When Brianna Lawrence and her husband Devon found out they were expecting their first child, they were overjoyed, but they also knew it would force them to make a significant change: One of them will likely have to quit teaching and find a job with better benefits, so they can afford health care coverage for the family.
Brianna, 30, and Devon, 31, work at schools in Waseca – a city of about 9,000 in southern Minnesota. Brianna is a school counselor and Devon is the high school’s band director. When their family grows from two to three in June, they’ll be forced to move on to the substantially more expensive family health insurance plan.
“It's the kind of jump [in cost] that takes your breath away because you don't know how you're going to afford it,” Brianna Lawrence said.
Brianna Lawrence with her husband Devon Lawrence. Both work in the Waseca school district — Briana as a school counselor and Devon as the high school band director.
Contributed | Brianna Lawrence
Their premium for the new family coverage plan could nearly quadruple to $2,200 a month. Even the cheapest option, the high deductible plan, would more than double their premium costs, and it comes with high out-of-pocket expenses. With many pre-natal care visits, the Lawrences have already met their deductible just a few months into 2026, and now they’ll have to start over from scratch on the new plan in June. And this all comes just two years after a pregnancy loss that cost the couple nearly $11,000 in out of pocket expenses.
It’s forcing an unwelcome reckoning for the young family.
“Devon is so good at his job as a band director, and I love what I do as a school counselor,” Lawrence said. “I don't want to change. I don't want to leave this district. They've embraced us. They love us, and we love them. It would be heart wrenching to make that decision to leave, but it no longer is just us wanting to stay that's not enough. We have to see some changes happen for us to be able to stay.”
Health insurance costs have long been a problem for smaller, rural school districts because their smaller staff sizes give them less bargaining power in the marketplace. But, in recent years, school districts of all sizes are getting hit by huge health insurance price increases. MPR News reported last year that even Anoka-Hennepin Schools, the largest district in Minnesota, saw premiums go up 22 percent in 2025. Other districts saw even bigger spikes.
Kasson-Mantorville Middle School where Aaron Wilke teaches. He's worked in the district for nearly 30 years.
Molly Castle Work | MPR News
There’s a mix of reasons for the higher insurance costs, including inflation, an aging population with greater medical needs, and expensive new pharmaceuticals like GLP-1s. So educators are rallying around new legislation that could offer some relief. The proposed Educator Group Insurance Program, known as the EGIP bill, would create a statewide health coverage plan – one huge health insurance pool for all public school employees.
Eric Teders, The Lawrences’ coworker in Waseca Schools, said this is a long time coming. The junior high school math teacher and union president for the district said the majority of states in the U.S. already have statewide health plans for teachers.
“As good as Minnesota is in education, we are behind the eight ball on this,” Teders said.
He explained that because his district is so small, just a few serious accidents or illnesses in a year can significantly drive up premiums. He said it can also make some colleagues feel ostracized. Not only are they dealing with, often serious, health issues, they tell him that they feel guilty that their health care is increasing costs for their colleagues.
But, the new model proposed would fix that.
The Minnesota State Capitol on April 16.
Cait Kelley | MPR News
The plan is modeled off SEGIP – the state employee group insurance program that has covered legislators and state government workers for decades. Minnesota DFL Rep. Liz Reyer, lead author of the bill, explained that larger group health insurance plans tend to have significantly lower cost increases over time, because they have more negotiating power on behalf of thousands of employees across the state, and there’s more stability.
“When you have so many smaller to mid size groups, they're much more volatile,” Reyer explained. “Think about it: if you have a group of 20 people, and someone gets really sick or has an accident, that drives [insurance] upgrades for everybody. And it's very unpredictable. [But] when you combine everyone into a group of, say, 150,000 like EGIP would have, then you get stability, because now that just becomes a ripple, rather than something that changes the nature of the group.”
The bill, which has bipartisan support and 40 co-sponsors, is written to be “hold harmless,” meaning the new plan wouldn’t cost school districts any more than what they’re already paying. Instead, the state would be expected to supplement any gaps in coverage.
But Reyer said that some of her colleagues at the state capitol are apprehensive because of the uncertain cost to the state and where the money will come from. So this year, Reyer is also pushing for passage of a companion bill, which allows the state to gather data from all school districts, to get a more accurate read on the cost.
The hope is that the data bill will pass this year and then supporters can push for the new health plan next year, which is a budget year in the Minnesota legislature.
Rising health insurance costs aren’t isolated to the education field, but Reyer says they deserve extra attention.
“These are public employees,” Reyer said. “They're doing a lot for our community. They're supporting our society, and that we should be investing back in them.”
So far, most educators seem to support the bill. The statewide teachers union is running a massive campaign in support, which includes running large ads on its main website. Waseca’s Brianna Lawrence was among several school workers that testified in front of the legislature.
Another educator that testified is Aaron Wilke. He teaches middle school about 40 minutes west of Waseca in Kasson. Wilke said he’s hearing about colleagues – like Lawrence – that are considering leaving the profession, due to health insurance costs. Even his own son decided to halt his pursuit of a career in education and enter law enforcement because of the poor benefits offered.
Wilke, 51, says he’s passionate about the fact that the legislation will offer better coverage for all school workers – not just teachers. Many of whom have even worse coverage right now.
“If you're a secretary or a paraprofessional at Kasson-Manorville, right now, your premiums are likely going to be more than $2,000 a month instead of the $1,200 a month that our teachers see,” Wilke said. “This would have everybody with the same premiums and the same benefit – whether you're a superintendent, a custodian, a teacher, or a bus driver.”
Wilke said he testified before lawmakers because he wants to protect the future of his profession. He worries that Minnesota could lose out on a pool of very talented educators simply because they can't afford health insurance.
“I'm trying to look five, 10, 20, even 40 years down the road and advocate for EGIP so that we might be able to supply our demand for teachers in the many years to come,” Wilke said.
VB.NET refers to Visual Basic. Network Enabled Technologies. VB.Net is called as a simple, high-level object-oriented programming language that was developed by Microsoft in the year 2002. The VB.Net programming language is specifically designed to create and deploy a wide range of applications, which could be web, windows, and mobile applications built on the .Net framework. The VB.Net programming language first release took place in the year 2002 as said, which is a replacement for Visual Basic 6.0. VB.Net is called the object-oriented programming language as it provides its extensible support to the different features of Object-oriented programming called inheritance, polymorphism, encapsulation, and abstraction.
VB.Net is designed so that it runs on the .Net framework allowing access to the different .Net libraries available. It is built so that it is easy to understand irrespective of the individual trying to work on it. VB.Net works explicitly on the .Net framework, and there is high scalability and reliability as the programs will be written in the VB.Net language. VB.Net also provides the flexibility to interoperate with the programs written in the other programming languages like Visual C#, Visual C++, and visual J#.
Hence, it is true that the VB.Net language will help in developing simple, robust, high performance, secure applications. VB.Net also supports all the different primitive data types like the other object-oriented programming languages. VB.Net is not a case sensitive language. VB.Net allows you to create a fully object-oriented application that is the same as the application that is created using other languages like C#, Java, C++. All the programs or applications built using VB.Net are flexible to run on the Windows operating system and on the Mac Operating system and Linux.
History of VB.Net:
It is good to know the history of VB.Net, different versions of it, and the advancements and improvements in each updated version. Let me give you a brief idea of the history of the VB.Net programming language.
Microsoft first developed VB.Net language in 2002, which is referred to as a multi-paradigm programming language. It is launched as a replacement for the Visual Basic language. The first version of VB.Net language is VB.Net 7.0, which relies on the .Net version 1.0.
The next version of VB.Net was released in the year 2003, which is VB.Net 7.1, which relied on the .Net version 1.1. Every version has come up with the advancements. This version came up with improvements that include the improved performance and reliability of the .Net IDE. This version that was released in 2003 has also been made available in the academic version of visual studio.net and is furthermore distributed to the different countries for free.
The next version of vb.net is vb.net 8.0, which was released in the year 2005. This version was also named Visual Basic 2005. It has come up with the different features that would make it different from the C language. The features like generics, operator overloading, unsigned integer support, partial classes, etc. are made available to the Rapid application developers. The VB.net 8.0 version has also come up with the introduction of the is not operator.
The next version of vb.net called VB 9.0 was introduced in the year 2008. This release has come up with some features like anonymous types, XML literals, extension methods, lambda expressions, etc.
The next version of vb.net is called VB 2010 which has come up with the dynamic language runtime, they have opted for the core evolution strategy sharing between the C# and VB.net which is bringing two languages together.
A version of the vb.net called VB 2012 has come up in the year 2012. It came up with the .Net 4.5 It has come up with the different features like iterators, asynchronous data programming with different statements like await statement and async statement and the Global keyword in the namespace statements.
The next version of vb.net is VB 2015, and this version was released along with the Visual Studio 2015. This version also came up with the introduction of the ?. operator used to do the inline null checks. It also came up with the string interpolation feature that will help in formatting the strings inline.
1. Vb.net is referred to as an object-oriented programming language that helps follow all the various concepts like abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance, etc. Vb.net programming language is referred to as an object.
2. The vb.net programming language is helpful in providing its extensible support to the Rapid application development Toolkit. This will help the developers not write the code again and again and utilize the various codes that can be automatically found in the libraries.
3. The vb.net programming language in designing the user interface for different modes like mobile, Windows and web-based applications.
4. The vb.net programming language is not a case sensitive language like the other programming languages like C + +, Java, etc.
5. Vb.net Programming Language also provides support for the boolean conditions in order to make the right decisions that are made in the programming.
6. As it is an object-oriented programming language, it also provides its extensible support to multithreading concepts in which you are allowed to do the multiple tasks simultaneously.
7.This Programming Language also uses the external object as a reference that can be used in the vb.net application.
8. It has also come up with the feature help in initializing an automatic garbage collection.
9. Vb.net programming language is also responsible for providing simple event management in the .net applications.
10. It is also helpful in following structure and extensible programming language that helps error detection and recovery.
11. It also includes a conditional compilation, and it is also easy to use to generate classes used in the object-oriented programming languages.
Basic Syntax of VB.net:
The vb.net is an object-oriented programming language that is responsible for building web-based, mobile applications. When it comes to object-oriented programming methodology, it usually consists of objects, classes, methods, and variables. All the objects will be interacting with each other in a program. The actions of the object will be performed as methods.
When coming to the vb.net program, it can be defined or referred to as the collection of the objects that will help in communicating or invoking each other’s methods. Let me give you a brief description of the different parameters that are used in the vb.net program.
1. Object: An object in a program will have its own state and behaviour. Let’s take an example of a dog which will have its state at a scanner or name and breathe as well, which is referred to as a behaviour. It is also referred to as an instance of a class.
2. Class: A class is referred to as a template or a blue print that will help describe their behaviour or the states of the objects of its type.
3. Methods: A method is referred to as behaviour. The class consists of a different number of methods. The logic is written in the methods where the data will be manipulated, and all the actions will be executed.
4. Instance Variables: Every object will have its own set of instance variables. The state of an object is created by the value assigned to the instance variables.
Structure of VB.Net program:
Vb.net program usually consists of the following different parts. They are:
1. Namespace Declaration
2. Class or a module
3. One or more Procedures
4. Variables
5. Main procedure
6. Statements and expressions
7. Comments
Simple code representing a message:
Let me help you with a Simple code that would print a message.
Imports System
Module ExampleModule
'This program will display Welcome to HKR Training.
Sub Main()
Console.WriteLine("Hi! Welcome to HKR Training")
Console.ReadKey()
End Sub
End Module
Let me give you an explanation of each and every part of the program.
1. The first part of the program is the imports system which is specifically to include the system namespace in the program.
2.The next part is the Module declaration which is named as the module model example. The program in the vb.net programming language model of a class will contain the data and procedures that the program will make use of.
3. Classes or modules will generally contain more than one procedure. The procedures usually contain the executable code as they define the behaviour of the class.
4. The main procedure will specify the behaviour within the statement.
Console.WriteLine(“Hello World”) the control class method that is defined in the System namespace. This statement will allow the message welcome to HKR training to be displayed on the screen.
5. The last line consists of the console.ReadKey() which is used for the vs.net users. This will help prevent the screen from running and closing quickly when the program is launched from the visual studio.net.
Compilation and execution of the vb.net program:
If you are specifically using the Visual studio.net IDE, then you need to follow The below steps.
1. Start the Visual Studio
2. Navigate to the menu bar and choose the File option followed by new followed by the project.
3. You will need to choose the Visual Basic from the templates.
4. Then you need to choose the console application.
5. Specify the project’s name and location using the browse button and then click on the ok button.
6. This new project will then appear in the solution explorer
7. Write the code in the code editor.
8. Finally click on the run button or the F5 key, which will help in running the project. A command prompt window will appear on your screen, which contains a message welcome to HKR training.
You can also compile the vb.net program in the command line rather than using the visual studio IDE. Below are the set of steps to be followed in the command line.
1. Open up the text editor and add the mentioned code.
2. You need to save the file as welcometohkr.vb.
3.You need to open the command prompt tool then and go to the directory where you have saved the file.
4. Type vbc.welcometohkr.vb and press enter for the code to get compiled.
5. If there are no errors identified in your code in the command prompt, it will take you to the next line and generate the welcometohkr.exe file.
6. You need to then type welcometohkr to perform the execution of the program.
7. You will now see the message: welcome to HKR on your screen.
Let us take an example of a rectangular class in VB.net. It consists of different attitudes like Length and width. Based on the design, it requires a phrase for accepting the values for these attributes and also calculating the area and displaying the details.
Below is the code that will help in the implementation of the rectangular class.
Imports System
Public Class Rectangle
Private Len As Double
Private Wid As Double
'Public methods
Public Sub AcceptDetails()
Len = 4
Wid = 3
End Sub
Public Function GetArea() As Double
GetArea = Len* Wid
End Function
Public Sub Display()
Console.WriteLine("Length is : {0}", Len)
Console.WriteLine("Width is: {0}", Wid)
Console.WriteLine("Area is: {0}", GetArea())
End Sub
Shared Sub Main()
Dim r As New Rectangle()
r.Acceptdetails()
r.Display()
Console.ReadLine()
End Sub
End Class
After compilation and execution, the below output will be reflecting.
Length is: 4
Width is : 3
Area is: 12
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Differences between Visual Basic and VB.Net:
There are some differences between Visual Basic and VB.Net. They are explained below.
VB.Net:
Vb.net stands for visual basic. Network enables Technology. Vb.net is developed by Microsoft and is based on the Dot Net Framework. Vb.net is specifically designed for the VB developers.
Visual Basic:
Basic is referred to as a programming language developed by Microsoft as well as the fastest development of the windows-based operating system and the applications.
VB.NET:
Net is referred to as a modern and fully object-oriented programming language which is a replacement for the Visual Basic 6.
Visual Basic:
Repertoire has a predecessor of the VB.Net and is not an object-oriented programming language. There is no active maintenance.
VB.Net:
VB.net utilizes the common language runtime component of the.net Framework during the runtime. Vb.net has some advanced features and design implementation when compared to the VB runtime.
Visual basic:
Visual Basic utilizes the VB Runtime environment.
VB.Net:
Vb.net is a compiler-based oriented language and also a safe-type language.
Visual Basic:
Visual basic is an interpreter based oriented language but not a safe-type language.
VB.Net:
Vb.net is not flexible to provide it support for backward compatibility.
Visual Basic:
Visual basic is flexible to provide it support for backward compatibility.
VB.Net:
The Data handling is based on the ADO.Net Protocol in the VB.net.
Visual Basic:
The data handling and data connectivity is based on the RDO, DAO and ADO.
VB.Net:
The parameters are passed by default value in VB.Net.
Visual Basic:
In visual basic, the parameters are passed based on the reference.
VB.Net:
VB.Net allows you to develop a multithreaded application.
Visual Basic:
Visual Basic does not allow you to go through the multithreading concepts.
Advantages of VB.net:
1. The vb.net programming language will help you in creating and executing a program in such a way that it runs under the common language runtime which will help in creating a robust, stable and Secure application.
2. Vb.net is referred to as a purely object-oriented programming language that is based on the objects and classes. This features that are available in VB.net are not available in the previous version of Visual Basic 6. Hence Microsoft has launched vb.net language.
3. Vb.net programming language is using the .net Framework which developed a small program that will be working faster than expected and also will be flexible to work with the last test of NY Publications is referred to as a software framework it consists of the large number of libraries which is for the helping in developing more robust applications.
4. Using the Visual Studio IDE, you are also allowed to develop the small programs which should be for working faster than expected.
5. The vb.net programming language makes use of the drag and drops elements to create the web forms in the.net applications.
6. Visual basic.net also allows you to connect one application to another application that can be created in the same language run on the Dot Net Framework.
7. VB.Net also makes use of a new concept of error handling in the Visual Basic .Net Framework. It uses the try, catch, and finally a method to handle the different exceptions as a unit. Whenever an error Encounters, it is responsible for making the necessary actions.
8. The visual basic.net language is responsible for transferring the data between the different layers of the.net architecture so that the data is passed as simple text strings.
9. Vb.net has the flexibility to structure the code automatically.
Disadvantages of VB.net:
1. The vb.net programming language is not capable of handling the pointers directly. Vb.net programming language requires slot programming, and it is not easy to manage every address by the pointer. Also, it requires additional coding to read the CPU cycles, increasing the processing time. This would result in the slowness of the business application that is developed in VB.Net programming language.
2. Vb.net programming language makes use of an intermediate language compilation that is used for easy decompilation, but there is nothing that is preventing applications for disintegrating.
3. VB.net programming language is easy to learn, which is increasing a larger competition between the programmers, and it is further leading to employment opportunities or projects in VB.net.
4. Vb.net programming language consists of a large collection of the libraries for the JIT compiler that will help in interpreting the application. The distributed libraries will utilize a vast space in the system which will move further and take more computing time.
5. JIT compiler: JIT compiler refers to the just-in-time compiler which is referred to as a process through which the computer will interpret the intermediate language compilation and is also required to run the application.
.NET Training Certification
Weekday / Weekend Batches
Conclusion:
With the technology change, there is a high demand for application development and one of the most important sources for the organizations for their growth. Hence, most organizations are looking forward to the individuals who have been trained and certified in developing the applications that meet customer requirements in a short span of time. I would suggest you get trained and certified in VB.net programming language and VB.net training to help you achieve a successful career.
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