addition, last year the board asked its insurer for statistics show- ing which portions of its workforce are most expensive to insure. Results, according to Schilbe. showed those aged 55-65 were the most expensive, due largely to an increased requirement for what she called "maintenance drugs" — med- ications used for things like heart troubles or arthritis. All of these factors make it less and less attractive for the board to continue what is now a fairly rare practice. But for now, Schilbe says, the board is committed to the retired teachers program, and believes the teachers' unions are as well. "(Eliminating the program) is cer- tainly something (unions) can nego- tiate," she said. "But I don't foresee the retired teachers' benefits being taken away. It seems like (union oft; dials) aren't necessarily protective of keeping the same level of premium payments but they're still very pro- tective' of keeping the retired employees on the plan." Visitors join Blyth lawn bowlers Last week's two-game winners for Blyth lawn bowling were Joel Thomas, June Thomas and Thelma Wilson. Lunch was served by Jean Plaetzer. It was nice to have visitors joining for an enjoyable evening. Visitors are welcome Mondays and Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. Check out The Citizen's WEBSITE at www.northhuron.on.ca Camper's delight Jeff Howson and Alex Blair help Blyth Legion President, Crystal Taylor and Ladies Auxiliary Vice-Chairman Val Pethick officially open the new washroom facilities, which will make Reunion campers' lives easier. (Photo by David Blaney)