Amarillo ISD Says “NO MAS!”
Trustees will consider an action item to join the TRS ActiveCare government plan at today’s 5:00 special called meeting.
According to Josh Butler, an Amarillo based insurance broker, the Amarillo Independent School District will decide today if they should throw in the towel and get out of the self-insured health insurance business.
Trustees will consider an action item to join the TRS ActiveCare government plan at today’s 5:00 special called meeting.
Josh Butler is a concerned local Amarillo taxpayer long frustrated by what he sees. In 2024 he wrote an Open Letter voicing his concerns and offering solutions. He wrote “It is frustrating to see AISD continue down a path of financial escalation without exploring ALL possible alternatives.”
Josh Buter is not alone. In 2020 another Amarillo insurance broker, Alex Fairley, along with Jerry Hodge, a former Amarillo mayor, sued the district seeking an injunction “preventing Amarillo Independent School District from performing a contract that is not in the best interests of the District or its taxpayers.”
Should the district join the government health plan they will be prohibited by statute from seeking competitive proposals from the commercial market for five years.
In their December board meeting TRS Officials were advised premium rates for 2026-2027 government health plan year are expected increase by 9.7% along with a cryptic message that said “However, return to full cost premiums will add additional premium increase.”
Epilog: Amarillo ISD’s 2026 Risk Management Strategy Unveiled In Time For Xmas
99% of Texas school districts have no business being in the self-insured health insurance business. The record is clear. They suck at it.
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