The schoolboard work session begins in 1 minute. Please take your seats. Again, the schoolboard work session begins in one minute. Heat. Hey, heat. Hey, heat. Good morning. I now call the June 4th, 2026 administrative briefing and work
session of the Marian County School Board to order at 9:00 a.m. Please silence your electronic devices to avoid disturbing others. Mirroring and modeling how our students begin each day, I ask that you please pause with us for a moment of silence.
Thank you. I will now read our board commitment statement. We are the Marian County School District Leadership Team. When we come together to work, we are efficient, effective, and productive. Our three most important characteristics are dedicated, transparent, and
individually responsible. To work well together, we must demonstrate respect, confront reality, and be accountable. We will always put students first. We will leave a legacy of success. I'd like to ask the school board attorney to explain the rules for this public workshop.
>> Good morning, Attorney Powers. >> Good morning and thank you, Madam Chair. This work session is a public meeting as defined in Florida Sunshine Law. The board is dedicated to full transparency in its meetings and its work. In compliance with the Sunshine Law, the
board has adopted uniform meeting procedures, including the right for citizens to participate. The board will allow public comment regarding any work session item listed on today's agenda at the appropriate time. Speakers must fill out a request form
located in the lobby and hand it to the board clerk. After the board and superintendent have completed their discussion on a particular agenda item, the board clerk will call the speaker's name in the order received. Each speaker will have three minutes as required by
the Sunshine Law. The board must maintain orderly conduct and proper decorum throughout the meeting. Speakers may criticize subject matter and decisions in a respectful manner, but not people. Finally, speakers must be very careful not to violate the privacy
rights of others, especially students and their family members by mentioning their names or other identifying information. Thank you for your attention to these important rules. >> Thank you, Attorney Powers. Good morning, Miss Martinez Young. Can you please provide the proof of publication for today's meeting?
>> The notice for the June 4th, 2026 administrative briefing and work session was published on the district website on May 28th, 2026. Proof of notification has been attached to board docs under proof of not publication. >> Thank you. Good morning, Dr. Brewer. >> Good morning.
>> You will provide our um superintendent's briefing. >> Yes, ma'am. I have quite a few things to share this morning. Um I want to start off by just recognizing everything that took place for graduation. So I have some numbers that I would like to share.
Um Corey Taylor provided a great summary, but the two highlights is we had 31,000 31,669 guests that were screened for all of our graduations. Um, so our team did an
incredible job making sure that the new open gate detection system um, worked and all of us were safe during the graduation ceremonies. I want to highlight how many volunteers it took for graduation. We had over 283
volunteer hours. That's 91 volunteers that participated in the open gate detection system. So, that's a huge, of course, we'll recognize these individuals um internally, but I just want to recognize how how much how many people and hours it took to ensure that
all of our graduates and families were safe during the graduation um ceremonies. Um as of yesterday, we had 2100 students show up to summer school. um this number will continue to grow and we will continue to monitor the
enrollment and of course the progress that all the students are making during summer school. Something that I just want to remind you all when you are um visiting school campuses that the state's class size recommendation for our intensive intervention for our third
graders is 8 to 10 students. So when you're visiting the classrooms and it might look like there's low enrollment, um we it's it's important that we keep those classrooms at an incredibly low class size. Um I want to celebrate a
couple things. Our fee forever scholarship and I'm sure some of you will also recognize them later, but thanks to um Mr. Bernie Little and the St. Bernard Foundation, the Fezedin students, their lives will be changed because of this scholarship. And so
we're incredibly grateful to St. the St. Bernard Foundation. I still cannot share final numbers for student data as much as I want to, but I'd like to just say based on preliminary data, we will have more A's and B's this year, and we will not have
any D's in our traditional schools. Um, last year, as you know, we had five D's. So, we're very happy to report that we will not have D any D's in our traditional schools. School grades will be released by July 1st. Um, and that's when we'll be able to give the formal
the formal numbers. Um, in the last couple board meetings, work sessions, there's been conversation about the comparison of two elementary schools, Winding Oaks Elementary and Ross Prairie. Um, so I just want the community to understand, um, when we
have the GMPS for board approval, when we present that information to the board for approval, that is the contractor's price. What we have to do is we have to add back the owner direct purchases to that. So when we look at Winding Oaks Elementary, their final contract, their
contract was 37 million, but there were six million 65 6.5 million in owner direct purchases with a total construction for that campus being 43 million. Um, and Ross Prairie, the final contract was 36 million. The owner
direct purchases were 4.5 million. And then the total construction expenditure for that campus was 41 million. So I think sometimes it's not very clear when we're approving GMPS because of that's with the contractor. So I just wanted to
highlight that number. So um that was clear. And the final celebration is um Dr. Campbell and I have worked closely with our federal lobbyists um to work with do with Congressman Randy Fine's office to secure a federal earmark and
this will be the first for Marian County and we um received the call yesterday that we have made it through another hurdle and we only have one more step to go in the process and so it is not the entire dollar amount that we um
requested but our name is still there and so we are moving closer closer to securing funding. And um just for awareness and a reminder, this is for an early learning center in the southeastern portion of Marian County. So, we're very excited about that. Um
and as you know, part of our strategic plan um one of our goals is to increase external funding and this is um moving us in the right direction for for that goal or for excuse me, not goal, for that priority. So, those are all my
comments, Mrs. Conrad. All right. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. Um, we sure do appreciate a lot of positive um things happening um around the district. All right, we will uh move on to item 4.1, self-funded health plan review and 2027
options. Mr. Rios Welsh. There he is. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. I hope everyone is doing well. Dr. Brewer, board members, uh, and members of the audience. Um, so today we're going to have a presentation on
our self-funded, uh, health program, uh, and some options, um, that as we are continuing our negotiation internally in terms of getting to a balanced uh, budget for the 26 27th school year. Um,
we wanted to provide some information and information only uh to board members. Um, I do want to make sure that I'm crystal clear uh that we will by no means be providing any recommendations today. Uh this is strictly forformational purposes only and any uh
uh official recommendations to the board would have to come through the insurance committee which is comprised of uh a cross-section of um not only employees but other stakeholders as relates to our health insurance program. So um today we
have representatives from Gallagher um who is our third party administrator uh who handles a lot of our actuarial uh analysis and Miss Laura Lingal is going to uh come up and uh go through this presentation uh in detail and we do
appreciate her and her team uh coming uh to us today. And we also have uh another member of her team who she's going to introduce uh who's here from out of town who's also going to work walk through uh some other opportunities as it were in terms of cost containment that we are
exploring. But again to to emphasize uh no recommendations will be made today. Um this presentation and uh its backup documents will be provided to the insurance committee and I will formally request um a meeting date to be
identified and we will then uh run this information through that committee and then in a subsequent board meeting um hopefully there will be a recommendation to the superintendent and perhaps a vote uh but there will be no recommendation
as it were today. So with that, I'd like to introduce Miss Lingal. She's gonna come up. Thank you. >> Good morning. Thank you, Mr. Welsh. Uh Dr. Brewer, Vice Chair Conrad, board members, Attorney Powers. Um excited to be here again today to present
information about the self-funded health plan. Um in addition to some other items as it pertains to the employee benefit program. So um as Mr. Walsh said myself um I have Verac here presenting with me on a
program that we would um like the district to consider. Danielle Marwell is also um here with me today as um a support member of the team that helps assist with the the board. And then we also have Angela Hooper who assists and Sally Donovan is the financial analyst
um behind many of the numbers that you will see today. Um, so the agenda will be reveal review the current plan and the 2027 projections, some costsaving strategies, um, health funding analysis. Oh,
>> can you miss Ling? We're having a little bit of trouble hearing you. >> Okay. Is that better? >> A little bit little bit closer. >> A little bit. >> There you go. >> Okay, perfect. Um Um, we're going to review the Medicare Advantage plan. we spoke about that earlier in this year
and then just some of the RFPs and audits um that will be taking place for 2027. Um so as we move into the financial analysis um we present a similar comparison yearover-year so you can see what the numbers were for 2024,
how the plan ended in 2025, what we're looking like for 2026 and then some projections for 2027. Um so for calendar year 2026, I do have some good news. Again, these are projections based on claims through
March. Um, we recently received claims through April, but not in time to have the data analyzed for um, the information to be put on board docs. But if you remember from last year, we recommended a 7% increase. The numbers
were calling for 10. Um, we felt comfortable with seven and to use about 2 to3 million in the self-funded health plan. So, we do have some good news. Um, from what we are seeing in the numbers, um, we actually anticipate that we will
see a gain in the self-funded health plan at the end of 2026 by just over 1 million, 1.5 million, I'm sorry, 1.15 million. Um, whereas we were projecting a loss. That is, we believe due to a
couple of things. one, at the time we had not solidified the pharmacy benefit manager contract renegotiation um for 2026. We anticipate that we will be seeing about 1.5 million in additional rebates as a result of that
renegotiation of the contract. The other thing is that when we project um as you remember stoploss is not negotiated until the fall. So, we are projecting when we give these numbers earlier in the year, we projected an increase at 15%.
We were able to negotiate that stop-loss contract to just over 1% for the 2026 year. So, those two items um are helping with our claims fund. And again, we anticipate that we'll be seeing um an
increase about of about 1.15 million. With those numbers, um, we should end the year with a fund balance of just over $30 million. We are required to have 60 days of claims plus the incurred but not
reported IBNR. Those are claims that um have occurred but maybe the provider has not submitted them to Florida Blue. Sometimes it's considered a runout um claim number. So with those numbers, calendar year 2026, we are required to
have um just over $14 million in the fund and we anticipate in excess then of an additional 15 million ending 2026. As we go into calendar year 2027, you can see what those projections are. Um
just a couple of things to point out. You will see that the projected board and employee contributions is remaining the same. Um, it is the desire, I understand, of the district and Mr. Welsh to not increase any funding. Um,
and and this is an aggregate number. So, we'll talk about how these numbers are split later on in the presentation, but aggregate with board contributions and employee contributions, we are not projecting any sort of increase. Um, with that staying status quo, we do
project um just over $8 million in a loss in the self-funded health plan. Again, this these are status quo numbers. So, if that occurs, we would need um just over 13 million with um just over two million for the IBNR. So,
at 16 million would be the 60-day requirement. If we lose the eight million that would be projected based on claims and trend, we would have an additional excess of just over five million. So we would be at close to
three months of reserves required to have 60 days. We would be closer to 90 days in that scenario. Um some items to point out. So when we we've talked about this before, medical trend, pharmacy trend in the insurance
world, it's similar to um what we anticipate costs will be for medical and pharmacy in the future. So new medications are coming, um new procedures are coming, the cost of doing business in the medical field is increasing. So those are the trend
numbers that we use to project um the required increases along with what we are seeing in the district's claims. Um we talk about maybe shifting some of the costs um in in the later presentation,
but we also recognize we need to do something about managing to claims. And so the next projection includes some claim our cost containment strategies that we're going to discuss um in the next few slides. So you can see the numbers are very similar except um some
of the medical and pharmacy claims will be decreasing. That is as a result of some of these programs that we would like to put in place. So with that strategy, we anticipate losing um just over five million from the claims fund and you can see the um numbers
accordingly there. So that would put us just over three months of reserves if um we implement some of those strategies. I do want to point out a couple of things. Um the stop-loss projections are actually being projected at 25% instead
of 15%. Again, we don't believe that that is where the district will be at the end of this year. However, um we are seeing some significant increases to stop-loss numbers um not only for private sector but public entities. We
have a district um that we work with that received a 50% stop-loss renewal just recently. And so, conservatively, we have changed from projecting 15% to 25%. So those numbers are built into these projections. Um our anticipation
and our initial data does not indicate that that's where the district will be. But again, conservatively um our actuaries like to put in that number. The other number is um 12% is the um projection if we do not do any cost
containment strategies. We did go to Florida Blue and ask for a fully insured quote. So, if we were to go back fully insured instead of remaining self-funded, their projected increase would be about 16%. Um, so we do see that the self-funded
plan is working over a fully insured contract. The other thing that that fully insured contract would not include is stop-loss. And I say that in quotations, in a fully insured contract, they call it pooling. Um, there would
not be a pooling number included. So the district would essentially have all claims hit their claims experience. Right now we stop at 400,000 per member and then it moves to stoploss. The fully insured contract that was was quoted
didn't have that cap on it. So any claim number would hit our claims experience. Um so again I I think with those numbers we we believe that we're in the right direction with the self-funded health plan. we have a very healthy fund balance reserve. And so in in times like
this where we do need to use some of those reserves, we have the ability to do that and maintain the funding um that we're we're using right now. Any questions on those numbers? >> Okay. Okay. >> Thank you, Miss Lingle.
>> Yes. The the next slide is the 24 um month review of claims. So um you can see this u month over month over the last 24 months. Subscribers is employees. Um members is then the employees and any dependence that they
have on the policy. And then you can see medical, capitation and pharmacy. Those are our claim numbers. So um medical obviously medical claims capitation there are some providers that are paid a flat fee based on the number of
employees that they see or number of patients they see every month. So instead of being paid per claim they're paid that flat number. So medical and capitation are are combined in the medical experience. And then you can see our pharmacy claims and total claims.
Um, we have some consistencies. You can see over the summer months we generally spike in claims. In December, we spike in claims. That's fairly common with a school district. That's when employees have the opportunity to have procedures
done. Um, December, not only common in the school district, but also in other um organizations because people have met their deductibles and out of pockets. So, they're having procedures done at the end of the year um for those things. Um so with those numbers again we
recognize that we need to implement some cost-saving strategies in addition to looking at um how we are breaking up the contribution between the board and the employees. So at the beginning of this year well the end of last year um Gallagher acquired another organization
called assured partners. Um, Assured Partners had developed an initiative called assured excellence. Essentially, they looked at large organizations like Walmart and Amazon and they said they can go to providers and direct contract
because of the number of employees that they would be bringing for services. Um, while we don't have Amazons and Walmarts, we do have a large employee population across all of our books of business. So, the idea was to do the
very same thing and go to providers and direct contract with them to be able to save um with those claims. And so, um I'm going to bring Verick up because he has been working with the Assured Excellence program longer than I have.
He's going to talk through um what this might look for like for the district. And again, you can see at the top, we conservatively estimate um about $2.5 million in potential savings by um implementing a program like this.
>> Good morning. >> Morning. >> Uh excuse me. So, as Laurel mentioned, uh I came through via the Assured Acquis, uh the acquisition through the Legacy Assured Partners, uh brokerage. Um I am the current operator and owner and runner of the Assured Excellence
program. And I'll I'll give you a brief a brief background on um why it was created and uh the value that it brings. Uh so, the creator of the program uh created this about 10 years ago. Uh his his wife got really sick and not they were in the hospital. He works and lives
in the health insurance industry. We consider ourselves experts. Um he had uh struggled navigating through on getting care for his wife. Um you know talking to these providers thinking about billing and payment. So he said there's got to be an easier way to do this. And you know we were aware of what Walmart
did, what Lowe's did where they went to a Cleveland Clinic or they went to the John's Hopkins hospital and direct negotiated contract for all of their members. you know they had 1.5 million members and said we can negotiate in volume uh for lower pricing. So what he did was reached out to Johns Hopkins and
said hey we have 1.5 million in aggregate um and I were part of Gallagher significant amount of volume uh to direct contract uh with these providers. So we have hundreds of providers across the country for various procedures. So on the list that you see here, orthopedic procedures, cardiac
surgeries, cancer diagnosis, um inpatient substance abuse, high-cost medical specialty drugs, uh and uh and also high cost uh infusions. So what we did was we went to these providers and
said we want to develop uh a case rate or a bundle payment. And what that means is we aggregate all these different services for one fixed price. So under the arrangement that you have today with your plan, uh if you go and I'll use the uh orthopedic procedure as an example,
if you go have a total knee replacement, you're paying for the surgeon, you're paying for the anesthesiologist, you're paying for the medication. So when you get your explanation of benefits, you have a line item of all those different pieces. And that can vary from provider to provider. So if you go to Dr. Jones for orthopedic procedure, it may be
$50,000. If you go to Ascension, it may be $70,000. You don't know unless you as a consumer call and ask for the pricing. So, we negotiated a fixed price for these providers. So, uh and it's one
fixed payment. So, the anesthesiologist, the surgeon is all built into one transparent pricing. So, you would be aware of what that cost would be. Your members would be aware of what that cost would be. And what we also included within that one fixed case rate or that bundle payment was a stipen for the
member. So if they do have to travel and we have providers in the state of Florida, if they do have to travel to, let's say, Jacksonville or Orlando, we include a travel stipen to offset that barrier to have to have to travel and they can bring a companion with them as well. So a family member um to offset uh
hotel, lodging, food if they have to hop on a plane to go to the Cleveland Clinic for a cardiac procedure. Uh we incorporate a segment to offset again that that financial barrier for them. Um so the triple aim for this program was quality high cost quality for uh the
providers that we negotiate with um uh transparent costs and pricing as well as outcomes. So two critical pieces are the quality and outcomes. So when you go have the procedure, you want to make sure there's no complications. So what we also negotiate into these these
contracts with all these providers is what I call a 30-day guarantee. So let's say something uh adversely occurs as a result of the procedure, that provider is still responsible for incurring the cost. So you as a plan sponsor don't have to pay extra. Whereas under your
current arrangement, if I have an infection, something goes wrong, I go back in you incurring more claims on top of the claim that already had occurred. So the intent of this was to remove that barrier and provide a a easier lever and
level of consumerism for the members so they don't have to call around to different providers to have you know figure out what the cost is for these procedures here. It's transparent. We remove that financial barrier uh of travel. Um, and the way that the program is designed as well is to remove any
co-pay, co- insurance, and autopic costs for the member as well. So, it's trying to to design and derive a truly white glove concier service for your members. So, it removes that pain of who do I have to call and not have to worry about
where they get referred to. We have high co or lowcost high quality providers uh on our list. And it's the program that we have with our clients today is on a voluntary basis. So it's not mandatory and we match plan rules as well. So if you don't cover a particular service
that we have offered in the program, we can obviously carve that out. And if you don't want to offer a benefit that's in this program, that can be carved out as well. So it's truly all a cart. Um it's very flexible. um the chassis that we built it on makes it very easy for the
member when they go through the service and as well as as well as you as the plan sponsor because you know what those costs are going to be. So highly predictable and we can leverage some uh some claims information as well. Uh so Laura mentioned the two and a half million um in potential savings. So we took a look at your data and put a
conserve estimate in based on the procedures that we have and able to transition some of those services over um and to be able to leverage this program. Any questions? Pause real quick there. >> Any questions at this time? >> Sure thing. >> Okay, Dr. >> and maybe you all have questions as
well. So, I I love the concept of what you're talking about. I love the one-stop shop idea and that you have a flat cost and for the district and thinking about our health
insurance, then that absolutely is is an enormous benefit to us. But I also think about being a good community partner. So you mentioned Jacksonville and Orlando. I question if there is an ability to negotiate your flat rate with our local
providers as well because that would be the only thing that would make me really excited about this. We are the largest employer in our community. School districts sometimes are. Depends on the county and so forth, but in Marian we absolutely are the largest employer.
probably have the largest group of insured people in our community. We know the impacts that we've had whenever we've changed dental insurance, for example, and and only having one dentist willing to accept it and and what all of
that looks like. So, we know what that change um and and considering how different hospital providers in our community would look at us sending all of our ortho Well, I know it's voluntary, but the intent of sending all
of our orthopedic procedures or all of our pediatric orthopedic procedures out of county causes me a pause. So, we've in in historically and we've this question has been asked for some of our clients that are uh in large employers
in um certain areas and we've been asked to have conversations uh to talk to providers locally um and we've done that and leveraged the like I said our chassis um uh and uh and our value prop and how this can benefit them as well as
uh the local plan sponsors and employer groups. So short of it is yes, we've we've been able to do that. Uh we will keep that in the local markets. We often advertise it outside of that specific market. I'll use uh we have a large client in uh right outside of Nashville. Um and they wanted us to you know have a
discussion with orthopedic provider exactly your example. Um in their area and we did so we're in the process of doing that. Um but we're exclusively focusing on in on just that geographic region. So we're not promoting that outside of of that uh at the moment. It's something that we can do and that
we've done in the past. >> Well, and obviously our healthc care providers, our hospitals, for example, here in town, >> obviously. I mean, you're talking Nashville HCA is based there. So, if if there are other HCA hospitals that have that arrangement, then it seems like an
easy transition just to say your sister hospital in XYZ community is doing that. Same thing with Advent Health. I mean, yes, there's lots of opportunity. I just that's what would make me most excited about this concept is that we could bring it more local than saying we're sending people two hours away though I
appreciate the stipend. >> Yeah. Yeah. Sure. >> Um so we we feel the very same way and of course um Gallagher and our office just got access to this program but we have a meeting today and a call this afternoon with two local providers to um
let them know about the program. and I have an email into one of the large hospital organizations um to see about a conversation there as well. So, we do believe that um you know, obviously the district, but then as Gallagher um clients are able to use
this that it will become a much broader opportunity for more local organizations to to join the network. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. >> Thank you. Um Dr. camera, you you were right on where I was at. I wrote down
HCA in Advent because um oftentimes we we we overlook the ones that's right beside us or right near us. So, I I I too was interested in that piece that um the availability of our staff being able to get that. My my my other question is
with this assured excellence, is this a a benefit that a employee opts into or is it just offered to everyone or how is it how is it how is it how is it um how is it um being told to the to the
employees how what this what this offers is extra benefit is it the extra cost or anything >> so it we do not charge a an administrative fee to utilize a program so there's no per employee per month cost no per member per month cost uh
there are administrative components built into the bundle so if there is a procedure Uh there are two administrative components and I'll get to the mechanics of the the program in a second. Um one is uh is for the legacy share partners team because we I have two full-time employees that help me
administer and run the program. So if you have a member that calls in uh it doesn't go anywhere else. It comes to my team uh and her office is next to mine in Hunt Valley, Maryland. So she will pick up the phone, she answers the emails and she's the one that's talking to them. So they're talking to a live human when they when we do an intake and
have that conversation and transfer them to one of our providers. Um, so we we help and work with you to promote the program. Uh, it can be put in at any time. It doesn't need to be put in at uh at an open enrollment uh uh uh for your population. Um, and we have uh some
cater communication. We will work with you on what your communication will look like. Um, because you know your population best. Uh, so we will do whatever is best for you and your population and communicate what it looks like. Um I tend to um uh incur it as a
super in network benefit. Uh it's there, it exists, you don't have to use it. I mentioned is voluntary. Um they can use that concurrently with what they're doing today. So if they uh are talking with their um orthopedic surgeon uh and their specialists, uh they can still
call in and we won't charge for that. So they can still call in and say, "I want to talk to the Cleveland Clinic. Uh I have family member that lives in Miami." Uh, and when I get discharged, I want to be there for a few days. Um, so that's and we're trying to remove some of that geographic barriers. As Laura mentioned, we're having some conversations today.
So, um, we have a couple ways in communication. When the program launches, we'll share here's what the program is and we'll work with you on on which modality makes sense. Um, and we also have uh direct communication, so letters that we can send out as well. And we have that in conjunction with some of our provider partners. Um, you
know, Cleveland Clinic as an example. uh if they have some claims data um we can cater some custom custom communications again you know um if you allow that uh to be able to send to the members to say don't forget that you have this program uh and uh and and provide them with
insight into you can use it and remember it's voluntary um and they'll have an 1800 number and email to to contact uh and try to move some of that um inflow of traffic into into your team they can you know go directly to my team to be able to do
and thank you for that. Um I'm sorry. Um I'm looking at the list and some of those on on the list are very familiar. >> Um but then in this area we have some specific providers. Um being in Florida
um of course you're going to look at the Shans and the Mayo and the Mafet. Those are places that >> we would people here would be gravitating towards because they're local. So, I'm hoping you can get some partnerships with those as well.
>> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Mr. Thrower. >> Sure. Um, I'm in accord with most of the board members comments so far. I'll take it another step forward and say I really do think something like this is would be greatly appreciated. It's all in the way
it's implemented. Uh we have tremendous community partnerships with our hospital district and and HCA and and so many other folks that that support Marian County Public Schools. So I would be uh
wanting to ensure that that everybody can be on board, you know, with this and and and benefit from it. I will also say from thankfully not yet my own experience but other close friends and family members that it can
be very daunting to try to take the next step you know beyond Shans and and up to Jacksonville and everything else and so to have that concierge type service and where when you call you're not getting a call center from somewhere that has no
idea what our community is like >> would be a tremendous comfort to people that are already under a lot of stress, you know, with with medical issues. So, I really love the concept. I hope that we can, you know, work through it and create this as another new partnership
that will hopefully help us continue to market. Marian County Public Schools is a great place to come and work because of these benefits and and innovative thinking and ways to save and still provide great care and customer service
that our employees deserve. >> Yeah, absolutely. And uh yeah, it is. And like I said, the um all the intake it's uh it's a you know W2 now Gallagher employee that will pick up the phone and her name is Chris Draggy. She's the heart and soul of this program. Um she
is wonderful to work with. Uh and we brought another person on board because of all the volume that we're getting uh through this to help to help assist. Um but uh but yeah, it's and that's it's a big piece of it is is making sure that you're talking to a live human and having those those you know genuine
conversations because when that intake comes in um you know it's you know it's a very momentous time in their in their life as they're having these procedures. Some of them are very significant. Um so we want to make sure we remove a lot of that barrier and they will talk to every single one of these providers. So when we do that warm transfer um each one of
our provider partners they do their own clinical consultation. So, we don't dictate what those clinical guidelines are. They're using their own evidence-based guidelines when they're having those conversations to ensure that they're a candidate for those procedures. So, it may be that they call in and they may say, you know, you don't fit our criteria, but here's what we'll
do for you. So, it isn't necessarily to call in and then you get the procedure no matter what. Um, so I want to make sure that that's clear as well. Uh, that it isn't call, you get it. They want to ensure that you are truly a candidate for that procedure and ensure that you truly need it before they actually will schedule it. um because these are some
of these are very invasive um and if they can avoid that they want to avoid that. >> Thank you and thank you for mentioning um prevention because that is a personal favorite of mine and and a personal I think priority of this whole district. You know, so many of us participated in
the step challenges and and all those things to try to help keep us from getting to this point as long as as possible. And uh so so far so good, you know, with the partnerships that we have. And if we can add a new partner to take us to the next level, I would be all for it if we can work through what's
been mentioned. >> Yeah. Perfect. Um so I'm going to I'm going to go to slide 10 real quick. >> Wait one moment. >> Oh, sure. >> Dr. Brewer. >> Oh, I'm sorry. >> Yeah. I I just wanted to comment immediately when Laurel presented this last week to the executive cabinet, that was my first interruption to the
presentation was how can we work with our own local providers. So I appreciate Laurel for immediately saying yes, she's on that. So we look forward to seeing how our own local providers can be a part of this program. >> Yeah, absolutely. And that's the big tent is to remove that to remove that
geographic barrier um for all of our our clients and their members. >> Uh so I I do want to touch base on um PriceMD's partnership is which is our uh leveraging internationally sourced medications. Uh so this is the one uh one of the components that doesn't
require travel. Um it's uh leveraging uh the same exact manufacturer, the same exact drug. So it's not a different drug that's being um that's being shipped to the member. Um so I'll use humir as an example or solar. We have this on here
on the slide. Uh the member uh again would still call in. We would confirm that they need to be on the drug. Um and if they are uh then we would and they want to leverage pricemds and the cost savings makes sense. Uh in this example
uh right now your current cost is roughly $27,000 per script. Um our pricing is about $18 a little over $18,000. So there's some cost opportunity there and that's just one member on one drug. So if you amplify that across multiple members on that drug on an annual basis, there's some
significant savings that can occur. Um so the same member is still getting the same exact drug. they're still getting stellar, they're still getting the same dosage. Um, so nothing changes from that perspective, but it's being cold shipped storage to the member. Uh, they don't have to go out and get it. Um, and when
they are uh uh need a refill um uh of their prescription, we ensure that there's still a member on the plan. Uh, so we still validate and verify eligibility requirements um and if they're still uh required to receive the medication and then we'll send the medication again on a 90-day script. So,
uh there are some significant savings that can um get that can be come through uh this specifically. And this one does not require travel. We do offer a onetime stipen still built into this. Um there are two requirements on this program. One is to have a real ID or a
passport and it can be expired because the drugs are being sourced internationally. Um those are the only two requirements that are required to leverage this specific program. So, if they don't have a passport, um we offer, you know, a onetime stipen to offset the cost of having to get one. If if they have a real ID, then they still get the
stipend. Um uh and they don't have to provide a receipt for it. It's a one time and they get that money. >> Any questions? >> Perfect. So, Oh, yes. I'm sorry. Yes. Slide N. So, uh, Option Care Health is,
uh, is our newest provider partner. Um, they're one of the largest independent infusion therapy providers in the country. Um, if you ever have a chance to take a look at your claims, these are what we refer to as Jodes. So, they're an injection infusion that occur and are
uh administered and paid through the medical benefit. So, it's a drug, but it's run through your medical benefit. It's not run through your pharmacy benefit. Um so we saw that as an area where there's some significant opportunity because these can be significant cost drivers on the plan. Um so what we do with option care health
again we direct uh contracted with them and said uh we're going to isolate these very high-cost drugs that we see across many plan sponsors um and provide two options. one is to uh provide a home
infusion option or if there's an option care suite like a physical brick-andmortar uh suite the member can go there and have it as well. Uh so it's the same solution but we're targeting high-cost infusions still provide the stipen transparent pricing and what that will look like um uh but providing and
removing that barrier. So if they want to be have their infusion um in the confines of their home, there's still a clinic a clinician that will go administer the the infusion so they're not, you know, doing it on their own. Um or if they want to be in an infusion suite, we have that option as well through um through option care health.
Um so I'm really excited about this because these are the big really big cost drivers that exist on the plan and we can take a look at that claim data and say, "Hey, here's what it looks like um and here's some potential opportunities and we and same similar to the communication for procedures, the same thing will exist here. we can provide you with some communication uh
on on what um what this program is, how we can help the members um and how to navigate through that process. >> I just wanted to speak to this. So, we actually looked through some claims data. It it wasn't for Marian County, but it was for another district in Florida. Um so, the the same medication
um the same dosage, same everything at one site of care was $80,000. At another site of care it was $6,000. So the members most certainly don't know based on which site of care that they're going to what that cost is that is
hitting the health plan. And so this is as Verak said one of the things we're most excited about is because it will really stabilize the cost of those infusions that's hitting the health plan. And um many of these are like cancer infusions. And so having this at
their home we think is something that the members will see as advantageous and as a benefit versus having to go to an infusion center. However, if that's what they would prefer, there is one in Gainesville um and they could receive that travel stipen if they needed to go
up there. And as we've been talking through with more membership, there could is the potential of having something here locally in Ocala. We're excited about the opportunity to kind of mitigate some of those cost discrepancies with the infusions and
also offer it to the patients at their home. >> That is exciting. Ward, any questions or comments on this item? >> Okay. Oh, Mr. >> I just want to say thank you for bringing this forward because we need these innovative
ideas that are actually able to be implemented and and executed and and find the balance for all the concerns that we've we've shared. Um, you know, again, anything we can do to protect our employees and and make our profession
more marketable is a huge win for us and keeping our employees healthy. And that's that that's a key piece of that. Yeah, absolutely. >> Yeah, I like what Miss Mingle just said. Um, you know, there may be infusion site in Gainesville and not one here, but
that may that may spur someone to say we need a center here in Marian County or the villages or something. So that's entrepreneurship and competition. So that's a good thing. That's good for the area. >> Okay. Thank you.
And I do want to uh bring um to light some things that we're working on. Like I said, this program continues to evolve, continues to grow. Um we have a uh you know cancer diagnosis confirmation program with Johns Hopkins. Uh what I mean by that is uh if you uh
have a member that unfortunately was you know diagnosed with um with cancer um they can reach out uh to Johns Hopkins and they can do a confirmation meaning uh not that you know if you were diagnosed with lung cancer and then they call they know you have brain cancer it's you were diagnosed with lung cancer
um this is the treatment path that your oncologist had walked through um the Johns Hopkins oncology board will go through they'll gather your medical information and say here's you know we either we agree or we believe that you should do this instead. Um so it's giving them a second opinion, a true
second opinion on is this treatment path make the most sense for me um in my situation. Um and give them peace of mind. Uh so that that was a big piece of this program and we're uh expanding that to uh other oncology providers throughout the country so there isn't just through Johns Hopkins and that is
virtual. So that can be done virtually. There is the rare instance where they may have you come in um but that doesn't happen often. So that's one component that's actually virtual. Um uh the other piece that uh I'd mentioned um uh when we were talking about the geographic
barrier was uh looking at uh second opinion services um that can be done virtually. So I'm working with the Cleveland Clinic to provide a second opinion service not just for ancology but for other procedures as well. um where they will meet with their experts, bring in their board and have that
conversation to say uh here's what's uh your condition states, here's what we would recommend. Um so again gives them peace of mind to say uh does it agree with where they went or is it something different and they can bring that information back to their specialists u to their provider and say add a second
opinion this is what they said and then the two providers can even talk to each other as well. So there's that opportunity to have that peer-to-peer conversation. So it's it's it was designed when I was looking at this to again remove a lot of that barrier for the member to have to
do all this work where we remove some of that and provide ease peace of mind and ease of administration as they navigate the healthcare space. Um another piece was the mental health support uh you know coming out of COVID that was significant uh ask of us. So we
partnered with um Hazel and Betty Ford for mental health and substance abuse. uh also with eating recovery center uh and pathlight mood anxiety for uh eating disorder. So we went beyond just surgical procedures oncology um and went into mental health and other areas where
we seeing significant claim impact and some opportunity and tackle some areas where um you know our clients were asking us to uh to look at provide some of that direct contracting. So, as you were asking today, what we're doing today as well, um, we go beyond that scope, um, and and focus on how do we best serve our clients and and their
members. And here's just a a list, a small subset of the providers that we have, insured excellence. Um, and then the locations that are located um, for these providers as well. So, just to give you uh some background, if a member calls in and
Chris Draggy picks up the phone uh and they will say,"I want to go to John's Hopkins or can you give me options on where I can go to have this procedure or I want to stay in the state of Florida." Um they can tell us that this is the provider they want to go to if it's within our in our provider network. Um and then we'll do that warm concier
transfer over to that provider for them. Um so when the provider picks up, they know that it's a uh uh you know, Maring County, you know, employee or dependent. um they know that it's the assured excellence program and they navigate that differently. So we have a dedicated team with each one of these provider partners. Uh so when we come in, they
know what they're asking for, what's going to happen, um how the procedure is going to get paid, the stipen, all those components. Um so they're well educated on what needs to happen, what levers have to happen um when the member comes in and has the procedure done. Perfect. So, I'll I I'll walk through
some of the levers for this program. The claim is still paid by the plan sponsor uh that we've ne pre-negotiated for the claim. Um the claim itself runs through an independent TPA. So, it does not run through Florida Blue. Florida Blue will not see any of these excellence claims.
So, we have it run outside independent TPA. Um and I mentioned those administrative costs. So within that bundle um uh a portion of that uh 3 to three and a half% of the total bundle um is for the TPA to adjudicate the claim. So that TPA when the claim occurs uh
will tell you that you know hey you know uh Sean Smith had a claim um this is what the claim was for uh and you know ask for payment for that claim. The independent team will then pay the provider. So part of how we would negotiate these lower costs where the
providers are getting paid much significantly sooner than what Florida Blue would pay them. So in our contracts with all providers with 10 to 15 days that they get payment for these claims. Um so that was a big piece on how we were able to negotiate these lower costs uh for these procedures.
Once the claim occurs then the stipen gets released to the member. So there's a different stipen amount for each procedure. So if someone has a uh an organ transplant, right, significantly higher claim, they're going to be required to stay in patient longer. We built in a a larger stipen to offset that length of stay that's required for
those procedures. Um so when the claim occurs, then the siphon gets released to the member. Um and then the claim gets paid to the provider. Uh then we retain our administrative components. Um so again, we were looking to remove a lot of administrative barrier for you as a plan sponsor and as well as for the
member. questions. >> Okay, perfect. >> Great. >> Thank you. Um, so again, we're very excited about the opportunity to introduce this program. We're excited about the opportunity to grow this
program within Marian County in the state of Florida. Completely voluntary. it is provided at zero cost to the member with that travel stipen. So, we do believe that members would be interested in at least
exploring this as an opportunity. Um, if if you have a knee replacement now on plan one, you have a $2,000 deductible and a $6,350 out-of-pocket maximum. I anticipate with a knee replacement surgery, you would likely meet both of those numbers. again
going through this program it would be provided at no cost to the member um and then the district would be saving as well. So um excited like I said about growing the program um introducing it as Verac said it can be introduced at any
time. we would have to update the contract with Gallagher to include this initiative, but we do not need to wait until open enrollment to roll it out or 2027 if the board was interested in putting it in place, you know, potentially for the start of the school
year year or some timing um like that. So, um again, as Mr. Welsh indicated, we'll be coming back with recommendations at another board meeting or for approvals at that time. Um just some other cost-saving
strategies that are included in that initial projection um where the increase would be at about 8%. So we will be seeing um some of the additional rebates that we're experiencing this year into 2027 because of how the rebates are
paid. So they're usually paid um 90 days to 180 days in a rear. So we will be seeing some of those in 2027. And then um working with our retiree population with some alternative health solutions. So we have about 159 members
that are retirees that are currently on what we call the active plans. So they are on the same plans as our current employees are. As a a state entity, you are required to allow retirees to continue to remain on those plans. We
believe that um many of those members are on the plans because it's comfortable. It's what they know. It's not always that it's the best solution for them or that it's not always even the most affordable solution for them, but it is most certainly what they know
and so they re remain on those plans. We are suggesting um reaching out to those members with a concierge program for education um and letting them know what other benefits they might be eligible for. So those over 65 obviously have
lots of options through Medicare. Those under 65 have other options as well. So, this would not be a requirement that they come off of our plan, but just giving them the opportunity to look at what other insurance benefits are available to them. One, that might
actually meet their needs better, um, and two, potentially are more affordable than what they're currently paying to remain on our plans. When we look at just the retiree population that are on our active plans, again, some of those
are under 65, some of them are over 65. we have a loss ratio of 145%. So for every dollar that is being paid in for that benefit, we're paying out $145 in their medical claims. So it's most
certainly a population that is a high utilizer of benefits. Um and if we can find them solutions that might actually work better for their health care needs, it would be advantageous for both the board and um that employee. So, we did some conservative savings there um by
offering that solution. Again, it's really more about education and letting them know what is available to them um than it is a requirement to come off of the plan. Um and just some additional considerations, we've been working with Mr. Welsh and Dr. Brewer about what
other solutions are out there for potential cost savings. um a partnership with heart of Florida. So they provide primary care, but really one of the services that they provide that's advantageous is they have 340B pricing
for high-cost pharmacy medication. And so that is one of the meetings that we have with Verac this afternoon is to see if we can potentially get heart of Florida as a partner under assured excellence to be able to utilize their pharmacy benefit so that we as a
district can save on the cost of those high-cost medications. So they would still have the opportunity for the international sourcing, but this would be another opportunity to get some of those high-cost medication at a lower rate through um that partnership with
Heart of Florida. Um just some other considerations. I I'm not sure that the the juice is worth the squeeze necessarily on some of these, but something that we wanted to bring forward. Um so currently plan one is a
PO plan. uh you could consider moving that to an HMO network. You can see that it would result in about a 3% savings on claims. HMOs are usually negotiated at a lower rate than a PO is. So, um about 845,000
claims based on the current plan one claims and current enrollment. I did put the asterisk that there would be union consideration. I believe that the union contract indicates that the free plan is currently required to be a PO plan. Um, so that would be something that the
union would you would have to work with the union on. Um, this is something that would impact a significant number of the employees, which is why I made the statement that I did previously that I'm I'm not sure that this solution really warrants the disruption to the potential
4,200 members um for less than a million dollars in savings. Um and then the other one is uh prior to 2024 uh plan one the the plan that's provided at no cost had a generic choices formulary. We moved that to cover some brand
medication. Um if we moved back to that generic choices on plan one would result in about $5 million in savings. Uh some caveats to that $5 million in savings. employees that are on that plan utilizing brand medication could most
certainly move to a different plan that has brand coverage. So then there wouldn't there wouldn't be savings if those employees moved. Um and then that 5 million does not account for loss in rebates that we would experience. So if the members are no longer getting the
brand medication, we wouldn't be getting the rebates associated with that brand medication. That is never an offset. We're never getting a 100% of rebates back in what we spend. However, it is a consideration because we are taking into account current rebates into our
projected numbers. Um, so you can see that it um impacts just about 800 members but nearly 3,000 medications. So this this would be a big impact as well if this was something that was considered. Um so that wraps up essentially the
portion of cost containment strategies. Are there any additional questions um about that >> board? Anything else? >> I I just wanted to go back over the retiree part. I I think I understood
what you were saying that that we would be working them off of our plan. The tell me again about benefit solutions that are outside our plan that we would be talking through with a retiree. Sure.
So those that are over 65, it would most certainly be a Medicare conversation. um under 65, there are, you know, direct marketplace programs available. Some of them might be eligible for stipens depending on what their household income
looks like. Sometimes there's programs out there based on specific conditions that provide insurance solutions at either reduced or no cost because of that specific condition that they might have. So it would just be exploring what opportunities that particular member I
mean it would really be working with all 159 members individually to see if they qualify for any other solutions that meet their health care needs more effectively or is provided at a lower cost. >> Sure. So just as a naivity question. So,
our current retirees are paying into our system and we're believing that they and we might be able to get a better benefit if we work them out of the system >> potentially. Correct. So, they are the
retirees that are on the active plan pay 100% of the cost to to remain on our policies. Um, and in some instances it might still be the best solution for them to remain, but as I mentioned, we believe that sometimes it's just what
they know and it's the easiest transition. So, we're providing them what other options might be available. >> Got it. >> Yeah. >> Miss Thrower, did you have something? >> And you may not have this number off the top of your head, but I'm wondering, you know, what the cost is for our retirees
to say remain. Plan one probably has the most interest to me just because I've been on it like my whole career. >> Right. Right. >> And the deductible's gotten much higher over the years, but it still has been helpful and I'm going to be likely in a
kind of a little pause before I turn 65. So I can just use myself as an example for the question. >> Sure. Yeah. So I I do know the cost of employee only on plan one. It's about $743 a month. Um, so for some that may
be the that may be the best rate for those benefits and if they're not high utilizers of benefits, it it might be the best option for them. Plan four is well over um $1,000. So those retirees that remain on plan four, you know,
that's a that's a big chunk every month to be coming out of pocket. So, um, it again, it's not a requirement that they come off of these plans, just educating them about what else might be available to them. And it's a unique scenario for every member.
>> Right. Right. It certainly doesn't hurt to have the the conversation. And I think that that's actually really important. The other thing I'm remembering, board, is that we had a lot of um interest and need for employees to
be on medications that aren't generic, you know, that are expensive. So, just kind of wanted to jog everyone else's memory on that as well. that that would be again maybe worth having the conversation but proceeding with caution
just because we also had a lot of appreciation back from our employees that that we did do that >> and and potentially with the savings from the assured excellence program um with some of those medications we we can
keep that in place and and direct the members to that to to see some savings as well. >> Right. Right. Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. Um, I have a question also um that I forgot to ask you yesterday when you were so graciously spent time with me. Um, do we
know how many are not using their insurance? Like, do we know how many employees don't use their insurance at all? >> Um, I don't believe that we have that data to show that they've never had a claim. I could reach out to Florida Blue and determine if that's something that
they would be able to find the data on. Okay. >> I I don't know. I'm not exactly sure on that. >> All right. Thank you. >> Um so, as we move into some uh plan funding analysis,
um we were asked to research some of the other counties throughout the dis or uh throughout the state of Florida to see what their plan looked like. Do they offer a free plan? What is the cost of family coverage, etc. Um, so you can see
across the board some of the counties that we reviewed. There are a couple that are um, Gallagher clients and others that are not. We just found this information because it is public information. And then after I presented to the executive cabinet, they also asked us to research some other counties
that are either similar in size or geographically located near Marian County. Um so you can see in in this presentation um the the majority of the policies do
offer at least one free plan. Um when we asked we were asked to look at some of the other counties that shifted slightly. So we looked at Florida Virtual School. Um they are a Gallagher client. They don't offer a free plan. and it's about $72 a month, but they do
offer $1,200 in medical um expense reimbursement. So, you essentially would get a free plan if you utilize that full $1,200. Um St. Lucy County, I understand that they are similar in size to Marian County. They're currently at $83 a month
for their lowest cost plan. Um Elatchua, again, not similar in size, but obviously geographically similar to Marian County. They offer two free plan options. Um, and they also do offer something for employees that um, do not take the insurance through the district.
We talked through that with Dr. Brewer. It was something that she asked about. Um, it it is something we can explore a little bit further. I would say there are a couple of caveats that I would like the board to consider if that's something you want us to research. um one administratively
somebody would be collecting an affidavit or proof of other insurance um etc. So there might be some administrative burden there. If you only required an affidavit, potentially I would be fearful that people would say, "No, I don't want the
health insurance. I'll take whatever stipend you're offering and not access other health insurance." If they're young and healthy and they say, "Yeah, I'm good. I'll just take that." Um I I think that there could be some risk in that. And I also just how insurance
works. If we take away all of the people that are not using the health plan, we are going to have adverse selection and we are going to have higher claims, lower premium coming in and and that might not be the result that everybody believed would come from a strategy like
that. Um, Levy County um is $123 a month and then citrus is $126 a month. So I wanted to talk through those that aren't on the presentation but we did that additional um get that additional information. Um so across the board I I
think that the biggest discrepancy that you are going to see is the cost of family coverage Marian County in comparison to the other counties. So our plan one family cost per month currently is $335.
Um, Oyola is the other county that's similar to us, but then across the board, um, most of them are at least double, triple what what our employees are currently paying. Um, some of them do offer a wellness
incentive, so they may get a better plan at no cost. if they do the wellness program, they may receive a discount on their insurance if they do a wellness program. So, there are a couple of districts that offer something similar to that there. That would be a union
consideration. Again, if that is something the board wanted to consider. >> Um, I'm sorry. Yeah. Yes. >> Sure. Well, and I'm I'm processing. So, we know that Pasco has their own health facility. So, like they uh they have
that conglomerate with the county. Are there any of these other counties that have the same setup as Pasco? Because essentially they're paying themselves for all the care >> because they have their own clinic. They have their own facility that all their health care comes through,
>> right? So, it wouldn't be all of their health care. So, their primary care would be going through that clinic, but any specialty care, surgeries, medication, I mean, they likely have some generic medication on site there, but those would all be going through their health plan and their TPA. So, um
I I could find out if others have a a clinic model, but I wouldn't say that everything is going through their clinic. A subset of the claims would be going through >> Sure. just I just found that interesting. First of all, that they're an HMO instead of a PO and secondly that
they don't have a zero cost for their employees. So all of their employees are paying in, but potentially that's offsetting the costs of what they have to have their clinic. So I I don't know, just that stood out to me and we know the uniqueness of what Pasco offers and
uh anyway, if there are others that have that model, I'm interested in knowing what that looks like. >> Sure. Yeah, we can look into that for you. >> Thank you. Um, Miss Lingle. Yes. Question. Are there any districts that we know that offer both HMO and PO? >> Yes.
>> Because I would I would like to see how that lines up with this as well. >> Sure. We can if if you're good with us reviewing the districts that we presented and then the handful that I found out, we can review how many of them maybe because potentially their base plan is an HMO and then if you want
to buy up to a PO that frequently exists. So we can find that out for the groups that are >> Thank you. >> Um we have presented here. >> Did we used to do that? >> Yeah, I feel like everybody's >> Yes. I think it gave us they gave Well, I wasn't in the district. They gave them options
>> and I think in this day and age, you kind of need some options, look at and weigh your cost. >> Yes, Mr. >> Couple things jump out at me too with this chart and comparison between counties is that how is how is Lake
affording this? It's a it's a P What I'm seeing is no individual deductible with an out-of pocket max of 2500. Um the >> So Lake County has what I would call a
dual option program. So their low or their no cost plan um is a a contract with Orlando Health. So members that accept that plan must utilize Orlando
Health Services. If they want to go outside of Orlando Health, then they buy up to a a plan through Florida Blue. >> So it's Orlando Health network. They have to stay within. >> Correct. Which which for some that
that's perfectly fine. Um it's something that we've looked into for Marian County. Unfortunately, there aren't any TPAs out there that work specifically with either HCA or Advent. Um, there is. It's actually the same TPA that facilitates Lake Counties does have a
contract with UF Health Shans. We just didn't believe that UF Health Shans has enough footprint in Marian County right now. They are coming this way that it would be advantageous or beneficial to our employees at this time. But always something that we're looking
into as as those things change. But that is how that plan is set up and why they have that lower deductible is it's a little bit like assured excellence. They're trying to drive to the lowest cost. It's just if you take that plan, you are required to utilize Orlando
Health for all services. >> Understood. Thank you for explaining that. And then with Oyola, they seem to be, you know, pretty competitive. I I do like the idea of potentially looking at the possibility of an HMO along with PO
for a certain plan, but I'm a little shocked and dismayed about that there's no real wellness incentive with any of these including us except for Oyola and we try to I thought we were doing a lot with wellness. So maybe it's a different definition of wellness incentive,
>> right? So we have wellness programs and many of these districts that have a no also have a wellness program. These districts say if you complete A, B, and C, you get um your your plan at no cost, but if you don't complete A, B, and C, you have to pay $50 a month for your
health plan. So, it's it's built into the health insurance. Again, there would be some union consideration if the board was wanting to look at something like that. And also then administratively, you would you would essentially have to have somebody to administrate to that.
Um, Dr. Brewer asked about it as well. Just personally from my wellness background, sometimes I look at those things as checking the boxes and are people actually getting healthier um, by doing the requirements. There are also
um, several government requirements that go into that that say if somebody comes to you and says I can't do part B, you have to give them consideration. Um, and so sometimes it can be administratively burdensome to have a a stipend or a
reduction associated with your health plan in a wellness program, >> right? And I can see how it it could get complicated. I guess I was thinking more that for on the preventive side, you know, that if somebody does show up for their
blood pressure screenings and, you know, in the interest of catching something sooner, uh, that there could be some type of incentive for doing that. I don't know. Um, but we're thinking outside the box even more already, you know, with the assurance. And so I just
like the the direction that the thinking is going and it's nice to see these comparisons >> between the other counties. It it does show that we're competitive and that's good. >> Yes. >> And and just piggybacking off of Miss Thor um I I I seem like I remember we
had those wellness plans um wellness incentives for like weight loss, for smoking ceation, those different types of things. Did that go away or >> No, we still offer all of those things. We just don't have a an incentive tied
to the health insurance plan related to your participation in a wellness program. So that's what all of those are is can somebody have a reduced cost for their health insurance because they participate in wellness programs. That's what that yes no at the bottom is. Yes.
Yes. >> Okay. Any other questions? Dr. Brewer, did you have anything you wanted to add? >> Nothing. >> Okay. Um so it was requested for us to do some um funding modeling and so we have done
12 scenarios here. Um back to the first couple slides of the presentation when I said that our projection did not include an increase in the aggregate number from the combination of the board and the employees. So these numbers are modeled
off of that aggregate that is currently being paid out but shifting some of the costs. Um so the first four scenarios essentially would be impacting cost for family coverage with a little bit of
impact on cost for employee coverage. So the first scenario would be reverting back to the cost structure for 2023 and and before that. So for 2024, we reduce the cost per pay period of family
coverage by $100, which equates to $2,000 a year. So essentially if we reverted back to that cost structure and then rounding the employee contribution um just so that it's a round number you
can see what that results in um for savings to the district. At the end of this presentation I have what that results in for the employees per pay period. Um so you can you can review those. Um, in the next one, it would be
if the district funds 100% of the employee cost for plan one. So, right now I said it's $743. They would apply that $743 across all other single plans and then the district would pay 60% of the family
coverage and the spouse also employed coverage. Um, the next scenario is essentially the same. 100% of plan one, apply that across all other plans and then pay 60% of family coverage and 50%
of spouse also employed. You will see we gave that scenario when you look at the appendix because the spouse also employed numbers get a little tricky with where they're currently at. Um so the 50% kind of put it more in line um
with them not having a reduction in cost which is what we were seeing at the 60%. And then again 100% of the plan one single rate and then 50% of the coverage for family or spouse also employed. This would cons um continue to meet the
union contract as that states that there has to be a free plan offered to the employees. So these four scenarios would would meet that contract. Um, moving down into the next four scenarios, um, we looked at what many of
the other districts, if they charged employees, what they were paying, and it seemed to be around $50 a month. Um, some of those other districts that we reviewed just recently are higher than that, but we looked at $50 a month. So, if um we increased the individual cost
by $50 a month and then did the same results that we did in those uh four scenarios above for the family coverage, you can see what that would result in there. And then the final scenario is essentially what is the most that an
employee could pay for coverage. So, we are required to meet regulations by the Affordable Care Act that says employees can only pay a certain percentage of their household income. Now, the
government says you use the individual's um payment versus household income when calculating this. It can get somewhat tricky if you're having to track every single employee to ensure that you're meeting that regulation. So they allow you to do national poverty level um and
do a percentage of that. So that is what we base these last four scenarios on. Um for 2027 it'll be $129 a month. We rounded down slightly to make it $125 a month. But if the employee only costs
increase by $125 a month and then the family coverage again follows that same structure that we reviewed in the scenarios above. Those would be the results. Um, so this was, you know, what was requested that we show options of what
that funding might look like or do you have any questions at this time? >> No. >> Okay. Thank you, Dr. Brewer. We're good. Okay. >> These next scenarios just go over each of those funding options. if you were to maintain that in the health fund
balance, we don't believe that that's the desire of the district that you would use that savings um with the general fund. But if you maintain the savings in the health fund balance um instead of losing the 5.8 each scenario, this is what the
resulting loss for the health fund balance would be. Again, it's my understanding that you would keep it in the general fund and not in the self-fund um balance, but just for your information. Any additional questions on um potential
funding strategies? Um, we spoke about this earlier in this year and that is the Medicare Advantage plan. So, I know we just talked about those employees that are still on the active plans. Um, the school district offers a Medicare advantage plan for
those that are age 65. Um, we are requesting that this be considered for a suns setting um for 11207. If you remember when we spoke about that in the last two years, we've only had one retiree join this these plans. Um
outside in the direct to Medicare Advantage plan market, there are hundreds of plans that employees can enroll in. We're only able to offer two plans. We essentially whatever the rate increase for those plans is, we have to accept that. Then the you know the
retirees that are on those plans um take that. So, similar to the solution that we were providing before is education on what other plans are available to them. Again, these are all employees that are over 65 and eligible for Medicare. So,
there's traditional Medicare, there's Medicare Advantage plans, um, and a wide range of those types of plans available to these members. So, we would be reaching out to each of them individually. We would be sending a letter to each of them individually and then pairing them with a benefit consultant to find the plan that works
for them. This different than the um program we talked about before where uh former employees are still in our active plan. This plan our recommendation would be that it would be sunsetting um for 112027. and we have um just under 200 uh former
employees that are on these plans. And then lastly, um we are currently wrapping up the vision RFP. So, it occurred um just a couple of months ago. It will be in effect for 2027. We had four carriers that submitted proposals.
We're in the final um negotiations with the highest scoring carrier. We are um going to see some slight cost savings to the member with a a little bit of a benefit enhancement on the vision plan. And then looking forward um for 2027
again at the end of this year we will be doing the stop-loss um RFP to go into effect for 2027. We will review that gene therapy rider once again. It's something that we look at every year. So you have coverage for gene therapy. It's
just if you experienced a gene therapy claim, it's likely that that um member would then be lasered for the following year. So the gene therapy rider protects against um kind of the fallout if there is a gene therapy claim. The dependent
audit, this is something that's required for self-funded health plans every three years. Um, so you may have participated in this audit before if you have any dependence, a spouse and or children on your health plan. You receive notice that you're required to provide proof
that they qualify for that plan. Marriage certificate, birth certificate, um, adoption paperwork, etc. They do use a third party to help facilitate this audit, but that is something that will be done in 2027. And then we'll be coming to the end of
our first year of the new pharmacy contract here at the end of 2026. So it's always recommended to do an audit um to ensure that the contract is being paid appropriately and according to the negotiations and terms of that contract.
As I mentioned, there is an appendix with all 12 funding scenarios. um and what it would look like for the employees. I I I think for just the for time sake, I will let you review those and um see what that looks like on the employee
side for each of those 12 scenarios. >> Thank you very much. Board, do you have any um questions or comments as we wrap up? >> Yes, Dr. Campbell. >> Thank you. I I don't have any additional questions at this time. As the board's
representative to the insurance committee, I anticipate and look forward to the robust conversation that we will be having shortly. >> Yes. Yes. >> Anyone else? >> Miss Thrower, >> I was just wondering about the timeline
when the recommendation from the insurance committee may come through. >> Mr. Welsh can answer that question. Thank you. Following this presentation, uh I will coordinate uh a date. Um I
expect that we can get that done hopefully between now uh and tenative budget. Uh so the timeline is such that uh we would want to move as quickly as possible uh with due diligence uh and deliberation because this is a very uh
touchy subject and we need to um move carefully and do what's in the best interest of our employees to provide high quality care uh but more uh affordable uh cost for the long term. So more to come and I look forward to that
discussion as well. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Welsh. Thank you, Mr. Thrower. Anyone else? >> Okay. Um, Mr. Rios Welsh, Miss Lingal, I just want to say thank you um for the time and energy, research, all that's
going gone into not just the presentation this morning, but really uh informing our our district leadership team and us as well, so we can make good decisions. Thank you so much. >> All right. Do we have any public comment?
>> Yes, we do. >> Oh, we have one. Okay. Thank you. >> Good morning, Mr. Avery. >> Shouldn't have sat in the back. That's a long walk on the way down. >> I always sit in the back. >> But hey, maybe you'll get an incentive for it. >> Get your steps in. >> Had to be at least 20 steps.
>> Good morning. Mark Avery, president of Marian Education Association. Um, I'm disappointed in how we've done this because in 20 plus years, we have never
done it in this steps. We've never had the committee meeting after the fact. >> Yeah. >> That I'm aware of. >> Can you talk into the mic? >> I sure can. >> Thank you. >> So, um, we've never done it that way. The committee has always met in the spring if we've had to meet in the fall,
but we've met multiple times in the spring um with all the employees having representatives on that committee. And now it's being shared that we're going to now convene the committee after the
fact. And now we also have a shortened timetable because time is of the essence. And it's normally in June when they always present the insurance information. That is generally what happens in June or July, but we've always had those
meetings prior to that. And so now we're suddenly we change that without telling anybody that. And that's not fair to the employees. I understand this is difficult conversation for every district in the state. Um and there's lots of different options and scenarios
that they are doing. Um, the only comment I could make lots of comments and I'll save some of those for other meetings, but I would say that the I think it's called the Assured Advantage. That's not the only program
that's like that. And there's lots of other districts that are doing a similar type program. Um, that's not that one per se. So, um, I think that that's not something I'm not disagreeing that those aren't things to consider. I'm just
frustrated or disappointed that we did this a different way that we've never done before, especially if these are such major decisions that have to be made why we would suddenly change the process and that doesn't seem to be
the normal for the board. Nor they want to be you guys always try to be transparent and upfront and I mean how many employees know even about this presentation because it happened in the summer and if you had the committee
those representatives go back and talk to their people and then you could have had the presentation here. So that's my frustration. Um and I I look forward to these future meetings. Thank you. >> Thank you Mr. Avery.
Any other public comment? >> No, Madam Chair. >> Okay. Thank you. Um, and with that, we'll wind up on our insurance presentation. We're going to move on to item 5.1, central offing office staffing plan. And I invite uh Miss Morant to the PO and
she's already there. Good morning, Miss Mar. >> Good morning. Thank you and good morning again, Dr. Brewer, Vice Chair Conrad, and board members. As mentioned, I'll be sharing the proposed changes to the 2026 27
central office staffing plan. As you recall, we previously presented the initial proposed 2627 central office staffing plan at the March 5th work session and subsequently presented it for approval at the March 24th board meeting. At the March 24th board
meeting, you all approved the reduction of four positions and the addition of numerous positions in support of South Marian High School. In addition, we moved various positions between departments. For example, three positions seemingly added to the secondary department were actually moves
from other departments. The central office staffing plan document attached to today's work session includes the previously approved plan. The proposed changes being presented today are highlighted in yellow. The recommended changes include upgrading the supervisor
of employment services and food and nutri nutrition services position to director positions as well as upgrading the riskmanagement specialist position to a coordinator. It includes cutting the coordinator of student discipline position, cutting a teacher with Marian
Success Academy in exchange for adding two special needs paraprofessional positions, and lastly, the additions of 10 bus aids. The total net cost of the recommended updates is $272,000,
$272,157. In addition, we are unfunding 14 positions for a total savings of 937,986. The approximate cost of the current approved 2627 central office staffing
plan is 97,48,13. The proposed changes presented today will add $272,157 to that amount. I want to note that moving the work study teachers from Bridgeway Academy school staffing plan
to the ESC department adds $769,868 to the central office staffing plan. But it's important to note that these are not additional or new funds for the district, but simply a move from the school budget to now the department budget. As shared, unfunding the 14
previously mentioned positions decreases the cost of the central office staffing plan by 937,986. The total cost of the proposed 2627 central office staffing plan as presented today is 97,152,142,
which is an increase of 140 $14,39 from the originally approved plan. However, as mentioned, approximately $700,000 um total move of the work studies teacher is not a true addition. So
removing that amount really represents a decrease to the central office staff and budget in comparison to what was approved in March by a little over $600,000. Um with that I will turn it back over to Dr. Brewer.
>> Go ahead. Dr. Brewer, do you want to add any comments to that? >> I don't I don't. Um I just wanted she said it she said it very well that um the bulk of the approvals were completed by the board on March 24th board meeting. So that just want to make sure
everyone is aware of that. >> Right. Thank you very much board. I open up to you for conversation. Yes, Miss Thrower. >> Thank you and thank you for that very concise and straightforward um summary of what uh what the plan is
proposed to be. And you know, as soon as members of the public see central office staffing plan, there's an immediate assumption that these are folks that don't do anything for kids. And I just wanted to highlight and say again that
we're looking at adding 10 additional bus aids. Did I hear that? >> That's correct. Yes, ma'am. which is something that um many folks think is critical, you know, for the safety of drivers and being able to retain drivers and all of those things. You know, in
best world, kids would just behave. They're sitting in air conditioning and taking a ride on a bus. But anyway, um I digress. And then also um adding it's it is a it is reducing one uh special needs
teacher but adding two special needs pair professionals. >> Yes ma'am. >> Which again provide direct support to students. So I just think it's important to highlight that because again folks have their own interpretation of what
central office and or county office and everybody's sitting around drinking coffee or something. I would invite them to apply for a job. Um, that being said, I I was aware of the decrease in staff and student discipline. I'll support it,
but I continue to be just a little nervous about that. You know, we've been through some times um with discipline. And again, it's something that the community is very aware of. You always hear the negative things uh when when kids engage in those behaviors that they shouldn't. and we've come a long way in
just really uh making sure that the process is well communicated and you know families are involved and informed all those great things. So I know that uh and I would expect that operations will keep an eye on that and if it looks
like help actually you know it would be best to add that position back because it would save money and things in the long run and difficulty. I I would be happy to have that conversation, you know, again, and I know we try to monitor everything, but student
discipline is just so important and it's foundational to me, you know, just like attendance and transportation. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. Board, Dr. Campbell, you look like you're about ready. >> Well, I I'm just I'm processing. So, I
appreciate the robust conversation we had back prior and and how important it was to this board to ensure that we were not giving increases and all, you know, we made some very specific moves. While I understand as we continue to massage
what next year looks like, really in conception, a couple of these positions do need to be upgraded and and I don't disagree with that. So I I and I completely respect what Miss Thrower has said that several of these employees that we're
adding, the special needs pairs and bus aids are directly impacting students every day. And so the the the thing I'm going to say and want to say is I know that our fourth Calc numbers came out and they're a little better and stronger than what we thought they would be. So
we know that we're going to have a little bit more money to play with. and I'm using that loosely than we thought we were going to. However, where I continue to sit is the first thing we have to do with that extra
money that we now have is to replenish that reserve fund that we took from in the first place. And I know that I'm just I'm making statements that don't necessarily directly uh relate to you, Miss Morant, but just because we have an overage doesn't mean we need to start spending more money. We need to actually
start replenishing the money that we took from the fund that we fortunately set up before that so we would have some kind of board reserve like it I keep calling it a reserve it's not really that it's it anyway uh so that that's
all my concern I guess anytime we're adding something that looks to be additive however when we're talking billions of dollars in budget and millions of dollars that we're going to be having to
the good. Now, it appears a hundred some odd thousand dollars is kind of negligible and that sounds a terrible word because it's not. $100,000 is definitely not negligible because we want to count every penny. Uh but I I
can understand and respect the decisions that we need moving forward for the 27 20 26 27 plan. So, just needed to air all my grievances. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Reverend Cummings,
>> thank you. Um, Miss Mor, I I don't have any grievances. I I I appreciate what you guys have done in response to the board uh back in March when we we gave our concerns. we we shared our heart and
um our angst against approving some upgrades and some different situations. So I I when I look at this this upgrade and cuts list and what you've done since then um you have taken our conservative uh mindset and and really went to work
on this. So I truly appreciate it. I understand these are necessary. Uh some people are going to be look at us and say that we approved some we had to know some things are necessary. Some things you have to do to maintain um uh good
movement. So um I I can get behind this and thank you. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Um and I won't belabor the point. Um I agree with everything that my fellow board members have stated. Um I really appreciate the negotiation back and forth and you
taking the concern of the board. um and coming up with a compromise. So I too am in favor um of this plan and two just want to reiterate of how much of it does directly impact students. So thank you
Miss Thrower has an addition >> well just additional clarification. I think I heard at the end of the statement that in the end we would we're actually looking at a $600,000 uh decrease. Is that correct? That's correct because a large sum of the
addition that 700,000 was really us moving the Bridgeway teachers from the school um s um staffing plan to the district staffing plan but we wanted to in the spirit of transparency show that because it's going to hit that but it really is just a movement of money.
>> So really it decreased we came back with a lower amount than we presented before. Yes. Thank you for the clarification >> and some added clarification that Mr. White House is going to touch on a reminder. >> Good morning, Mr. White House. >> Good morning. So, um I just want to
touch on the 10 bus aids a little bit. What what we're not going to see in the staffing plan and realize savings and I think we've talked about this um off air, but it's good to be able to state it publicly as well. We are moving away from school district services as a transportation provider for us for Bridgeway Academy for next year. So
adding these aids is going to allow us to then take over all of the routes that we are currently contracting out for Bridgeway Academy and internalize those. So that's a a multi-million dollar agreement that we have been paying for um that we can now with some route
optimization that we've been doing behind the scenes. We're going to be able to handle that with the existing allocation of bus drivers that we had already asked for. So no need for increase in drivers. the current number of buses that we have with the new ones coming in and then adding some bus aid.
So even though it's not reflected in the staffing plan cost on the other side of that with contracts, there's going to be a large savings for us. >> Mr. White House, um thank you for saying that and and thank you for addressing the issue with the bus aids. I had recently had a conversation with someone
and one of the things one of the reasons we have so much turnover in transportation was because of the lack of bus aids where someone is trying to drive a bus and they don't have anybody behind them to support them and keeping the bus in order. So, um this is a a
positive move. Um definitely a positive move. So, thank you for for putting that out there. >> Okay, just one final comment. Um, we we know that the revenue is touch and go right now with long-term planning, but it is definitely our desire to replenish
the funds as soon as possible. >> Thank you for that. >> You're welcome. >> Thank you. >> Um, so what I'm hearing is you have four board members in agreeance um with this plan, so we'll be ready to move forward. Um, >> they have it on the June 23rd board
meeting. >> Thank you very much, Miss Moran. Thank you, Mr. White House. Is there any public comment? Okay, seeing none, we'll move on to our final item. Item 6.1, sales tax projects update. Mr. White House, back to the
podium. >> Thank you, chair. Good morning, board and superintendent. Um, we're here to provide an update on our sales tax projects. As you know, we've been uh collecting funds on this for a little while and are finally getting underway with some of our projects. Uh so we just
want to do a recap of where we are and some um conversations about the future as well. So as we as we all know, we did get a an approval for the halfsent sales tax on November 5th of 2024. Um we greatly
appreciate the voters approving that 10-year plan for us. U we know this is much needed funds. This is much needed funds for our school district. Um and so we we are certainly just want to reiterate our gratitude to the voters for for approving this for the next 10 years. Um so the projection
over that 10-year period is roughly $335 million that we can put towards some facility upgrades and improvements. Um and then um we are still working on our updated revenues as of this year. So we're we're actually seeing a little bit
higher sales tax revenue than what we had originally anticipated. Um and so once we get those numbers, we certainly want to come back and then be able to readress um how those dollars are spent. Um so obviously more money is certainly good news for us um and allows us a
little bit more flexibility in what we can do on an annual basis. So this is just a a repeat of the ballot language that was voted on and approved by our residents. Um the important thing to point out with the ballot language is that these funds are only used for
capital improvements. Um they cannot be used for operational expenses. Um and so when we go back in November to ask voters again to approve the referendum funding, it's a totally different pot of money. So referendum funding is covering operational expenses to be able to pay
for employees, curriculum materials, supplies, things that we need um that that are useful every day. whereas the halfsent sales tax is only touching physical structures and and things that we can do through capital improvements. Um so it does seem like we're being
repetitive and asking voters, but we're asking for two different things. And so it's it's good to make sure that we continue to clarify that. So the halfsent sales tax can be used for expanding, constructing, and improving school facilities. Um could also be used for debt service. Um can also be used
for technology upgrades. There's a there's a few other things that are included with that, but certainly our priority has been on the facilities themselves. Um, and we'll share some of those updates. So, this just goes through what was approved at the work session in December
of 2024. These were the projects that the board felt were priorities at the time over the next 10 years of how we could use those funds. So, the initial board priorities were the East Marin Elementary doors and walls and Ocola Middle doors and walls. As we know, East Marin is still um one of our few schools
that exists as that old open school concept from the 1970s. Um and we need for school safety. Bel close that. Ocio Middle in the media center is the same situation. So, we'll give you some updates on that. Um our first big investment will be the Belleview Santos
and Belleview Elementary combination school replacement school. Um that will is getting underway now. Um and then followed up with the Denell Middle and Denell High School replacement. And then you can see some of the other items that are much much further out on the timeline and we'll go through those in a
moment. >> Mr. White House, can I ask a question? >> Absolutely. >> This might this might be an oversight on my part, but on the MTI, um, >> we didn't talk about plumbing at all. >> No,
>> no, we did not. Okay. I just was double checking because I know that came up later, I guess, in conversation, correct? >> Yes, it did. Um, and when we do our our overall operational presentation in July to you all of kind of what we're thinking for the next 5 years operationally, we're going to touch on on the Bridgeway campus as well. And so
we can come back and revisit that. Um, obviously that's much further out in the timeline on the sales tax. So we we've certainly have time for discussion. >> Okay. Thank you for that clarification. >> Certainly. >> All right. So the first project that we have started on is the East Maron Elementary School project. You can see
some pictures there of where we are in the process. Um the GMP was approved back in January um for $3.7 million and we started construction in February. As you all recall, we did a brief presentation. Mr. Pope had worked with the construction company on a phased
approach um for the construction of those walls. Uh and a lot of that had to revolve around being able to move staff around the campus. Um not interrupting testing times on campus. Obviously, we didn't want to do construction then. Uh we are continuing to build this summer
and then we'll wrap up um next school year and have all of the com the rooms and walls and everything completed by um winter break. And so we're we're excited to see the progress that's happening. It's making a huge um impact already when you visit the campus. Um but that
is certainly underway and well under progress. The next project there that we have started is Oyola Middle School. Um, this one is not quite as big of a project at East Marin as we're only touching one building instead of the entire campus. Um, so this work will be done by the end
of the summer. The GMP for that was 1.7 million um to enclose all those wall spaces and enclose the media center itself in the center of that building. The next big project we have will be Belleview Elementary and Belleview Santos. We have already started um the
timeline for that and working through some of the processes that are involved with um beginning construction. So right now, as you all know, we are constructing the replacement Lake Middle School out in the shores. Um that is slated to be completed by the start of
the 2728 school year. So construction will continue all of next school year on that new uh school site. Once we move Lake Middle School off for the 2728 school year, uh we will then move Belleview Elementary School to the Lake
Middle School site for that 2728 school year. Um so we can then demolish the buildings that we need to at Bellev Elementary to build the replacement school on that site. So we will start construction at Bellev Elementary early in 2027. We can do some of the prep work
and site work um at Bellev Elementary without disrupting the campus. Um but obviously we want to move the students off to be able to do the bulk of the work that following school year. So completion date for the new school in Belleview is slated for um May of 2028.
So it will open up in time for the 2829 school year. We are in the process right now of selecting our construction manager and you can see the budget amount that we have for that is 65 million which is funded over two years. Um and those years are broken out for
you there on the slide. So this chart just gives you um a quick summary of what we have budgeted for the projects. Uh what our current revenue is and what we have currently expended for each of those projects. Um and so for the new Belleview elementary schools so
far we have expended about half a million dollars. um on some of the prep work. East Maran Elementary School about the same. Oyola Middle School about 370 mil $370,000 have been spent of the two million. Um and Belleview Middle School HVAC upgrade. You'll see information on
that on the June 9th board agenda um as we get ready to get underway with that project. And then of course we have provided the capital school um outlay for the charter schools as depicted at the end there. >> Mr. White House. I'm sorry. >> Yep.
>> On if you can go back to that chart. I I just want to make sure that I'm I'm seeing it full picture. So, we're our our anticipated cumulative revenue 60.1 million. We currently have already received 49.9.
So, how much is left of the time frame that we were anticipating to receive the full 60? >> Sorry, >> yes. Hi. >> Good morning. >> Good morning. >> Good morning, Dr. Campbell, I worked with the finance department and the 60
million is for half of 24 and full 25. So it's for a year and a half and so far they gave me this information in early May we have received 49. So by the time we close out this fiscal year at least we should have the 60 million. So it's
for a year and a half. Okay. And then they have what's budgeted and what we have currently in those projects. >> Okay. That that's helpful. and and obviously just looking at our rough math that we've already done the what we had
highlevel dollar amounts that we had put in and now that we have GMPS on both of those first two projects we're already 500,000 to the good >> exactly >> and so every time that happens in each additional project then that has more
money back into the sales tax fund where we'll be able to utilize that for other projects my and >> that's right that's quite observant and I need to talk to Mr. White House and um Mr. Rias Welch because we have seen that
that's a little increase when you all approved it and when the tax when the sales tax was approved it was like 33 million if talking to finance staff if we put our 2% escalation that will be giving us more money and Mr. White House
mentioned Belleview Elementary. We will even save from that by keeping two buildings. So, we should see some sales tax savings from that also. >> Well, and that was going to be another question on that. So, I I know that we're working on right now the the who
we're going to have build that. So, we don't know who that's going to be and we don't know what that GMP is going to turn out to look like yet. But 65 million projection is probably I don't want to say way higher, but we we already have the design essentially.
I mean, we're building off of what we had already built. So, I'm not saying it's the exact same because it's going to be three stories instead of two. So, there's going to be some changes to it, so I understand. But still, building >> it will be a little bit higher than um
Winding Oaks and um Roar because it'll be accommodating two schools. Belleview Santos. And by keeping those two new two two buildings on campus, we will not have to go threetory and that will save money also. >> Okay. All right. Well, all of those
things are really good. I think I'm looking forward to knowing what our GMP is on that replacement school. I know we're a little ways out from knowing that, but that will give us a really clear indicator of how well we're doing. not only on how much revenue we're
generating off of the sales tax that we weren't anticipating because I'm hopeful that it will even be higher than what we had budgeted and secondly that we're also being very tight with those construction manager agreements and the GMPS that we're saving money on sales
tax all the different things that we're doing to make sure that we're dotting every eye and crossing every tea and saving every single dollar we can to put towards additional projects. >> Precisely right that's what we're doing. Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Anyone else?
>> Okay. >> All right. So, our next project that will come up after Belleview and the timeline will be the new Denellum Middle Denellan High School replacement project. Um, we have estimated for this project $150 million for the
construction. Um, this project will be scheduled to be funded over the next four years. Um, and so obviously we have a good bit of time to save those funds to make sure we have the money to pay for that once we get ready to start construction. Uh, we are looking at several different options for the
replacement of those two schools. Um, and so what we're going to do is some site visits of some model schools of what that can look like um, with two schools occupying the same campus. um just so we can make sure that we have a visual and can educate some of the folks
in the Denell community about the visual of what that would look like as well. Um and then certainly gather some input from the Denell community about um their preference for that design. And so once we work through that process, we will have some options that we can share with the board um about those two replacement
schools. So the remaining projects that will be on the timeline for us uh closing out the end of those 10 years, we have the 15 million set aside for capital improvement here at Bridgeway. Uh we have the K8 school in southwest Marian
County. Um and that was added in place of what we had originally talked about with the Hammet Bowen Junior Wing and the Marion Oaks Elementary and Horizon Academy wings. We own the property in southwest Marian County uh where we can build a school site, but obviously that will all be contingent upon continued
growth in the southwest. And so uh we'll monitor that growth over the next few years to make sure that that's um obviously where we still want to land as a school district. And then rounding out those um last year, we'll have money for a wing at Ward Highlands and money for a
wing at Maplewood. As you know, both of those schools have very large portable populations out in back of the school. Um, so being able to replace that with brick and mortar would be ideal for both of those campuses. So some options for if we are ending up with more money each year than we
anticipate in sales tax. Uh, one option is that we can um allocate some of these sales tax dollars to deferred maintenance. Obviously, we we bring in um a good bit of money that we can use for that through our capital dollars through um millillage, but we can
certainly also dedicate some of our sales tax. As you all are well aware, we are quite quite behind on our maintenance of buildings. Um and so this would be a good opportunity to add some additional work um in that timeline. We also have the possibility of investing
some funds in technology annually um as those are part of capital improvements of our schools. Um and so that's another area that we could certainly discuss where some of those funds could go on an annual basis. So our sales tax oversight committee has been formed um has met several times. We
did not meet this week as we did not have a quorum for that meeting but we will meet again first quarter of this next school year. Uh and the job of that sales tax oversight committee is to monitor our use of those funds and make sure that we are using the funds
appropriately as uh the voters expect us to do. Um and then to report to the superintendent and the schoolboard chair if they notice any discrepancies in in what we're doing versus what the ballot language uh lists. And we are conducting audits. We have an audit right now that's being done. Um and we'll share
the updates from that um when it's available. So, one of the projects that we are going to be working on for sales tax is updating our website. I met with Mr. Benudi yesterday to talk about uh what we can do to freshen up that site. Right
now, we have agendas and minutes from our um our our independent referendum, independent sales tax oversight committee. But what we would like to do is to be able to put some of the videos and images of our projects as they're working so that our voters can see what
the money is being spent for right now. Um I think it's good for them to see visuals of what the what the dollars are doing. Um and have some renderings of some of our upcoming projects. So as we get a rendering of Belleview, the new Belleview Elementary replacement school, the new Denell Middle High, we can place
those renderings on the website so they can see what the future projects will look like, the timelines for those projects, etc. Um, also of course having our oversight committee information still on there, but um, ideally we just want to make sure the voters see firsthand if they're not able to get out
to these sites where those dollars are going. Um, because obviously in nine years, we're probably going to want to ask for it again. And so ensuring that they have faith in what we're doing and that we are spending that dollar as promised uh will be critical for us to be able to get that message across to
our voters. That is our update. >> Okay. Thank you, Mr. White House. Um Dr. Brewer, did you have anything you wanted to add? >> No, they um and thank you, Miss Usher, for being here. I want to recognize that today will be her last day with Marian
County Public Schools as our senior executive um over operations. So, thank you to Miss Usher and all of the work she has um done for Marian County. >> Yes, we're very thankful you're able to make it this morning. Um board, I'll open it up to you. Any comments or
concerns? >> Miss Thrower looks like >> I know. Y'all are hard to read today. Go ahead, Dr. Campbell. If you're ready, why don't you start? Uh I I can start and then maybe we'll have a little bit of a a dialogue here. So I I know what we have already put out there that we're
going to do and what the plan is on the remaining projects. And obviously I'm I'm very interested in the community feedback on the Denell and Middle High. Very very interested in that and see if that does cause us to shift directions and change the thought process on on
what might happen out there. I think having that next year midway through or towards the after we really get a grasp of what that campus is going to look like next year because it is going to be significantly different than what it looked like this year though not always
significantly different. And so I I and I'm talking about the population of the campus not the campus itself because we're not doing any major upgrades to the campus and yes it it needs major upgrades. Um, just a couple of considerations and thought. I I know that you've proposed what we might be
able to do with some overages and I'm not saying I want to delay any of the projects. So, we already currently obviously Belleview, we're we're moving forward with that. Uh, we will have then potential to reallocate the resource that currently is Belleview Santos. And what does that look like and
will that roll into monies that we have to use? There's just a lot that's still lingering that we'll be talking about over the course of the next couple of years. But in light of knowing that we have a federal earmark that's coming to
us and potentially a state appropriation we're going to ask for maybe if we agree to do that next year for that early learning center and and again already just having a a half million dollars to the good on the two projects that are current in
progress. I I'm interested in us talking about an early learning academy, what that looks like from a cost perspective, facilities wise. We know that Belleview ele Belleview Santos, no, Belleview Elementary students are coming to that
campus at Lakewear Middle, but what is it really going to cost us to get something up and running in the 2728 school year potentially on that site? because we're going to need to use that money. We've already said
we're going to use it. How much do we as a board also have to contribute? Now, if we put those plans out, it doesn't mean that we also can't simultaneously have a capital campaign running for an early learning academy while we're having a
capital campaign for Booster Stadium. I know that sounds really difficult and outlandish and and hard for our community, but people who are interested in athletics are not necessarily the same people that are interested in early learning. And there are two different
donor bases that would be contributing. And we've never done a capital campaign, so I understand that. It doesn't scare me. It just because it's new doesn't mean it needs to be scary. until you lay out our plan. Until we lay
out our plans, no one knows actually what we're asking for that money to do. And so I I'm interested in what that looks like. I don't know if the other board members are interested in talking Early Learning Academy and how much money that actually cost us, how we get
that started. Maybe even we then add it. So it starts as a prek kindergarten first and then it continues to add. I I think there's additional opportunities for even that site to be completely redeveloped into a potential K8 there.
What what I want to say is while there's so much growth happening on the southwest side, the other thing I want to say about this so much growth happening on the southwest side, we know that it is what it is. What will not change though, I believe, is that the southeast part of the county is going to
continue to be populated. And so that also lends in my mind's eye to getting these classroom wings at Ward Highlands and Maplewood sooner rather than later. So again, I'm
not saying I want to necessarily delay the Dunell and Middle High in the projections that we have right now. We know it's going to take five years to fund it of sales tax revenue. Once we hear what that community really wants, it may be that we're just building a
middle school and then we can move the classroom wings up sooner or so I know what we originally built. I know what we've seen in the first year of collecting sales tax year and a half what that's projected to be and what
we've already started working on and how we already know we're have projected savings built in because it's not going to be 65 million to build that replacement school. We're already a half million dollars for the good on the two projects that are in progress. So, I'm just excited about additional
conversations that we have specifically to meet the facilities needs. And while I know we have deferred maintenance needs, the reason we have deferred maintenance needs is because we have strong facility needs. And if we rebuilt as opposed to deferring maintenance
there, there's just a lot to unpack here. And those are my initial thoughts. Right. >> Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Board member. Yes. Oh, Reverend Cummings. >> Okay. Uh, thank you, Dr. Campbell. I I
too, um, looking at this Dunelan situation, I'm I'm want to encourage that we have these conversations with the community sooner, very sooner, rather than later. Um, I don't think we need to kick that can
down the road too far. Um, because just as Dr. Campbell said there may be some other considerations and there may be some um uh different views that may help us that may be beneficial to us as a
district in the plans for how we we we know how we we want this thing to go forward but there may be a whole another view to this that we haven't considered. So I would love to have that input from the community very very soon very very
soon. Um, that's all I have for that. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings. Board member Thrower, >> I would say it's a really exciting position to be in finally, you know, to have the opportunity to address the so many needs that we know that we've
always had. Um, you know, there's a lot of things that got cut from and that never got restored that would have helped us um address our deferred maintenance needs over the years. And we did the best we could not
to tax the community until we really absolutely had to. and and yes, it does require us now playing catchup, but we're in a sweet spot in terms of the economy down here right now. So, the money is coming in and the
projections are looking good. So, that that's all, you know, really good stuff. Um, some of my initial thoughts are is 100% on the Denellan conversation. and anyone that's driven out through Denellan lately, you know, development has come
to them and there's a lot of concern out there for their community and and what the schools are going to look like and we know with the conversations we've had about the north side, people will engage, you know, if if if we make
ourselves approachable. So, I I concur on that 100%. As far as and and some people might say, well, it's because I would be protective of the the booster capital campaign. Uh,
sure, that's a a little bit in my mind, but what's more in my mind is that when it comes to early learning with the data that was just provided to us that I'm sure Dr. Brewer will continue to highlight. We the taxpayers are already paying
and they're really in my mind we've got all the evidence in the world to get a good solid big appropriation to support early learning. And um in tandem with that to also
support a conversation about if early learning and you know this isn't my area of expertise if early learning if kids can stay in the VPK and prek realm you know for free until they're the day they
turn six and when education then becomes compulsory. Is that true? I guess that's my first question. When How long can kids stay in prek to what age?
>> They get one. They get one year. Correct. It's >> of the paid BPK. They get one year. >> Okay. >> Just one year. And that can be as early as three, four, >> four, >> I think four. But I >> Okay, so these will be questions for
another time. But but my my point being is that the the evidence is just so clear >> that if we can get the kids early and and have them be in a high quality program so they're well prepared for kindergarten and that if parents then
choose to enroll them at five, then they need to be there under the same attendance requirements as a six-year-old. If parents don't want because they feel like junior's still a little young or whatever, but if they've
already had that pre-k experience, they should be ready. And I think as a school system, we do a good job, especially with our younger students if if they're not quite ready for five days. You know, the conversations can happen. Parent conferences can happen and junior can start three days a week, then move up to
four, you know, kind of fade in. But but if we're going to be offering the services, then there should also be a concurrent requirement to be there because the rest of the kids, you know, need to learn and are moving forward. So
it all goes together as as a package, you know, in in in my mind. And I would just love for the early learning academy type concept to be very well supported by by the state. It it is it's going to
save all of us money in the long run. I think we've proven that, you know, with the data that we've collected, at least in Marian County and maybe that needs to be a requirement for all counties to collect that kind of data to support the statewide need. I don't know. But those are some of my initial thoughts. Oh, one
two final last initial thoughts and I I love the idea of moving up the timeline for Maplewood and Ward Highlands. I you know that area is continuing to develop. Um, those are strong schools. They have great track records and they have had portable cities for a very long time.
So, it'll be good to get them into brick and mortar. Okay, >> that's all. >> That's all. >> All you got? >> That's all. >> All right. Thank you, Miss Thrower. Um, I will chime in. I um I agree kind of going backwards from uh Miss Thrower's conversation, the wings at W Highlands
and Maplewood sooner than later. It's just when you visit those schools, there are portables, portable city, portables everywhere. Um and and those schools are doing great work and of course um um they deserve that. Um I'm not sure where I stand on the early
childhood center. Um, I I'd like really to get some information from that community on the south end community to see how that's how they see it being utilized as we look at, you know, filling forom and getting families
to forom for early learning activities. What does that look like on the south end so we're we're meeting the needs of the people in that community? Um again, and I'm also in favor of go ahead and get collect information from our
Danellen community, see what they want. Um it's just a really important stepping stone um before we make final decisions. So really in agreeance with the rest of the board, except I'm just not sure where I stand on the early learning center. In my mind, I'm thinking it
would have been great really to have it part of um Belleview Elementary and Belleview Santos where you have those kids coming already, you know, where you have two schools that you're you're going to have a huge population anyway, but it's a little late in the game for that idea. Um,
anything else? I see Dr. Campbell leaning forward. >> Well, I mean, if I'm allowed to brainstorm in public, you are. >> So, let me see what that is. This is the permission to brainstorm in public because again community we cannot speak
about things like this elsewhere and we have to have that potentially uh vice chair Conrad if we were to have the early learning center on the site that currently is
known as Lakewware Middle School there potentially would be an opportunity to have that and the Stanton Wearsdale school join that location potentially like so if the concern is
having a fullervice elementary school population where we also have the early learning academy that's the brainstorm of how we could backfill rather than adding yet another
couple hundred early learners to the already doubled old population of Belleview Santos and Belleview Elementary. We could just bring over this the Stanton Wearsdale students to that and maybe you do it gradually. You know, may maybe we're building and and
we're saying, "Okay, this is going to be all the VPK and kindergarteners are now going to be over at this site and and I I'm going to liken it to how the villages charter school has built their schools. They have the K1 building, the two three build or I don't even know one two building, the two three. They they
have they have schools for like small pockets of students. They have a gym and all kinds of great things for each one of those levels which is really cool. But uh that's just again a brainstorm in public. I think if that is the concern of of filling the
whole school site, I I think that might answer that question. But the VPK part of it still the three and four year olds could even be separate on the same campus. And again that this is kind of one of
those like we need to see the whole picture. We already have seed money hopefully coming from the federal earmark. We're really close to having that $750,000. I think there is only one more hurdle we have to clear. And so this it's well I mean it's it's super
exciting for us to in our very first request to potentially have some of that money. And I think that also will make a state appropriation if we so choose to make that for next year this next cycle
would make that even more appetizing to them because we already have guaranteed money coming from the feds for it. So it it's something different. We've never had that before. So then if we already had the potential of saying, well, we also already know we have this amount of
money that we've saved from these other two projects that we're automatically putting into it. And then maybe just there it's a big picture obviously and again brainstorming in public, but having a little better whether it's a design build idea. I know we've talked
about that a little bit before publicly. if we if we bring in a design build kind of RFP and say these are all the things that we're going to need on this site, give us a bottom line like tell us what that's going to look like. Um, and I
don't know I don't know if it's the best project for that and obviously Miss Asher is leaving so that we can't get her advice on it but but uh thank you for for your service to Marian County Public Schools and thank you for being here on your final day. But just all of that big picture kind of uh thought
process on this early learning academy. I think I think it's exciting that we have a space that we have land whether we need to completely demolish buildings on that site or if we can keep some of it and refurbish if we need to do all new plumbing in the whole thing but keep
some brick and mortar. You know, I I don't know. I just lots of thoughts. Maybe we take some of those buildings and and totally shell them, but still keep foundation. And I I don't know. And some of that may be possible, some of it may not. I'm not a construction manager.
>> Those are my thoughts. >> Dr. Brewer. >> Um thank you. I just while I have the chance and we're talking about um early learning, I want to share the data that I did share with you this week. Um so I'm going to read a couple lines. So our this is our current kindergarteners. We
tracked their data and we compared it to whether they had a VPK experience or not, whether it was public or private VPK. So, our current kindergarteners that had no prior VPK um started the year at 3% proficiency
with um English language arts and then they finished the year at 47%. So, those are no VPK experience. The students that had prior year VPK experience started at 10% and finished at 66%.
So when we look at those and I know you have the table, but I wanted to read that out loud because it it shows that the students that come to us whether it's public or private BPK um perform not only start the year more proficient but they have a greater growth
throughout the year. So, I wanted to take the chance to say that >> that was a great opportunity. Um, Dr. Brewer, I'm so glad that you shared that because eventually we put money in and effort in towards what our young people are doing. It's going to save us money
at the end of the road. So, I agree. I think the whole board agrees. Yes, Miss Thrower. >> That'll be great data to share at our meetings that I know we'll have that are more, you know, informal with our members of our legislative delegation this summer. I I think that it's just so
important to show that how well it works and what a cost savings that is over time. You know, maybe there'll be no need to replace that discipline position, for example. I mean, kids that are more engaged in school early on tend not to be the ones that have the big issues.
So, >> they also create good habits, you know, that showing up to school and building that routine and being a part of that school community early on so everyone they all feel like they belong and they have have a space. Yeah, >> absolutely. >> Okay. >> Absolutely. >> Anything else?
>> Yes. >> Just anecdotally, um you know, representing forom, I think it was shared even to the board that um there are families that are driving from the south to form to drop kids off and then driving back south to go to work. And
Forom is doing great enrollment wise. So if some of the students then could be served at the south end, I think we would need more concise numbers and than what I just shared. But
it it appears anyway that there's an appetite for that and a blooming need, shall we say. >> Okay. Thank you for sharing that, Mr. Thrower, because and we're in the weeds a little bit, Mr. White House. I apologize, but um the reason I was concerned because I thought we struggled
meeting our next goal for enrollment at Forom. So um maybe I misunderstood that conversation early on. Um but that's why I was saying if we're what whatever we do in the south end that we make sure our families that's what they want and
that they're going to participate. And if you have an elementary school right there or nearby, you're just upping your the opportunity for everyone to participate. So that's what I had in my mind when I was um talking about the proximity um and making sure that we
keep and have a full enrollment there. Yes, Mr. White House. >> Yes. So the the prek and kindergarten enrollment is very healthy at forom. Where we start to lose students is first and second grade. Um, and for most of them it's because they're trying to figure out what their path forward is going to be beyond second grade because
it's harder to get into schools um, the longer you wait. And so they they tend to depart. Um, and we'll provide some updates on some possible solutions for that in July when we talk about our plan, but their prek numbers are very healthy and actually their summer um, BBK enrollment right now is stronger than it's ever been. We've had a really
good demand this summer for it. Um, so we're excited to see a greater demand and hopefully we can keep that momentum going in the future. >> Fantastic. because there is great work going on at Forom and and I'm excited for their success. Um Mr. White House, do you have anything else that you need
from us um as a board as I look at the remaining projects? I feel like um we were in agreeance on all of those. We just got in the weeds on the early learning center for today. >> No, ma'am, that that we just wanted to be able to provide the update to you. Certainly, we'll have more conversation again in July as we start talking about
our comprehensive operations plan moving forward. >> Okay. Thank you very much. Miss Thor is raising her hand. She's ready. >> Might as well throw in one more okay element of brainstorming and in public. Speaking of having land available at the south end and like we're middle and all
of that, we probably want to continue to keep at the forefront the need for a special needs shelter for for a hurricane. And because that area is growing so quickly, that could be helpful. and in the spirit
of public private partnerships and planning together and having conversations together of how we can best utilize taxpayer property would be what I would say about that. >> Thank you for that reminder, Miss Thrower. Um, is there any public comment
on this item? Okay, seeing none, we will move into meeting reminders. A schoolboard meeting is scheduled for June 9th, 2026 at 5:30 p.m. And the next administrative briefing and work session
is scheduled for June 18th at 900 a.m. And we'll move into board comments. Dr. Brewer, >> I don't have anything else. Thank you. We've had a great morning with good information. >> Yes, lots of good information. Um, attorney powers
>> just wanted to inform the board of a outcome uh on the Marian County Board of County Commission vote as to the uh special use permit. In a four to zero vote, the Maring County Board of County Commissions Commissioners denied the special use permit for food waste
processing and composting near Fezitan Elementary. Uh that was done yesterday. So, just wanted to update the board and that's all that I have. >> All right. Thank you, board member Thrower. >> Thank you. Gosh, we could probably sit here the rest of the afternoon and talk about all the things that have happened
since the last time we were together, especially of course our graduations are top of mind and there was a lot of moving parts and worries about the weather and everything else, but as usual, you know, everyone came together and and we got it done and in pretty
good style, I would say, and very safe style. So, I'd like to thank the community for their, you know, willingness to work it through, you know, with us and sharing the concerns that they had. Well, if we did this, what about that? Um, and we're going to
always continue to try to improve and and I know there'll probably be some already serious debriefing going on and and what could be done, you know, differently. Uh, so I look forward to more conversation about that. Uh we have the Florida School
Boards Association summer conference coming up next week and it's very historic for Marian County Public Schools and our school board to have our first um president-elect being board member second one down from my left uh
Dr. Campbell who will be uh sworn in as as the next president of the Florida School Boards Association and they represent 67 counties. So that's that's a pretty big deal and it will be uh my pleasure um to
introduce her um to that esteemed body next week. >> All right, >> I'll keep it at that today. >> Thank you, Miss Thrower. Reverend Cummings. >> Yes. And again, congratulations to Dr. Campbell because she will be our our
FSBA president come this time. Well, this time next week. This time next week, she'll be she'll be in the seat. So, congratulations to her and we look forward to um a very informative FSBA meeting, summer conference next week. Um
very good meeting this morning. Very informative. A lot of great information. I I do want to tackle something that may be uncomfortable, maybe may just may take some folk off, but it'll be all right. Um I shared with the
superintendent on yesterday some concerns with something. Um we we heard in the superintendent's initial report this morning that there were 31,000 people that came through graduation. Um not count students, not count staff,
31,000 folk that came through graduation. And um it was a very successful graduation um for the whole county. I I received a screenshot or screen
something something from someone about uh board members and how board members were at the uh graduations and their perceptions of what board members do when we're at graduation and and are we paying
attention or are we just there? Let me say this and I I'm speaking as this board member, but I'm speaking based on the people that I work with, my colleagues who are board members. Every one of us um truly truly um were excited
about what we saw and how we uh how these young people were graduating and the families. Our priorities are always going to be about doing the right thing and our priorities are always going about be about safety. safety one and
then making sure that this once in a-lifetime event for these students is that memorable um that is that this is going to be something they're going to cherish forever. The comment I saw was about board members being on their phone. Well, I was one of those board
members that was on the phone and I like the comment that u board member uh Conrad gave in the social media post that said uh thank you for extending grace. Number one, let me say this. Just because we were on the phone doesn't mean that we were on the phone doing
social things. I think um all of us had concerns about audio, about safety, and we were addressing those things on the fly. Um I can I definitely could say that we addressed um the audio. We had people in the audience that was texting
us during the actual ceremony saying, "We can't hear. there's safety issues. So just because you see us doing something doesn't mean some of us don't know how to use our our Apple Watch and and speak to our Apple Watch and do it that effectively. So some of us are
going to text it. But I can assure you that um every board member that was there at all the graduation. There was one of us at at least every graduation. There wasn't a graduation that we were not there. um we were there and um
that's that's a big that that's that's something big that some counties board members don't even go to the graduations at all. But we were we were blessed to have our board members there. So it's it's our intent that we make sure that um that um we make sure that it's a
memorable experience for these students, for the parents. Parents are saying I can't hear my I can't hear my kids name. They got cow horns or bullhorn, whatever they those things were, and we we are there to make sure that it goes forth. I want to thank our staff because of what
they did to make sure that um it was a memorable event. Um when there was an issue and we text someone and say, "Hey, there's an issue," they jumped on it right immediately. um if there was a people standing up in front of folk and
families could not see their kid um walk across and we text someone and and they quickly addressed it. That's why those things were happening. It wasn't just something out the sky happened. It was because we were texting folk. So I I I do I I do again I like Miss Conrad's
response. Thank you for the grace for those that understood that we were there. Um, we were also still there in our official capacity, but we were working at the same time. We were still working at the same time. Um, I thank all of our volunteer staff members that
came out of their that came out of their own personal space and time to come and make sure that we got people processed in and out. And and there was no there was no incidents. There were no incidents that
I that I heard of that I heard of um where we had people jumping out the out the the the the arena into the stands. I I didn't hear any of that this year. I didn't see any of that this year. Um there as a board, we felt comfortable
being in those spaces. And so I I want to thank the public that that understands our job and understands what what we do um in those spaces. Um, we I heard every I heard every speech, every uh saludiatoran or valadictorian,
whatever the speech was. I heard every um principal words of encouragement. We heard all of that. And I was I was proud to be a Marian County School Board member and to be able to be in that space and to celebrate with these young kids. I think sometimes folk look, they
look to critique everything that we do for whatever reason, but know that these five members that that I work with on this, these other four board members I work with on this board truly were there for the right reasons and doing the right thing at the right time um in the
right place. Um I I choose not to respond on social media like some of my board members will do. Um because because but there are sometimes you see those those type of posts and it just kind of irks you to know that people are thinking in a
negative light and and and and I I just call them mean mean people. Mean mean girls, mean boys, whatever they are. But but we were there for the students. Congratulations to the class of 2026. Um, you guys did a great job. And to all of our staff and to our community
members. Let me say that too. Because when we needed to pivot because of inclement weather, we had folks that were willing to step up to the plate immediately and make sure that we pivoted. And because they pivoted, we didn't we didn't have the the the wet
mortar boards and the droopies. We didn't get soaked. It was because of a community such as Marian County um and people that was willing to step up to the plate and make sure that we knocked it out the park. And I want to say this, we knocked it out the park from the live streaming those that were able to live
stream. We knocked it out the park. So congratulations again to the class of 2026. >> Thank you, Reverend Cummings, Dr. Campbell. >> Thank you. I I wasn't going to touch quite on all that you did on graduation. It was a a great experience in so many
ways. And I believe even more I I said this to one of our area superintendent and I'm not going to open a can of worms to say if we were able to do all of them at World Equestrian Center in the indoor
expo center, it would save a lot from the inclement weather conversations that we continue to have and struggle with. I'm not I'm not going to go there because I know that'll be a conversation for another day. But I do believe as our strategic
plan now has the focus of a portrait of a graduate. This next five years of this strategic plan, every employee, in my opinion, should be focused on graduation. Every and and I'm talking about high
school graduation. It was a very intentional thought process of our previous superintendent that we not actually call our other celebrations of the other grade levels VPK graduation,
elementary graduation, middle school graduation. Though I know that that's a touchy subject. If we're really focused on the portrait of a graduate, it's that high school senior who's completed everything for the superintendent to say,
"You may now turn your tassels." And and that is the culmination that we need to be seeking after. And so, again, conversations for another day. not trying to open up that can of worms right now because I know that will add some uh angst to some of our communities
that have been so used to holding their graduation celebrations at all different levels. But as every employee focuses on that high school senior graduation, then we as a board and as a district need to make sure that that graduation
is all that it can be. And it this year it really felt like we had done a good job. I'm surprised are air horns not metal like how >> I was surprised that too. >> I'm like why we even had air horns? I'll never imagine. The other thing I know as
you guys are debriefing these enormous balloon displays. I appreciate families being so excited and wanting to provide those to their graduate immediately upon graduation, but they are sight disruptors to everyone else in the
arenas and auditoriums. So, how we handle that in the future, I understand they're not metal, but how we handle that in the future, I think, can be considered and obviously told to families in advance, just like we told them not to bring their umbrellas and not to bring their big bags and all like
if if we choose to go that route. But graduation on the whole, thank you to 31,000 people who, I'll use a phrase of of Reverend Cummings, thought it not robbery to consider our graduations an important place where they needed to be.
And so it it says a lot that our community values it that way. And I'm grateful that 31,000 people chose to celebrate with our kids because they deserved it. Okay, moving on. at the Fezzendon graduation,
the Feeasondendon Forever Scholarship was rolled out and so needing to give, it's already been said, but another special thank you to the St. Bernard Foundation and Bernie Little and his wife uh for that. And if you did not see
it and you happen to be seeing this, knowing that every one of those pheasant students now has an opportunity to receive $4,000 scholarships just simply by being a pheasant student
>> forever and and it is in perpetuity. the endowment has been set up and established and that is starting with the class of 2026 and then the fifth graders obviously got the announcement when they were there but the 2026 feezonden students that were graduating from our high schools
also received it. So nothing like that's ever been done in our school district and I'm I know it's been seen elsewhere but we now have something that we can hang our hat on thanks to um Bernie Little and the St. Bernard Foundation. So thank you again and doesn't mean it
has to be the only school that has something like that. Again, capital campaigns re resources are are not a problem among certain people in our community and um endowments can be set up with estate
planning gifts and all all kinds of things. So let your live legacy live on if you choose to have that happen. Um Mr. Dr. Avery already left, but I I did want to say thank you to him for being here. As the member of the insurance committee on the school board, I did
talk to Dr. Brewer about it does feel a little I don't want to say backwards, but we haven't had an insurance committee meeting in more than a year. And so I'm looking forward to that group being able to really analyze and delve into all of the options that were
presented today. So uh and I also wanted to speak to how he mentioned the assured excellence isn't the only option and he is right there are plenty of other options like that but assured excellence is a Gallagher product and so
since Gallagher is our insurance company of record of sorts u I believe that that would be the only one we'd be be able to use through them unless we were sending that out for bid or something like that. So, anyway, I
think that wraps up pretty much of what I had to say. I'm looking forward to being with you all at the Florida School Boards Association conference, June conference next week. Obviously, it is our um shorter conference. It's only like a day and a half. And so, um there are committee meetings all day on
Wednesday. And because of that and my commitments on Wednesday morning board, I'm going to be virtually participating. I'm telling Mr. Christian and all of you. Now, I'll participate in Tuesday evening's board meeting um telephonically um just because of my Wednesday morning commitments. I think it'll be important
for me to be down in Tampa um already on Tuesday evening for that meeting. So, um with that, I think that concludes my comments. Thank you, Vice Chair Conrad, for chairing our our meeting today. So, great. >> Yes. Thank you, Dr. Campbell. Um and I will be quick because when you go last,
almost everything gets covered before it gets to your turn. I do have two reminders. uh board, we have a tour of South Marian High School on Monday at 10 and then I did have uh Thursday FSBA swearing in for Dr. Campbell and then that is correct at 10:30. Is the time
certain? Okay. So, I did want to remind the board of those two things, but nobody has forgotten. So, that's great. I too wanted to give a shout out um for graduation and safe schools. In the last several meetings where we've talked about graduation, I had
considerable concerns about safety and I just want to say Corey's in the audience here and um for our SRO's and safe schools department, I felt completely safe at every single graduation. So, um, all the con all the concerns and I had
several, um, were addressed. And so, thank you, um, to the work of the team and for our district staff and all of the volunteers, um, because it is a wonderful experience, but it is hot and it is long.
So, it's a lot of energy expelled during all of those eight graduations. So, thank you again um for your commitment to uh the safety of everybody that participates um in graduation. I know that's a lot of work. Um I wanted to say yesterday I
participated in the value adjustment board. We only have that meeting twice a year and so in preparation I was googling and look looking at value adjustment boards around the state and so oh I was like oh this could be exciting but it was not. Um and the
county commission did a great job. Uh we were in and out. Um they it was very well organized. Um we had some updating information about who can serve and when they can serve and I shared that with Miss Martinez Young. So we are good to go at least right now um for another
year. Uh so um that was ended up being a fun experience. Uh and I too wanted to um address Mr. Avery who was here. I literally he went out while you were speaking Dr. right at the beginning of you speaking. Um, and I just wanted to clarify that um, this board and and I
believe the district staff it um, we pride ourselves on being transparent. And so um, I'll just say as the as sitting as in as chair today um that we want to make that right. We want to get this process back um, the way it's
always been done so that everyone is comfortable. There are a lot of hard conversations um, that we have to have. um if you're watching the news or you're reading any newspapers or you're on social media, uh you know that those challenges are coming forward. And so um we want to be proactive and get ahead of
the game. And so we welcome you to the table to problem solve. And that is all I have. Dr. Dr. B, I checked with you. You're good. All right. You're good. All right. With that being said, if there's no further business, we will adjourn this work session at 11:45. Thank you
very much, board.