Full-time Garrett County Public Schools employees will receive a one-time $384 stipend to help offset rising health insurance premiums, following the Board of Education’s approval of the payments on Oct. 13.
Health care premiums are set to rise 9.2% for the 2027 fiscal year. The stipend, agreed to on April 14, came out of negotiations between the board and three employee groups: the Garrett County Education Association, the American Federation of Teachers unit representing head custodians and cafeteria managers, and the Garrett Administrator Supervisor Association.
To cover the cost, the board approved withdrawing $219,398 from the school system’s healthcare trust, which the county government holds, along with a matching budget transfer. Per the request from Director of Human Resources Tracie Miller and Director of Finance Ashley Glotfelty, employees can expect payment by Oct. 31, and no later than Nov. 30.
Instruction accounted for the largest share of the cost at $115,290, followed by special education at $28,954. Asked how much remains in the healthcare reserve, Glotfelty said the audit isn’t finished yet but offered a rough estimate of about $1.9 million.
