6News' Kara Kenney found that board members receive discounted health, dental and life insurance for a fraction of what teachers pay, a bonus other school districts across the state are doing without.

Records obtained by 6News show school board members can opt to pay $116 a month for a health insurance PPO family plan while teachers pay more than 10 times that at $1,370.

Under the plans available, school board members can opt to pay 8 cents a month for dental insurance for their family, while teachers pay $99.69 a month.

School board members can also get life insurance for $1 a year, while taxpayers pick up the tab for the rest of the annual premium of $117.80.

"That's insane that taxpayers would be paying that much money," said Julie Marvel, a Wayne Township taxpayer. "The board has not done their job. They've approved a contract without reading it. They've spent money frivolously, and this is something they're definitely not entitled to."

Even though school board members are elected and work part time, they are eligible for the same discounted benefits as school district administrators.

School board members in Wayne Township make $2,000 a year and receive an allowance of $112 for each board meeting attended up to 21 a year.

The school district has cut $10 million from its budget since 2007 and teachers have often gone without raises.

6News found few school districts statewide offer school board members insurance and an even smaller percentage of school board members actually take advantage of the perk.

According to the Indiana School Boards Association, 11 percent of school districts statewide offer a single plan for health insurance and 17 percent offer a family plan.

Three percent of school board members statewide are on a single plan and 8 percent are on a family plan, records show.

The Indiana Department of Education checklist for trimming costs lists "reduce all fringe benefit packages of school board members" as a way to cut money without affecting the classroom.

Julie Marvel and other taxpayers plan to bring up the issue at a board meeting March 21.

"I think this is something the township needs to look at as far as cuts that can be made. It shouldn't be a perk," Marvel said.

6News found that Wayne Township School Board members racked up $90,000 in travel expenses along with retired Superintendent Terry Thompson, whose pricey contract they approved.

School board members have refused to step down and directed all media interviews to school district spokeswoman, Mary McDermott-Lang.

McDermott-Lang said she Monday she is researching which school board members are on the health, dental and life insurance plans and whether they have any plans to eliminate the perk.

More Information: Wayne Township Health Insurance Premiums