Ely school officials will take good financial news in any form.
They got some Monday, as board members voted to switch health insurance providers to avoid a double-digit percentage and six-figure dollar increase in fees.
Upon recommendation of the district’s insurance committee, the board voted 5-0 to move from Blue Cross/Blue Shield to Health Partners in 2026.
While the move will add roughly $4,874 in cost to the district for employee health insurance in 2026, the hike pales in comparison to a $138,662 increase proposed by Blue Cross/Blue Shield, which amounted to a 15 percent increase.
HealthPartners also agreed to cap any second- year increase at 15 percent, while Blue Cross/Blue Shield had no second-year cap.
Other bidders had proposals that would have hiked the district’s costs anywhere from six to 18 percent.
A committee including union leaders, board members and district administrators reviewed the proposals and endorsed the switch.
Superintendent Anne Oelke indicated that the district essentially dodged a bullet when it came to health insurance costs. She said Ely benefited not only from a very competitive bid process but fewer claims.
“We were hearing 30 percent increases across the region and we did not get that,” said Oelke. “Our pool is running well and our claims are running well.”
Oelke acknowledged challenges with changing providers but said the switch came “with significant lower (cost) than our current carriers, so it’s saving not only our employees but the district money with a very similar plan. We all felt very good and everybody was on board with the change.”
Board chair Rochelle Sjoberg added that the plan was “similar to the current plan without any disruption.”
Jordan Huntbatch, the district’s finance manager, noted that retaining Blue Cross/ BlueShield would have come with significantly higher costs this year and uncertainty in the second year.
“For Blue Cross/Blue Shield it was quite a bit higher, a 15 percent increase and no second-year rate cap where HealthPartners gave us a second-year rate cap for year two,” said Huntbatch.
The health insurance discussion came during a roughly 30-minute meeting.
In other business on Monday, the board:
• Was briefed about the athletic facilities project, with facilities director Tim Leeson reporting on a session held last week involving school officials and several representatives of SEH Engineering.
Preliminary drawings for various proposed improvements were reviewed and further discussion is expected in November.
The $5.25 million project calls for improvements to the district’s ice arena, football field and stadium, baseball facility, softball field and high school gymnasium.
The project will go to bids in early-2026 and construction will start next year.
• Approved the annual senior class trip to Washington, D.C., set for March 18-23.
• Approved cooperative agreements with Vermilion Country School for both boys basketball and hockey.
• Accepted numerous donations, including $4,013 from the Ely TD Club for football pads and helmets, $5,281 from the Ely Educational Foundation for technology licensing, and donations of $585, $266, and $200 from the Ely Educational Foundation for other school items.
• Received a monthly enrollment report showing that 483 students are currently enrolled in grades K-12.
• Reinstated John Lahtonen to a bus driver position.
• Approved a leave request from media specialist Madeline Olson, from Jan. 5 to May 4, 2026.
• Hired Justin Olson for the accompanist position for the school musical.
• Received seniority reports from both the AFSCME and school faculty bargaining units.
• Got word that 97.2 percent of the school’s student- athletes retained academic eligibility in a recent grade-check period.
