<div dir="ltr"><div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,255)">we are as well.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:"comic sans ms",sans-serif;font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,255)"><br></div><br clear="all"></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><font size="4" face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#073763"><i><b>Heather A. Reale, MBA, Finance</b></i></font></div><div><font size="4" face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#073763">Director of Finance </font></div><div><font size="4" face="comic sans ms, sans-serif" color="#ff0000">Wells-Ogunquit Community School District</font></div><div><font size="4" color="#000000"><a href="mailto:hreale@wocsd.org" target="_blank">hreale@wocsd.org</a></font></div><div><font size="4"><font color="#000000">207-641-6909</font><br></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote gmail_quote_container"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 1:26 PM Wendy Bradstreet <<a href="mailto:wendy.bradstreet@rsu29.org">wendy.bradstreet@rsu29.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>We are considering all options at this point.</div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><font size="4" color="#0000ff" face="comic sans ms, sans-serif"><b><i style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)">Wendy Bradstreet</i></b></font><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>RSU29 Business Manager</b></font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>PO Box 190</b></font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>Houlton ME 04730</b></font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b>(207)538-3137</b></font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif" color="#0000ff"><b><u><a href="mailto:wendy.bradstreet@rsu29.org" target="_blank">wendy.bradstreet@rsu29.org</a></u></b></font></div><div><font face="tahoma, sans-serif"><b><br></b></font></div></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 1:00 PM Field, Stacie <<a href="mailto:sfield@rsu16.org" target="_blank">sfield@rsu16.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div>Yes, we are. I am bringing options to the Board on 4/14. </div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div><div><br></div><div>Stacie Field<br></div>Business Manager<br></div>RSU 16 - Poland, Mechanic Falls, Minot<br></div>207.998.2727 ext 102<br></div></div></div><br></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Wed, Apr 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM Ida Simmons <<a href="mailto:isimmons@winthropschools.org" target="_blank">isimmons@winthropschools.org</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-size:large;color:rgb(0,0,255)">Is anyone considering this plan?</div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">---------- Forwarded message ---------<br>From: <strong class="gmail_sendername" dir="auto">MSMA</strong> <span dir="auto"><<a href="mailto:MSMA@msmaweb.com" target="_blank">MSMA@msmaweb.com</a>></span><br>Date: Tue, Apr 1, 2025 at 4:00 PM<br>Subject: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)<br>To: <br></div><br><br><div>
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<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Maine School Management Association<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">49 Community Drive<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Augusta, ME 04330<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" align="center" style="text-align:center"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">800-660-8484<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">TO: Superintendents of Schools and Business Managers<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">FROM: Steven Bailey, Executive Director<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">DATE: April 1, 2025<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">RE: IMPORTANT MESSAGE FROM MSMA: Private Maine PFML Plan Offering from the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) (OTHER DISTRICTS WHO SUBMITTED CENSUS)<u></u><u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"><u></u> <u></u></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">As the MSMA Group Insurance Trust (GIT) communicated in the fall of 2024, MSMA GIT launched a project to sponsor a private Paid Family and Medical Leave (PFML) plan to be made available to Maine public
school districts. Unfortunately, the project was delayed for almost two months due to restrictions imposed on the insurance carriers by the Maine Bureau of Insurance.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">After undergoing a full RFP process including finalist interviews, the trustees for the MSMA GIT have selected the Guardian as the carrier to offer a private Maine PFML plan to Maine’s public school districts
sponsored by MSMA GIT. </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Due to the PFML regulations released by the Maine DOL, MSMA GIT is unable to be named the policyholder of a private Maine PFML plan but is able to secure competitive pricing based on a block purchase.
As a result, each school district would have their own private PFML policy with the Guardian but still receive all of the advantages of being affiliated with the MSMA GIT.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">The advantages of a private PFML plan through the MSMA GIT include:</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Rate below the State rate*</span></i><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">No requirement to have another line of insurance coverage with MSMA GIT </span></i><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Guardian national account team for all MSMA participating districts</span></i><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Access to resources at MSMA including the superb support of Wendy Douglas, Client Services Manager at MSMA, to help with any issues that arise. Wendy will be supporting
the new PFML plan as she does now for the current GIT dental, life, and disability plans.</span></i><u></u><u></u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">This is in addition to the potential for savings of 13 months of contributions to the State plan</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">. Here is a
</span></i><a href="https://5il.co/3c8kc" target="_blank"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">link</span></i></b></a><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> to a calculator to estimate the potential savings, assuming an exemption from contributions to the State
is effective April 1, 2025.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">After receiving your census in November, MSMA was informed that school districts who share an FEIN with a municipality cannot separately choose to participate in a private PFML plan as all employees under
the same FEIN must be covered under the same plan, either the State plan or a private PFML plan. Since municipalities are not eligible to participate in MSMA’s GIT plans and we didn’t know if your district had a separate FEIN, your census was not included
with the RFP sent in November to the insurance carriers.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Assuming there is no Material and Substantial differences in the risk from other districts as represented by your district’s census,
<b>the</b> <b>Guardian is offering a rate of .88% or .98% </b>for</span></i><span style="font-size:12pt">
<i>a private PFML plan<b> </b>through MSMA GIT for Maine’s public school districts.
</i></span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">If your district has a separate FEIN from your municipality and you would like to know if your district is eligible for the .88% or .98% rate</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">, please
contact Wendy Douglas at </span></i><a href="mailto:WDouglas@msmaweb.com" target="_blank"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">WDouglas@msmaweb.com</span></i></a><i><span style="font-size:12pt">. The rate will be guaranteed until April 1, 2028, assuming no Material and Substantial
change in the risk, which is standard language in insurance proposals.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">Additional information:</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<ul style="margin-top:0in" type="disc">
<li class="MsoNormal"><b><i><span style="font-size:12pt">MSMA will be offering a webinar at 9 am on April 9, 2025</span></i></b><i><span style="font-size:12pt"> to provide additional information about the plan, its implementation,
and answer participants’ questions. A separate communication with webinar details will be forthcoming.</span></i><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">May 31, 2025 is the deadline for filing an application online with the DOL for a private plan substitution in order to be exempted from paying into the State program effective
April 1, 2025.</span></i><u></u><u></u></li><li class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">The Guardian has a very simple process for providing the documentation needed to submit an application for a private plan substitution with the DOL.</span></i><u></u><u></u></li></ul>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-size:12pt">* Please note, for districts with less than 15 employees under one FEIN, the Guardian rate will be higher than the State rate so the State plan will likely be a preferable option.</span></i><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif"> </span><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Maine School Management Association<br>
49 Community Drive<br>
Augusta, ME 04330<br>
Direct Line 207-622-3473<br>
Fax 207-626-2968<br>
</span><a href="http://www.msmaweb.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;color:rgb(5,99,193)">www.msmaweb.com</span></a><u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:7.5pt;font-family:Arial,sans-serif">IMPORTANT/CONFIDENTIAL: This e-mail message (and any attachments accompanying it) may contain confidential information, including information protected by client privilege. The
information is intended only for the use of the intended recipients(s). Delivery of this message to anyone other than the intended recipient(s) is not intended to waive any privilege or otherwise detract from the confidentiality of the message. If you are
not the intended recipient, or if this message has been addressed to you in error, do not read, disclose, reproduce, distribute, disseminate or otherwise use this transmission, rather, please promptly notify the sender by reply e-mail, and then destroy all
copies of the message and its attachments, if any.</span><u></u><u></u></p>
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</div></div><div><br clear="all"></div><div><br></div><span class="gmail_signature_prefix">-- </span><br><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div><span style="color:rgb(0,0,255);font-size:large">Ida Simmons</span><br></div><div dir="ltr"><div><font color="#0000ff" size="4">Finance Specialist</font></div><div><font color="#0000ff" size="4">Winthrop Public Schools</font></div><div><font color="#0000ff" size="4">207-377-2296 x 2003</font></div><div><br></div><div><div><font color="#ff0000"><i>Please note my new work schedule effective September 6, 2024:</i></font></div><div><font color="#ff0000"><i>Monday - Thursday Office Hours 6am - 2pm</i></font></div><div><font color="#ff0000"><i>Friday - Remote 6am - 2pm</i></font></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>
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