The Slater Board of Education held a meeting Friday, May 9, to discuss issues about their insurance consortium and consider applying for a grant through AT&T.

Facing a 19 percent hike in rates, the NOMOSIC consortium -- Slater Public Schools is currently a member-- has opted to change its insurance provider, from Mercy to Market.

The consortium is a group comprised of 14 Missouri school districts, with the objective of maintaining affordable insurance for its members.

Board members were faced with a decision, continue with NOMOSIC or take the gamble of finding their own policy.

The board voted unanimously to stay with the NOMOSIC consortium.

"Our usage rate was probably the highest in the consortium," said superintendent John McEachern, explaining why the district should stick with the organization.

Rates through Market are expected to be similar to those of Mercy, before the rate increase.

Board members also voted unanimously to pursue a grant through the AT&T foundation. The grant's purpose is to recognize and assist at-risk students. Socio-economic status, teen pregnancy, reduced lunches and academic performance are all factors in identifying students that may be at-risk.

"It's not just kids that don't do well in school," said McEachern.

If Slater Public Schools are awarded the grant, they will be eligible to receive up to $100,000 per year for the 2008-11 school years.

The next meeting of the Slater Board of Education will be Tuesday, May 20, at 7 p.m.

Contact Travis Watts at marshallreporter@socket.net