Carver Schools Brace for Health Insurance Deficit as Gateway Group Weighs Rate Hike

CARVER -- December 8, 2025, Carver School Committee hears dual warnings on health insurance and graduation requirements. At its December 8 meeting, the committee received a detailed briefing from Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Ron showing that Carver's self-insured health pool, the Gateway Group, shared with Lakeville and Old Rochester, faces a claims deficit in the current fiscal year with FY27 projections described as "wildly higher than they have ever been," driven by surging claims volume, anticipated cost increases, and the rising price of GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic. Because Carver represents more than half the group's covered employees, it bears more than half the deficit; the town currently pays 75 percent of employee premiums. Three potential responses, a mid-year premium increase, GLP-1 coverage restrictions, and a reserve drawdown, go before the Select Board December 16 and the Gateway Group board December 17, with a possible February implementation if a rate increase is approved. Separately, Superintendent Scott Knief walked the committee through the Governor's Statewide Graduation Council's December 1 interim report, which proposes end-of-course state assessments, a capstone or portfolio requirement, and new mandatory coursework; for Carver, the likely additions are a personal finance course and a formal two-year world language requirement, with full implementation not expected before 2029. The committee also voted 5-0 to acknowledge an Open Meeting Law violation stemming from an insufficiently detailed November executive session agenda, following a complaint by resident Peter Alegrini.