Schools

Radnor's Five Unions Sign on to New Health Care Trust

The school district is expected to get significant savings.

Radnor Township School District's five local union affiliates representing about 576 employees of the district have signed on to a self-insured health care trust, according to the Pennsylvania State Education Association (PSEA), the union representing school employees in Pennsylvania.

The Delaware County Schools Health Care Trust is expected to save 10 percent from expected increases in healthcare premiums next year, said Dave Wood, president of Radnor Township Education Association (RTEA), the union that represents teachers.

The trust will administer health care coverage to 11 other school districts in the county.

Find out what's happening in Radnorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The RTEA (330 teachers, counselors, librarians, nurses, psychologists), the Radnor Educational Support Personnel Association (126 secretaries and instructional assistants), the Radnor School Employees Association (56 bus drivers and bus monitors), the Radnor Cafeteria and Custodial Workers Association (45 custodians and food service workers), and the Radnor Maintenance Personnel Association (19 mechanics), along with the School Board, have voted to become participants, according to PSEA.

The Trust is a consortium of Delaware County unions and districts that will collectively self-fund their health insurance and jointly purchase administrative  and consultation services, PSEA explains.

Find out what's happening in Radnorwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Delaware County Intermediate Unit, a regional education services agency, will join 12 school districts in the trust. Each school district will have one labor and one management representative on the trust. 

The fiscal year 2013-14 savings could be as much as $430,000 to the school district, according to PSEA. 

"All five unions worked together on this project to ensure that our District gained every available advantage. District, employees and taxpayers will all benefit in the long run, so we’re glad we could make it work,” said Laura Foran, Radnor Educational Support Personnel Association president.

Pictured are (left to right) Bob Valenti, President, Maintenance Local; Chris Mallory, Vice President, Transportation Local; Chuck Thompson, President, Transportation and Custodial/Food Service Local; Laura Foran, President, Secretaries/ IAs Local; Dave Wood, President, Teachers’ Local; and Carl Rosin, Chief Negotiator, Teachers’ Local.  


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