Augusta -
Retired educators and concerned citizens are expected to show up in protest Wednesday night at the Augusta School Board meeting.
They're upset about the board's decision to change the health care plan for about 50 current and retired administrators to one, they say, is cheaper and higher-risk.
Previously the employees were covered by a union plan called the Maine Education Association Benefits Trust.
The MEA plan insures nearly 70,000 people. The Rob Walker, the executive director of the MEA, says that helps control costs by spreading out huge medical bills over a large pool.
"To reduce to a small district, one may save money in the short run but it's certainly not going to save money in the long run because Augusta or even a Portland can't absorb the huge costs associated with a cancer, a heart transplant, a premature baby."
Walker says the change was prompted by a bill signed by the governor intended to break up the union's health insurance benefits in the name of greater competition.
School Superintendent Connie Brown tells TV5 the benefits for the new health insurance plan are comparable to the previous plan, but come at a lower cost.
The school board meeting starts at 7 p.m. in the city council chambers.