A Former Superintendent's Perspective on Evaluating Employee Benefit Programs
After more than 30 years as a teacher, principal, and superintendent, Dr. Randy Brown shares the story of why he rejected a Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan (SIMRP) three separate times before ultimately approving it. Through personal experiences, rigorous due diligence, and candid conversations with fellow school leaders, he explains the questions every superintendent should ask when evaluating employee benefit programs—and why healthy skepticism can lead to better decisions for employees, students, and school districts alike. As a superintendent, I received countless proposals claiming they would save money, improve employee benefits, and strengthen school districts. Most never made it past my desk. One proposal, however, kept returning in different forms—a Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan (SIMRP). I didn't reject it once. I rejected it three separate times.
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Jake Parvu
3 min read
Healthy Skepticism Isn't a Weakness
When I first learned about SIMRPs, I approached them exactly as I believe every superintendent should—with caution. I wasn't interested in becoming anyone's test case. Before recommending anything to our Board or our employees, I wanted answers:
Had another superintendent successfully implemented it?
Would our attorney approve it?
Would our auditor find concerns?
Could I explain it clearly to employees?
Was the provider transparent when difficult questions were asked?
Those questions led me to reject three different proposals over several years.
Trust Must Be Earned
Everything changed when I finally spoke with another superintendent who had already implemented the program. Instead of hearing another sales presentation, I had an honest conversation with someone who had lived through the process. That discussion led to months of additional due diligence involving our leadership team, legal counsel, and financial professionals. Only after those reviews did I become comfortable moving forward.
Why Healthy Skepticism Led Me to Say "Yes"
The following article is a condensed version of Dr. Randy Brown's mini-book entitled, "Why I Said No Three Times". The original mini-book is available to read in it's entirety via link at the end of this article.
A Former Superintendent's Perspective on Evaluating Employee Benefit Programs
When you've spent more than 30 years in public education, you learn one thing quickly: not every opportunity that sounds promising actually is. As a superintendent, I received countless proposals claiming they would save money, improve employee benefits, and strengthen school districts. Most never made it past my desk. One proposal, however, kept returning in different forms—a Self-Insured Medical Reimbursement Plan (SIMRP). I didn't reject it once. I rejected it three separate times.
Not because I disliked the concept. Because I couldn't yet trust it.
The Story That Changed My Perspective
One morning, an employee shared something that stuck with me. She stopped for gas on her way to work. It was payday, but when she swiped her debit card, it was declined.
A payroll processing delay of only a few hours had left her unable to buy enough fuel to make it to school.That moment reminded me that while school districts work hard to provide raises, many educators continue to face increasing financial pressure from housing, healthcare, groceries, and inflation.
I realized I had been asking the wrong question. Instead of asking: "How can we pay employees more?" I began asking: "How can we create more value for our employees?"
Dr. Randy Brown, Former Public School Superintendent
Questions Every School Leader Should Ask
Whenever evaluating a new program, I encourage leaders to ask:
What are the real risks?
Who else has successfully implemented it?
Have independent legal and financial professionals reviewed it?
Can I explain it in plain language?
Do I trust the people behind the proposal?
Those questions protected our district. They also gave me the confidence to eventually move forward. Innovation doesn't require blind trust. It requires thoughtful evaluation. Looking back, I'm glad I said "no" three times. Those decisions forced me to ask better questions, demand better answers, and ultimately arrive at a decision I could confidently stand behind. For any school leader evaluating employee benefit strategies, my advice is simple:
Be skeptical.
Do your homework.
Talk to people who have been through it.
Then make the decision that's right for your employees, your students, and your district.
If you would like to learn more about Self Insured Medical Reimbursement Plans for your organization, please fill the form below and a SIMRP Advisor will contact you promptly.
Looking Beyond Compensation
One of the most important lessons I learned is that employee support isn't always about increasing salaries. Sometimes it's about increasing value. Programs that combine wellness resources, telehealth, preventive care, and tax-advantaged employee benefits can improve employees' day-to-day lives while also helping organizations strengthen recruiting, retention, and operational efficiency. When implemented correctly, the impact extends beyond employees. It can also create new opportunities for students and help school districts strengthen their financial position.
“After thirty years in education, I thought I understood the financial pressure our employees were under. That morning reminded me how much I had underestimated it.
- Dr. Randy Brown
Author and Mini-Book Credit
Title: Why I Said No Three Times
Author: Dr. Randy Brown, former public school superintendent & educator
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SIMRP Health & Wellness™ is an independent entity that provide access to educational information regarding programs utilizing federally recognized tax codes and wellness reimbursement structures that may help qualifying organizations obtain benefits through payroll tax savings. We utilize the professional services of third-party providers for the preparation, filing, and implementation of SIMRP plan documents; however, we are not owned by, affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of such providers, the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, or the federal government. The information provided on this website is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be construed as tax, legal, accounting, financial, or regulatory advice. We are not tax professionals, attorneys, certified public accountants, or experts in the interpretation of tax law, and we do not recommend tax strategies or make guarantees regarding tax treatment, eligibility, savings, or compliance outcomes. Individuals and organizations seeking to verify or rely upon any information presented on this website should consult with qualified tax professionals, legal counsel, payroll specialists, or other licensed advisors regarding their specific circumstances before making any financial, tax-related, legal, or benefits decisions.
