July 16th School Board Work Session

The DeKalb Central Schools held a work session on July 16, 2026, focusing primarily on the district's health insurance fund challenges and potential changes to their health insurance and prescription drug plans. The discussion highlighted a significant loss of approximately $1.07 million in the health insurance fund since switching to Anthem and Allied in 2025, driven largely by increased medical and prescription drug claims, including costly drug inflation and provider network changes. The board considered short-term solutions such as implementing an RX Protect program to reduce pharmacy costs through drug importation and 340B pricing, alongside plans to issue a request for proposals (RFP) to seek new third-party administrators and pharmacy benefit managers. The board also discussed tiered provider networks to balance cost control with employee access and the need for premium adjustments to maintain fund solvency. Additionally, the meeting addressed procurement-related topics including the introduction of a new integrated payment system for student curricular materials, athletic tickets, and other fees, aiming to streamline transactions and reduce manual errors. A proposal for supplemental fees for non-curricular educational materials was also planned for board approval, expected to generate approximately $125,000 annually to support classroom needs. The board planned to review and approve these procurement and budget-related proposals in upcoming meetings.