The district presented updated claims data from May, indicating that the healthcare plan’s performance did not meet expectations, with claims totaling 21.7 million dollars. An actuary projected a necessary increase to 52.5 million dollars, which would not restore the state-required reserve levels. Consequently, the district recommended a minimum employee contribution increase of 232 dollars per month, aiming to generate a 55 million dollar increase, to be split equally between the district and employees.

During negotiations, the district emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement on healthcare costs before making salary increase decisions. In contrast, the Coalition stressed the importance of considering base wage increases for their members prior to agreeing to substantial healthcare cost hikes. Both parties recognized the need to continue negotiations, with the district proposing potential meeting dates in July and early August. The Coalition outlined their constraints due to scheduled events and the necessity to consult their members before finalizing their stance. The last counteroffer made during the meeting was 53 dollars per paycheck from the Coalition, with the district willing to match it, maintaining the 50/50 split.

Aside from healthcare negotiations, the meeting also delved into the new online enrollment process for K-12 students in the Glades region, designed to aid families with registration and including language support. Additionally, the board discussed religious exemptions for immunizations, providing a form through the health department for those who seek it.

The board addressed the results of the Florida Department of Education’s general resilience survey, which measured attributes such as empathy, grit, and responsibility among students. Variations in resilience scores among different student subgroups were noted, with some scoring lower than others. Board members raised concerns about the survey’s methodology, the lack of specific data for certain groups like students with disabilities, and the exclusion of some demographic groups from the survey analysis. The relevance of the survey results in informing school environments and community efforts was debated.

In the context of student health and safety, the board reviewed the health behavior section of the survey, which covered topics from injury prevention to substance abuse. Questions were raised about the accuracy of the data, the honesty of student responses, and the need for disaggregated data to better understand and represent student experiences.

The meeting also featured a presentation by Julie AO, who oversees the district’s Welcome Center, highlighting its role in assisting families with school registration and course selection, and the success of their back-to-school event serving over 575 families.

Lastly, the board approved the fiscal year 2024 meeting schedule after some discussion and clarification on the process, emphasizing the importance of understanding the calendar’s details.