Reynolds Board of Education votes to leave health-care consortium

TRANSFER, Pa. -- The Reynolds school board has again voted to drop out of the Western Pennsylvania Schools Health Care Consortium.
Dr. Anthony Trosan said the board still intends to join the Midwestern Health Combine, a group that provides insurance coverage for some school districts in Mercer and Lawrence counties.
A vote to join Midwestern is expected in September, he said.
Reynolds and Sharon City School District both tried to quit the Western Pennsylvania group, effective July 1, but found themselves in a court battle with the consortium, which contended they failed to abide by the organization's bylaws that require a six-month notice of intent to withdraw.
Rather than fight in court, the two districts agreed to stay with Western Pennsylvania through the end of this year.
Sharon voted Aug. 18 to again drop out as of Jan. 1 and Reynolds did the same, Trosan said.
The two districts expressed displeasure with the health-care consortium, which covers 12 school districts. They were particularly upset with a $4.6 million special assessment levied against the 12 members in February to cover a cash shortfall.
Trosan said Reynolds anticipates improved services with the Midwestern group at about the same costs. Reynolds was paying about $1.4 million for insurance coverage for 232 employees. That jumped to $1.8 million with the special assessment.