Board of Ed. grapples with insurance costs

SHARON — As budget season gets underway, the Sharon Board of Education has begun reviewing compensation packages for non-certified staff, as sharply rising health insurance costs continue to put pressure on school budgets.

During two special meetings held Jan. 15 and Jan. 27, the board discussed how to balance wage increases with higher employee health insurance contributions, with an emphasis on ensuring that non-certified employees still see income growth.

Region One Superintendent Melony Brady-Shanley said during the Jan. 27 meeting that the goal is “to make sure that longitudinally everyone is becoming positive in this experience.”

At the Jan. 27 meeting, board members discussed a potential 3.75% wage increase paired with a 2% increase in the employee insurance cost-share. The figures remain preliminary and may change as the budget process continues. Under the proposal, all non-certified employees who elect health insurance would still see salary growth in the coming year.

Non-certified employees include Sharon Center School staff without teaching credentials, such as the school nurse, custodians, paraeducators, secretary, and facilities and cafeteria managers.

In 2025-2026, five of the school’s non-certified employees elected for the state plan the school offers, known as the Connecticut Partnership Plan, which Brady-Shanley characterized as “the best plan there is… it’s the Cadillac of plans.”

Rates range from around $14,500 per year for a single plan to nearly $38,000 for a family plan.

The school’s non-certified employees currently pay a 5% cost-share – set to be raised to 7% with the proposed changes – of the overall rate. SCS’s non-certified employee cost-share contributions are low and will remain low for the region at large, Brady-Shanley said, noting that Connecticut employees average between 20% and 30% cost-shares.

“We want our employees to move forward,” she said.

Brady-Shanley reported that insurance rates are expected to rise by approximately 13.5% this year, and then closer to 9% in subsequent years.

“That is going to have a drastic increase on our overall insurance programs,” Brady-Shanley said.