West Contra Costa County Unified School District has received a “lack of going concern” determination from its county board of education. That means the district is unable to meet its financial obligations. But 60 percent of its deficit is accounted for by spending on an unnecessary insurance subsidy for retired employees known as “OPEB” (Other Post-Employment Benefits) that drains classrooms of resources while federal subsidies go unused.
In a world of Medicare, Obamacare and Covered California, there’s no reason for students to finance insurance subsidies for retired employees. As we explain here, school districts should fully access federal subsidies before draining funds from their own classrooms.
