Kent County superintendents are banding together to call for all employees—even teachers—to contribute to their health insurance costs.

No county teachers are required to contribute toward their premiums, but Grand Rapids administrators engaged in an increasingly hostile labor battle are pushing to become the first.

Superintendents wrote in a "citizens' education agenda" that such "divisive bargaining battles" could be avoided if lawmakers required every school employee to pay a percentage of their premiums, as they do for their pension plans.

Superintendents from the 20 county schools, the two Christian systems, Catholic schools and the intermediate school district signed the document, released Monday.

Nine of the document's 10 points are no surprise, including calls for preparing students for the workplace and making schools weapon-free zones.

But the statement also is a sign that suburban school chiefs are ready to rally around Grand Rapids. City teachers are working without a contract, and district negotiators have asked union members to pay $90 a month toward insurance premiums— one of many sticking points.

Recent changes to state law requiring districts to seek bids for health insurance do not go far enough toward stemming double-digit increases, said Rockford Superintendent Michael Shibler, one of the plan's architects.

Ronald Koehler, assistant superintendent for the Kent Intermediate School District, said the agenda is intended to guide school boards as they make decisions but also is a call to lawmakers and the public.

Among the other points made by the superintendents:

• Providing adequate and equitable school funding is the responsibility of the state government
• Learning is about educational attainment, not seat time. Schools should create opportunities for students to learn at their own pace and achieve college credit
• All students should be prepared to continue their education beyond high school
• Schools should work together to save money, share successful programs and boost student opportunities
• Schools should work with businesses to create school-to-work opportunities
• Schools, families and community groups should work together to help students come to school healthy and ready to learn

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