By CHRISTOPHER LENOIS

RESERVE – The St. John the Baptist Parish School Board meeting agenda for Thursday includes the insurance committee’s recommendations for renewal of life and health insurance coverage.

But school officials said the committee may not be ready to give its recommendation by the time of the meeting.

“The life (insurance policy) is fairly simple. We’ll go with the lowest quote from the most reliable company,” said Dowie Gendron, board member and finance committee chairman. “It’s much more complicated with the health. We may need a little more time.”

With the current health plan expiring June 1, school officials feel they have enough time to make a good decision without rushing into one. Finance director Felix Boughton said the officials are reviewing four or five different plans that range from no cost increase to as much as 27 percent.

“They’ll all have a reduction in benefits. That’s just the nature of the insurance industry at the moment,” said Boughton.

Last month, Boughton presented figures to the board showing an increased cost of $2 million onto the $6 million currently paid to cover school district employees.

Since then, the insurance committee has elected to seek quotes from as many carriers as possible for alternative plans. Gendron some plans may require employees to share the expenses, and others might be affordable for the district.

“We want to be sure we’re doing the right thing,” said Gendron. “We have three more (school board) meetings before June. I’m almost sure the board members will need a couple of weeks to review the committee’s recommendations.”

The meeting will be held Thursday in the Godchaux Grammar Cafeteria in Reserve, starting at 6 p.m.