The great risk pool debate

Good morning, New Hampshire, and welcome to Thursday. Today, Ethan DeWitt looks at the long-running controversy over school district risk pools. Also, Molly Rains reports on a new initiative by scientists and others in New Hampshire to better understand the rise of tick-borne illnesses. And, in the Thursday commentary, how the question of suffering helps establish a firm foundation for policy debates. Thank you for reading, and enjoy the day. — Dana

By Ethan DeWitt

Members of the Londonderry School Board had barely begun their budgeting process last September when they received a jolt. SchoolCare, the organization that provided the district’s health care, said it had underestimated the cost of claims, and Londonderry owed $2.1 million to fill the gap. The problem was pervasive. Statewide, SchoolCare faced a $30 million deficit. In total, 65 school districts and 25 municipalities received similar letters with similar fees. A year later, that initial shock has faded. But bigger questions over how to prevent a future insurance crisis are mired by a state-led enforcement action, a district-led lawsuit, two vetoed bills, and a decades-long debate over how to manage taxpayer money.

By Molly Rains

New Hampshire’s ticks are having a moment, prompting the state’s scientists to come together in hopes of better understanding, and combating, the problem. An $8 million grant from the National Science Foundation will support an investigation into how factors like climate, habitat, wildlife, and more affect the parasites and the diseases they spread, according to a release shared by the University of New Hampshire on Wednesday.