Indiana

Bennett on ISTA Investigation: ?Disappointing?

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett called it “disappointing” that the FBI and the Indiana Secretary of State are investigating the Indiana State Teachers Association Health Insurance Trust Fund.

State and federal authorities are investigating ISTA’s trust fund for making bad investments which have helped put the fund into the hole by more than $67 million.

Bennett says as a Superintendent he was pressured to use ISTA health insurance plan.  And he accused ISTA’s arm representatives of negotiating in bad faith for pushing school corporations into purchasing the Union’s insurance plan for its teachers.

Bennett says taxpayers would be on the hook for to pay benefits should ISTAs insurance funds become insolvent. And he recommends school corporations use whatever legal means necessary to protect themselves.

ISTA representatives says they will unveil a plan this week to address concerns involving the insurance fund’s solvency.

Bennett made his comments during an announcement to reward schools monetarily who show the most  improvement in dealing with their dropout rates.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on May 18, 2009 (boomark / email).