The Tracy Area Public School District is getting slammed with a 17% valuation increase for insurance on school and workers’ compensation premiums for FY26, TAPS Supt. Chad Anderson informed the District No. 2904 School Board at Monday’s meeting.
Workers’ compensation increased by $12,772 ($26,830 to $39,602), or 47%, due to usage — the district had three workers’ compensation claims last year after going five years without any.
“That one hit hard,” said Jeremy Trulock with Murrayland Agency.
Board Chair Rod Benson asked if Trulock can get quotes from area contractors on replacement costs for the bus garage to compare the EMC quote on the value. The total account premium estimate of $82,594 in 24-25 jumped to $96,843.51.
“A big portion of that is the bus garage,” said Trulock. “We have had (the building) insured at about 50% of what all of our other buildings have been insured for the last few years, but (EMC) wanted that increased significantly after they did an audit that last year. We’ve had $700,000 on the bus garage, and they want us to bump that up to $1.2 million worth of coverage.”
Trulock is waiting to hear back from the insurance company on whether or not the district needs to make that big jump right away.
“We can definitely fight that if we wanted to,” Trulock said. “I’m hoping they don’t require us to do the full increase this year alone.”
The insurance premium on Commercial Property went from $65,885 in 2024-25 to $77,871.51 for 25-26; General Liability rose from $8,736 to $9,493; Commercial Inland Marine went down to $172 from $185; the Government Crime/Fidelity package decreased to $688 from $825; the Commercial Umbrella went up from $2,324 to $2,500; and the Linebacker-Claims Made went up from $4,639 to $6,119.
“There was just a survey that went out to area superintendents from the Service Cooperative about insurance … everybody’s getting hit real hard,” Anderson said.
In other business Monday … • The board discussed the FY25COPS School Violence Prevention Program grant, and Anderson explained that if the grant is awarded it would be used to purchase new interior doors at TAHS with new hardware and possible fobs. The grant is a 25% match from TAPS.
• Anderson congratulated board member Jody Bauer on earning the Outstanding Service Award at the SWWC cooperative.
• The first TEA negotiations meeting will be Wednesday. The negotiations team includes Jody Bauer, Jeff Knott, Jay Fultz, Samantha Prahm, Marie Hanson, Elizabeth Rupp and Derek Ashbaugh.
• Current enrollment was recognized at 643 for K-12.
• The following donations were accepted: $1,000 from the Balaton American Legion for the music department; $47.50 from both Megan Boerboom and Stephanie Leibfried for the TAES library in memory of Deb Miller; $186.67 from the PTC for “wax museum” supplies; An anonymous donation of $40 for a TAHS scholarship; $250 from the Currie State Bank for the CSB Scholarship; $500 from the Tracy Eagles for the softball complex; $500 from Fran and Debbie Smith for the Tim Smith Schoarship; $952.97 and $5,000 from the PTC for K-6 supplies and the elementary school, respectively; $2000 and $4,399 from the Booster Club for track hurdles and the weight room, respectively; and $3,132.33 from MDE for a Farm to School grant.
