Springfield schools could give benefits to same-sex couples

Springfield Public Schools, the city's third-largest employer, wants to extend health benefits to married same-sex couples.

The proposal will go before the board Tuesday and already has strong support.

"I'm going to vote for it, to change our policy. I just feel like it's an important issue," said board member Bruce Renner, who has served since 1994. "It's a move we need to make for our employees."

The proposal comes shortly after a Missouri court ruling struck down the state's same-sex marriage ban, spurring St. Louis County and Jackson County to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Other local employers, such as Missouri State University and Drury University, have similar benefits.

The district's proposed change would expand the definition of "spouse" to include same-sex couples married in a state that legally recognizes same-sex marriages. If approved, the change would be effective Dec. 1.

"It's just the right thing to do," said board member Kris Callen. "It's a good option for us to offer."

Chief Human Resources Officer Parker McKenna said the district surveyed the landscape and noted many large employers in the city and state are in the process of expanding benefits or have already agreed to do so.

"One of our goals is to be competitive," he said.

Among other things, the proposal is part of an ongoing effort to recruit and retain top teachers and other staff. McKenna said if the health benefits are expanded, it will have impact in other areas such as sick leave and family medical leave.

"We would take that same definition of spouse and apply it to other employment policies," he said.

The district has nearly 4,000 employees and its self-insured health plan, the largest in the city, covers just over 6,000 people. It is unclear how many additional people would be covered under the change.

District officials said the move will help in its ongoing effort to recruit and retain the highest quality teachers, and other staff.

The expansion isn't expected to cost the district much additional money upfront. The district pays the full, $460 monthly health premium for all enrolled employees.

Employees must pay the monthly premiums to cover spouses and dependent children.

Stephanie Perkins, deputy director of PROMO, applauded the district's proposed expansion, calling it a step in the right direction. She hopes other districts will follow Springfield's lead.

"This is a move that many schools are going to be taking," she said.

The city of Springfield and other entities statewide have recently talking about retooling nondiscrimination policies to offer protection to sexual orientation and gender identity.

Perkins said until the district offers that protection, some teachers and others may not sign up same-sex spouses.

"Without non-discrimination, there is an additional step that couples have to take to decide if they will," Perkins said enrolling in health benefits. "They may choose not to use them because they would have to out themselves."

McKenna said the administrative team and board have not yet suggested reviewing the nondiscrimination policy.

"It's something that we would be open to look at in the future," he said.

Kittilu Maxson, president of the Springfield National Education Association, said the union has asked for this expansion as part of the collective bargaining process, which is used to establish pay and benefits, in recent years.

"This would be a huge positive for our members," she said. "We're just pleased to have that option available."

SNEA is the elected representative for the 1,700-member bargaining unit that includes teachers, librarians and counselors as well as smaller bargaining units including nurses and secretaries.

"It is something that is coming from employees," she said of the requested change. "There have been employees each year that have asked for this option."

Want to go?

The Springfield school board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Kraft Administrative Center, 1359 E. St. Louis St. The meeting is open to the public.

During the meeting, the board will discuss Superintendent John Jungmann's eight-step plan to improve the district. Other topics include annual financial audit, agreements with other local entities and outsourcing crossing guards.