School District of Palm Beach County

The session addressed insurance benefits, specifically reviewing the January through May claims data for the current and previous years, noting that claims were nearly identical despite a five-million-dollar increase in district funding. A significant deficit of five million dollars annually was highlighted for the high option HMO plan, even after implementing plan design changes such as raising the deductible and introducing ER coinsurance. Discussions included proposals for the upcoming year, such as suggesting a fifty-dollar monthly premium increase for employee/spouse coverage starting in 2021, coupled with allowing individual wellness rewards to offset this cost. Furthermore, negotiations were underway regarding dental insurance, which will see a carrier change in January with enhanced benefits and lower employee premiums. The overall goal of wellness program modifications is to incentivize individual participation even if a spouse does not participate, thereby driving improvements in employee health metrics.

The meeting commenced with introductions and proceeded to the review of previous minutes, which were approved unanimously. Key discussion centered on an update regarding the FY 21 budget development, noting that the legislative session has been active and changes are anticipated. A detailed analysis of FY 20 results included the final recalibrated FTE figures from the Department of Education (DOE), showing actual enrollment exceeded projections, resulting in a state hold back of nearly $30 million in funds. The impact of the first-year implementation of the Family Empowerment Scholarship was discussed in relation to enrollment growth projections versus actual growth. The committee also reviewed numerous legislative bills with potential financial impacts, including proposals related to expanding Family Empowerment eligibility, making teacher salary increases categorical, infrastructure sales surtax sharing with charter schools, mandated panic alarms, spending minimums for FFP in the classroom, eliminating the Best and Brightest programs, changes to impact fees, charter school authorization, funding weights for AP/ACE exams, dual enrollment funding, industry certification funding structures, and voluntary pre-K program changes. The session concluded with a comparison of the Governor's, Senate, and House proposals for statewide FTE increases and their projected impact on Palm Beach County funding.

The strategic plan for the School District of Palm Beach County provides a clear vision for the future of education, emphasizing a world-class education for all children. Developed through extensive community input, it establishes four long-term goals: increasing third-grade reading proficiency, improving high school readiness, boosting high school graduation rates, and fostering postgraduate success. These goals are supported by four strategic themes: effective and relevant instruction, a positive and supportive school climate, talent development, and cultivating a high-performance culture. The plan outlines nineteen research-based initiatives to be phased in over three years, with an initial focus on internal operational improvements.

The document highlights a college readiness summit organized by the Palm Beach County School District, which serves as an initiative to achieve goals outlined in its strategic plan. The plan focuses on fostering postgraduate success by providing students with essential information regarding college applications, financial aid, scholarships, and academic preparation, ensuring they are both college-bound and college-ready.

The meeting commenced with the roll call confirming a quorum of six board members present, with a seventh member participating remotely. A motion was approved to allow the remote participation. Following the opening, various attendees were introduced, including the Superintendent, General Counsel, Inspector General, Board Clerk, and Student Council President. The Superintendent provided an update on mid-year progress checks with department chiefs, highlighting achievements in student wellness, construction projects, and talent development, while noting ongoing struggles with filling hard-to-staff vacancies. Significant attention was given to student achievement metrics, specifically Grade 3 ELA scores and the expansion of the Division of Student Wellness. Mentions were made regarding community engagement, including support from 55+ communities and the West Boca Bulls on Broadway performance. The discussion also included a significant segment dedicated to Black History Month, reflecting on historical figures and local segregated schools of the past, emphasizing the need for continuous education on African American history. The introduction of the new principal of Lake Park Elementary School, Mr. Phillip Peretti, was a key event. The board clerk's birthday was acknowledged.