MetLife is the new group life insurance carrier for Shelby County Schools.

The Shelby County Board of Education met in special session last week at Valley Elementary School to approve the change.

According to information provided by Evelyn H. Blake, director of personnel, to School Superintendent Evan Major, the previous life insurance carrier, Protective Life, was brought out by Fortis.

Fortis canceled the insurance and offered to convert it but at a &uot;much higher&uot; rate.

However, the school system’s life insurance agent of record, Ben Paternostro, conducted research and found a highly reputable group willing insure the school system employees at a lower rate for the $5,000 the board currently provides for each full-time employee and keep the same rate for supplemental coverage.

As a result, Blake recommended that the board contract with MetLife to provide the group life insurance coverage subject to a 10 percent fluctuation in price according to the number of employees who sign up for supplemental coverage.

Major officially made the recommendation of the action to the board.

He pointed out that the cost of the coverage to the school system is $19,260 while $21,000 was allowed in the budget. Major said the information was not available for action on the matter at the last regular school board meeting and that he called for the special meeting due to the essence of time.

The recommendation was unanimously approved by School Board members,

Dr. Lee Doebler, president, Steve Martin, vice-president, and H.C. (Trey) Ireland