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BY MIKE BARRAGAN

Invest in Yourself rough Self Insurance

Barragan

In October, I attended a conference and had the opportunity Now bene t costs are no longer a matter of speculation, but
to meet a superintendent who wanted to know if I knew anything something that can be managed to optimize bene ts while reducing
about self-insurance and if so, what my thoughts were on the cost curves over time. e satisfaction of your employees, their
advantages of being self-insured. I explained the value of self- wellness programs and their morale increases while you gain some
insurance, the exibility and the millions it could save his school modicum of control over your expenses. In the end, being self-
district in health bene t costs. is conversation reminded me of insured provides a better insurance package at a lower cost to your
the responsibility we all have in managing taxpayers’ resources. district and employees.
In an environment of underfunded schools and scarce resources Self-insurance is not a one-size ts all approach and you want
it is a primary function of school business o cials to lead the way to be the “right” size – the number of FTEs, and enrollment/ADM
in being creative, challenging the status quo and being innovative should be taken into consideration. You want to be the right size
in order to maximize our nancial resources. Each dollar freed up so you can have predicable data. I’ve been at districts that were
can be redirected to the core mission of the school – to educate our members for the better part of ten years now, and Valley Schools has
children (while increasing our classroom dollars percentage). saved my districts and others millions of dollars during that time,
As a school business o cial, I know rst-hand that my district through grouping together districts and providing professional
is not large enough on its own to negotiate lower rates directly bene ts management.
with health care carriers, much less to dedicate a full-time team I am a big believer in school districts being self-insured,
of expert bene t managers. However, by collaborating with because when you are self-insured, you are investing in yourself.
each other we can achieve the leverage necessary to have buying For all these reasons I decided to join the Board of Valley Schools
power. is type of collaboration provides the opportunity for Management Group. I hope to grow professionally to better serve
self-insurance. my district, contribute to the success of Valley Schools and be a
Self-insurance reduces your overall cost and allows you the valuable resource to my colleagues around the state.
opportunity to cater and tailor your bene ts to your speci c
district needs – whether targeted wellness programs (Glendale Mike Barragan has extensive experience in school nance and
Elementary School District was recently awarded the 2017 Most is currently Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Auxiliary
Robust Wellness Program by Valley Schools), individualized stop Services for the Glendale Elementary School District. He serves
loss risk management or pharmacy bene t managers. rough on the Board of Directors for Valley Schools Management Group.
self-insurance you are no longer a passive participant looking Barragan has also served as Director of Finance for the Tolleson
with fear and apprehension at your next renewal, but an active Union High School District, worked for the Arizona State Department
manager of your costs, understanding each aspect of your claims of Education and is a past President of the Arizona Association of
and administrative bene ts. School Business Of cials.

Through self-insurance you are no longer a

passive participant looking with fear and apprehension

at your next renewal, but an active manager of your

costs, understanding each aspect of your

claims and administrative bene ts.

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