Time to ask hard questions about role MEA plays in public education

• Why do we not have competitive health insurance bidding that would provide quality health insurance at a reasonable price with appropriate contributions by all school employees? • Why does MESSA refuse to make their claims data public so that multiple data-based bids could be solicited from other health insurance providers?

• Why do we even consider offering MESSA coverage when the MESSA agent - the MEA - merely subcontracts from Blue Cross Blue Shield at a premium of approximately $1,500 per insured, raising millions that are used to fund their local, state and national union offices?

• Why has this stranglehold been allowed to continue for so long when our national economic philosophy is based on economic competition that can provide the best product at the lowest price??

• Why are we continuing wasteful practices with a structure of local school districts all over the state, and certainly in Washtenaw County, that is inefficient and ineffective?

• Why can school employees retire at the age of 55 with full benefits? Why has the retirement age not been raised similar to changes in Social Security?

• Why are school retirees with as few as 10 years of service able to receive luxury health insurance coverage for minimal costs to them at the age of 55 until they receive Medicare coverage 10 years later?

• Why do school districts not adopt a zero-based budgeting process, reviewing every single line item expenditure to review and justify its worth?

• What interest groups, parties and agendas are really being served by "our" elected public officials?

There are many more questions to be asked, and they will be asked.

Beverley B. Geltner Ann Arbor

Editor's note: Beverley Geltner is the former superintendent of Saline Area Schools.