Pulaski County School Board - March 26, 2026 - Budget Meeting #2

The Pulaski County School Board held a budget meeting on March 26, 2026, focusing extensively on the school division's health insurance program and its financial management. Key procurement-related discussions centered on the negotiation and renewal of the health insurance contract with Anthem, following a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) process that included Anthem, Sigma, and Centara. The board reviewed the successful renegotiation efforts that resulted in a reduction of insurance premium increases from an initial 18% to a net decrease of 2.6%, achieved through adjustments in deductibles and reinsurance costs. The meeting also covered the status and strategy for rebuilding the insurance reserve fund, which had been depleted due to several years of absorbing premium increases without passing costs to employees. The board discussed establishing a formal reserve policy in coordination with the county to ensure financial stability against future claims volatility. No new contract awards or vendor selections were made during this meeting, but the discussions highlighted ongoing vendor management and budget allocation decisions related to employee health benefits.