School Board Work Session | September 8, 2026

The Polk County Public Schools Board held a work session on September 8, 2026, focusing primarily on procurement and program updates. Key procurement-related discussions included the pharmacy benefits manager remarketing, where the board reviewed an RFP process led by Alliant and recommended awarding the contract to Riteway based on pricing and service quality, with a noted minimal disruption to members. The board also discussed a tentative agreement for a $6.7 million teacher salary increase allocation for the 2026-27 school year, covering approximately 2,700 teachers with ten or more years of experience, with an additional minor general fund impact. Another procurement topic involved a proposed contract with Carriggs and Ingram for internal audit co-sourcing services at a cost-neutral $135,000, which generated some board member concerns about staffing and oversight. Additionally, the board received updates on the Growth Point Academy, an alternative education program for students with behavioral and mental health needs, including partnerships with Stepping Stone Group and INVO Health Care. The session included discussions on operational impacts, reintegration strategies, and program success metrics. Several policy and operational questions were raised regarding contract implementation, vendor selection, and program effectiveness, with commitments to provide ongoing reporting and transparency.