The Hudson Budget Committee met on July 22 to hear an update from School Superintendent Dr. Daniel Moulis on the district’s ongoing effort to secure a new health insurance provider for school staff, a process slowed by contractual requirements and heightened scrutiny following last year’s statewide School Care special assessment.
“There will be a public opening for all bids on Aug. 3 at 11 a.m., and then the successful bidder will be notified within 45 days of the bid opening,” Moulis said. “We’re going through initial consultation bids right now, and that bid closes at the end of July. There is a lengthy questionnaire that each insurance provider needs to answer and provide a level of detail as part of the process.”
His presentation followed questions raised by the Committee in early June, as well as concerns stemming from School Care’s controversial assessment. Some members sought clarity on why the district was using a consultant before issuing formal bids.
“Do you feel this is necessary? That there is insufficient expertise within the School Board and the School District to be able to make these sorts of decisions on healthcare benefit plans?” asked Committee member Bob Wherry.
Moulis said the process was standard. “When you make a change like this, you want to make sure you fully vet it,” he said, describing the consultation phase as a cost analysis. “There’s lots of parts to it: the health insurance, the dental insurance, insurance provided to multiple different collective bargaining groups. The experts in this realm are who we wanted to solicit and get their feedback.”
Selectman Liaison Xen Vurgaropulos confirmed the district’s approach mirrors the town’s. Even so, Committee member Bill Cole questioned whether the work could be done in-house.
“Your RFP is for a consultant,” Cole said. “It’s not a manufacturer, it’s not to build something, it’s just someone who’s going to go online and identify sources that can possibly help you out. If you have a source selection committee already with that expertise, why spend money replicating it? This is not an RFP related to hiring a certain insurance company.”
Vurgaropulos responded that consultants typically have broader industry knowledge. “Source selection might have the expertise to evaluate such information, but they’re probably not familiar with every single vendor that’s on the planet,” he said.
Cole also raised questions about the lawsuit between the Dover School District and School Care after Dover refused to pay its share of the special assessment. After discussion, Moulis and several committee members agreed it was impossible to determine what impact, if any, the case might have on Hudson in the short term.
The Hudson Budget Committee will meet again on Wednesday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. in the Buxton Room at Town Hall.