School Board Approves $10,000.00 Life Insurance Policy For Employees??????
At last night’s School Board Meeting and after almost a year of preparation and procrastination, the School Board approved the bids for $10,000.00 in life insurance for each school employee. On the surface this seems like a very generous and worthwhile benefit but, as is often the case in Giles County, very little is as it seems.
The request by the Board was for insurance carriers to provide bids to supply $10,000.00 in life insurance coverage. The bids after much wrangling and attempts to get it right were finally opened a week ago and discussed. Last night was the official approval with a company from Alabama, getting the bid having beat out a local carrier by less than $300.00.
Now as Paul Harvey says here’s “the rest of the story”. The Alabama agent “AXA” provides a declining policy which means when a person reaches a certain age the amount of payout goes down. So if you happen to be seventy years old or older and happen to die you only get $5,000.00 not $10,000.00. The Board has had this same type of declining insurance policy for employees for a number of years.
The local agent had offered a non-declining policy which means as long as the policy is in effect regardless of your age if you die you get the full $10,000.00.
Now to make the situation even more interesting in the past when a TEACHER died if they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 the school system would take money from the general funds and make up the difference. However if a BUSDRIVER or NON-TEACHER died and they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 they were just out of luck. In simplest terms if a seventy year old teacher died they got $10,000.00 but if anyone else at age seventy, with the same exact policy, died they got only $5,000.00.
Does this seem fair and equable to have and/or continue such a policy? Would it not have been much simpler to accept the insurance with a non declining payout instead of committing to take money out of general school funds and make up the difference? As has been stated in response to the question, “what happens if four people die and the school system has to pay out $20,000.00 where does the money come from? “We’ll have to go to the commission and ask for more funds.”
The request by the Board was for insurance carriers to provide bids to supply $10,000.00 in life insurance coverage. The bids after much wrangling and attempts to get it right were finally opened a week ago and discussed. Last night was the official approval with a company from Alabama, getting the bid having beat out a local carrier by less than $300.00.
Now as Paul Harvey says here’s “the rest of the story”. The Alabama agent “AXA” provides a declining policy which means when a person reaches a certain age the amount of payout goes down. So if you happen to be seventy years old or older and happen to die you only get $5,000.00 not $10,000.00. The Board has had this same type of declining insurance policy for employees for a number of years.
The local agent had offered a non-declining policy which means as long as the policy is in effect regardless of your age if you die you get the full $10,000.00.
Now to make the situation even more interesting in the past when a TEACHER died if they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 the school system would take money from the general funds and make up the difference. However if a BUSDRIVER or NON-TEACHER died and they had reached the age where the policy paid less than $10,000.00 they were just out of luck. In simplest terms if a seventy year old teacher died they got $10,000.00 but if anyone else at age seventy, with the same exact policy, died they got only $5,000.00.
Does this seem fair and equable to have and/or continue such a policy? Would it not have been much simpler to accept the insurance with a non declining payout instead of committing to take money out of general school funds and make up the difference? As has been stated in response to the question, “what happens if four people die and the school system has to pay out $20,000.00 where does the money come from? “We’ll have to go to the commission and ask for more funds.”
posted by Allen Barrett | 9:35 AM
34 Comments:
Please call each school and ask each principal and a big majority of the teachers who screwed up their insurance in the past and you will understand why the bid went where it did. Nothing personal, but it is.
Checking with the principals in this matter would be like asking Jackson if he messed with the budget. I understand it was the principals that prohibited the open access to teachers needed to provide the coverage they desired.
We need another investigation started immediately. Something sinister and evil is obviously in play. Being facetious here.
5:23 sounds like a disgruntled ex-school board chairman.
544 wonder if they could use her & her hammer over at the hunter smith theater -- I'd pay to see it
ex-school board chairman?
Is she quiet now?
The person with the life insurance policy that did not pass also had a disability policy that he offered to school employees. A lot of people signed up and then he found out after the fact that a physical was necessary and lots of people lost out. Would this be the same, die then find out he was wrong again!! We were bitten once so not thanks.
Surly no well educated person would think they could get a disability policy without taking a physical.
So what was wrong with taking the physical?
I once had a Chevrolet that was a real lemon does that mean I should never trust a Chevrolet again or should I simply learn how to better evaluate a product whether a car or an insurance policy?
If someone tells you that you are getting an insurance policy you believe them. He promised that no physicals were needed. Right, I could not get a policy otherwise, but since he told me I could I took his word for it but not without asking if he was sure. He was sure. Apparently he did not check first. So now I would be totally against buying a life insurance policy from him. I would not want to take the chance that I died then he told my kids, sorry I thought the life insurance policy was good. The cannot live off of that, get an education from it or pay off the house. We were bit once so why put out a hand to be bitten again. I signed on the dotted line with him before and don't want to do it again. My families welfare is at stake.
so you have never been mistaken about anything? If you have been does that mean you should never be trusted again? Even people who intentionally lie have to be trusted to some degree.
If someone is mistaken over something that big then they will have to EARN my trust again and I would rather it was not with something as important as life insurance. I believe there was also a problem with a life policy sold by this person to someone in my school. Right? He must have been mistaken more than once. I know a widow that is having a rough time because of it. I am not saying there was anything intentional done wrong. But survivor's lives depend on these policies.
I don't suppose that widow would be the one of the bus driver who only got 5,000.00 from a 10,000 policy because the school board only makes up the difference for teachers?
Nope, an aide who insured their husband and got nothing when he died. This was not the board insurance but a policy offered by the salesman that did not get the bid this time. Kids to care of and a policy that was no good.
Are you aware Tennessee School Boards Association (TSBA, our school board is a member) is lobbying for the right for school boards to set the tax rate for the school systems? Check it out in the Friday Columbia Daily Herald. Our newspaper would never print anything about this, as they have only the best interest of the school board at heart. Do you wonder what would happen if the legislature changed the law and allowed our school board to set the property tax rate for the school system? Could you afford your property taxes then? Why hasn't Alan Barrett said anything about this? I thought he and Bev Murrey spoke daily about the ins and outs of the school board. Come on, Alan, What's the scoop about this?
First of all you are very wrong if you think I speak with Mrs. Murrey "daily about the ins and outs of the school board". I consider her a friend and certainly talk with her as the representative on the School Board from my district. She is one of the few members who'll return calls to those they represent.
You are right to be concerned about this new lobbying effort by the school boards to gain the power of taxation. One of the more disgusting parts of this story is that the state School Board Association gets their money from our tax dollars and will now use that tax money to gain even more tax dollars. Last year our school system paid over $9,000.00 for dues and membership primarily in this organization.
According to Shaw Daniels chairman of the Maury County School Board and one of the major proponents of this raid on the public coffers by having the power to tax on their own, "it would hold the school board more accountable for what they are choosing to implement in the county". This is totally absurd. What it would do is create less control. With unelected School Superintendents and board members dazzled by their powers of persuasion and the glow of their own pseudo-importance it is easy to see a failed education system becoming and even great catastrophe.
Can anyone, other than a school employee, reasonably think that people who can not responsibly manage the excessive budgets they have now would be able to resist increasing those budget to cover their incompetence by raising taxes every year? Presently the only fiscal control anyone has on school systems is the county commissions and while their oversight may be weak at times at least it is some degree of oversight.
State Senator Bill Ketron is on the Senate’s Education Committee and has stated publicly he would support granting taxing authority to school districts if some restrictions are included. That restriction is that any increase greater than 3% would have to be approved by voters. In some counties a two and a half percent increase would generate millions without any approval by its citizens, in others it would be a bank buster.
A system that can not make and meet a budget should be dissolved not given the power to increase the tax burden to cover their incompetence. Be aware there is going to be a great deal of tax money spent in this lobbying effort and the only weapon regular citizens have is to contact their representatives in Nashville and tell them very nicely how strongly opposed to this absurdity you are. This is the membership of the Senate Education Committee: Tommy Kilby , Chair Dewayne Bunch, Vice-Chair
Doug Jackson, Secretary Raymond Finney, Roy Herron, Bill Ketron, Steve Roller, Steve Southerland and Mike Williams.
Allen Barrett
Well, as a school employee I would oppose this measure as well. I know the school board has money that they don't know about. I can only imagine what would happen to my property tax bill if Tee and the gang has authority to raise my taxes each year. Before long, I will not be able to pay my property tax bill, and neither will anyone else. I will be contacting Eddie Bass to let him know this is not in the best interest of the taxpayers of this county. I suggest others do the same.
wab..
You stated that those who cannot manage the budgets they have would not be able to resist the temptation to increase said budgets to cover their own incompetence. Would you agree with me that such a statement smacks or distrust and only fuels the flames of disharmony you and others have so masterfully started here in Giles County? If not, then why not? Further, can you not see some measure of paranoia in that?
No 7:48 I would not agree that my statement was distrusting, aids in disharmony or that it smacks of paranoia.
My comment was conceived not in paranoia but from simple observation and the ability to process information.
Would you agree with me that if a fox can get into the hen house without any consequence it is likely to return over and over until the hen house is empty.
Would it be paranoia to build a fox proof fence around the hen house or simply a reaction to the reality that the fox has shown a great deal of interest in your hens? Is it creating disharmony to prevent the fox from getting all your hens, certainly the fox would think so?
I would also certainly disagree with your absurd comment that I have started any disharmony in Giles County? What I have done is try and expose situations of unreasonable behavior and give other citizens the opportunity to voice their thoughts without fear of retaliation by those in power. Disharmony has long dominated in Giles County and only those detached, disinterested or just in denial did not see it and still do not see it. Even you, if you ever get involved and develop the ability to honestly look beyond your prejudices, will see a very different Giles County than what is in your fantasy world. Allen Barrett
wab..
Oh, I knew that you wouldn't agree with me on that. Sure, I agree with you about the fox. Would you then agree with me that anyone who calls people nasty names is not a nice person? I look forward to your response on that one.
As for your "exposing" those you perceive as crooks and liars, I think you have done a more than adequate job. But, in all honesty, you have at times simply exposed your rear end. If I ever get involved and develop the ability to honestly look beyond my prejudices? Outrageous! I was born and raised here, and I have NEVER seen the disharmony you say has been here for many long years. That is not true. I love Giles County and have always been interested in what goes on here. So please don't say I live in a fantasy world because I don't share your views.
It's absurd to think a person would not be a nice person because they called someone a "nasty" name. Words like rapist, murderer, thief, child-molester, are all nasty names but are appropriate in identifying certain behaviors.
You may need to expand your idea of the term "prejudice". I used it to explain the simple fact that you are not looking at certain situations with clarity. When does a person come to know they were raised in dire poverty except when they come to know something other than poverty. I agree this county has many wonderful things to be proud and thankful for but a person who has not experienced anything other than what is here has a tendency to believe this is the best there is. It isn't. I don't fault you for your beliefs or even your desire to hold onto what you describe as your world. I do fault you for refusing to look at situations honestly, denying facts in favor of fantasy, and attacking those who try to develop accountability in public officials make life here better for all people and not just the elite. Allen Barrett
wab
By your analogies, I would think that if I called you a complete kook that I would be describing your behavior. Would you at least agree with me on that? Oh, but I am looking at your prejudice with clarity. That's the part you don't like to hear, but it's needful at times.
Please don't suggest that I have the opinion that this is all there is or that this is the best that can be. You know absolutely nothing about my life experiences. It's really laughable and tiresome that you keep suggesting I am a champion of close-mindedness, corruption, and denial. I'll not even bother to address your asinine insinuation that I am against accountability and honesty for those who hold public offices. On the contrary, I think everyone who holds a job anywhere has to be accountable. Ridiculous.
Your reference to the "elite" sounds like a liberal view of those more fortunate than you and me.
4:41 your actions speak much louder than your words.
Are you really saying that Giles County isn't dominated by a two class society? Ask any kid in high school if there is a difference in how they are treated based on who their parents are? Stand in the door of Wal-Mart and do a survey of people if they think there is an difference in the way people are treated based on money and family?
Boy oh boy are you out of touch.
anonymous. 9:40
What actions do you speak of? What things have you seen me do?
No, I don't think of Giles County as a caste system of poor and rich or elites and non-elites. We aren't a socialist country YET, but I fear we are well on the way now with the newly elected leftist named obama.
In our local society, just as in our society as a whole, we have the poor, the middle class, and the wealthy or upper class. However, the present middle class is swiftly sliding into the ranks of the poor. When the middle class disappears, we then will have a caste system of the poor and the rich. But I DO NOT agree with you that children of the "elite" are generally treated more favorably than are those of the lower class. That may be true in isolated cases, but liberal organizations like the ACLU, the NAACP, and the Office of Civil Rights make sure that doesn't happen openly and on a broader scale. You know, we could carry this issue back as far as the draft during the Vietnam War, and you would have a much better argument. I know for an absolute fact that sons of lawyers, doctors, and the like somehow evaded the draft while the unfortunate poor man's sons went to Vietnam. Those boys got no college deferrment or a stint of "duty" with the Merchant Marines. No, they went to Vietnam and those who were lucky enough to live through it came home to a largely unwelcoming society.
Please don't call me out of touch simply because I disagree with you.
Nepotism, favoritism, and other "isms" have probably always existed in our society, and I don't have the answer as to how we could get rid of them. Do you?
Finally, It's not really a question of whether I am out of touch; what you are really saying is that I am wrong or out of touch because I disagree with you. Again, that's horsehockey!
I couldn't care less if you agree with me or not. I just found it interesting and out of touch that you would have so little understanding about the real Giles County.
If you think there are liberal organizations preventing unfair treatment here you're not only out of touch you're in deep space.
The way to get rid of unequal treatment is to acknowledge it exist and as Mr Barrett might say expose it. Only in the light can darkness be dispelled.
anonymous..
I am impressed with your vision. I would say that your hero and mentor has done a lot of "exposing" from time to time, including his rear end. Would you agree with me on that?
I would say that you have shown your ugly rear end several times on here. The only thing is no one knows whos ugly rear end it is. That being said, we probably don't really want to know.
anonymous..
You can spin what I said any way you want to, and I'm fairly certain that you will insist on having the final word. But you can't escape the fact that your mentor has at times exposed (describing behavior) his rear end.
1014 Why not make an appointment with WAB & see if you can hustle him into sharing his intellect with you. Eventually, you may be able to bump your IQ score above 100. He might even help you with you coveting problem, chasing after false idols, and other stuff that's going to get your rear end singed.
anonymous 5:20
You have GOT to be kidding, right? I don't need or want to share anything with the exalted one. Coveting, chasing false idols, and other stuff? Outrageous! How did your IQ get so low? Were you born that way or did you decide to donate some of yours to your mentor? Is that why he is smarter than everyone else? Laughable indeed!!!
You are on every topic calling everyone laughable. You are the only one laughable on here that I see.
810 Just because you think you're smarter than a chicken doesn't mean you'll get across the road without someone steppin on you.
anonymous..
Why is it that you never answer the questions I ask you? You like to answer my questions with some smart-alecy remark. Now wouldn't a rational person call that a bit laughable?
You are far from rational!
How far is rational? So asinine. Ok, your turn to volley back.
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