Board of Education Meeting - September 10, 2025

001Okay, now we have officially 7 p.m. So if everyone would join us, good evening everyone. Thank you for joining us tonight for our first of two uh school board meetings in this month of September. I know it's some people so excited to be here that we can't just get away with one. So later in the month we'll have our annual tax rate hearing um and a little maybe short u agenda for a board meeting. But tonight um we have a pretty healthy agenda. Um, and first off, we're we're pleased to uh welcome someone we get to see only once a year uh unfortunately. But u I'll let uh Eddie Madison, our coordinator of physical education and health, introduce our special guest. >> Good evening, the stove, Dr. Schneider, President Todd, Board of Education. My name

002is Eddie Madison. I'm the health and PE coordinator here in Parkway schools. And tonight, I have the honor to introduce someone who has made an impact in our community. um through not only through the fundraising and opportunities that we have on our schools, but also um an impact in our own community from an education standpoint. Carrie Bachard is here from the American Heart Association, and she is going to um kind of break down the impact that our students have had in our community and the impact that the fundraising that occurs in the buildings, how that impacts our community. Ber, >> I don't normally get such a warm welcome, so thank you. Thank you so much for having me here um tonight. Um special thank you to Eddie. Um he is truly a champion um for

003heart health and for the American Heart Association. Um I work with a lot of different school districts and um when it comes to um PE and health coordinators, you you always go above and beyond. So I appreciate it. So, I just want to give you a special shout out in front of your bosses here this evening. So, um Oh, wh I forgot my clicker. So, um as Eddie said, I'm here just to celebrate. Um I know school boards a lot of times you get a lot of negative um emails and things. So, it's always fun to just celebrate the great things that are going on in your school. So, I'm here for a year um of review. So, if you can see um up on the screen, you your school district and the schools that

004participated um were one of 16 or over 16,000 schools that participated in Kids Heart Challenge across the country. And so, we like to say that we are empowering students to embrace heart-healthy habits, build character, and make a real impact in their community. And as you can see, um, the American Heart Association has made some significant impacts for our 101 years that we've been around. Um, a few things that, um, I want you to think about. One in three Americans are impacted by heart disease. So, if you think about that, um, you know, you probably know someone that's been impacted, had a heart attack, stroke, something along that lines. And, um, we also know that it is the number one killer in the United States. So we think it's super important that students learn how to

005be heart healthy and also become lifesavers. Um since we have been around since 1924 um cardiovascular disease deaths have um gone down um been cut in half which is a pretty significant impact. Um we educate over 20 million people across the country in handsonly CPR. Um so you'll see some stats about that as well. Um and then also right here in St. Louis when I always say we're threeprong, right? We are research um institution, right? We fund a lot of research. We're actually number two um past the United States government for heart research. We do a lot of advocacy. So we're working with lawmakers on laws that we think are heart healthy laws. And then we work with education. So that's where I fall in right here in the St. Louis area. We're funding over

006um let's see here almost uh over 10 thou or 10 million dollars in research studies at WashU and St. Louis University. So right here in St. Louis we are definitely making an impact. Um we also work with areas that have a nutrition um in security and providing that um community centers. We're helping people to have access to healthy um lifestyles. We're also working on blood pressure screening in some of our um areas that um struggle in that area. So, the main reason why I'm here today is to share the amazing job that Parkway School District does. But I want to highlight um up that up at that heart um when students register for Kids Heart Challenge, they have the opportunity, the family to say, "Yes, we are a heart survivor and we want you to

007know it and we feel passionate about this." Not every family identifies themselves. They like to keep it just like Furpa. They like to keep it to themselves. But in Parkway, there's 13 heart self-identified heart survivors. So, I thought that might be something interesting for you to know right here. Um why it's important to your community. There were over 13 school or there 13 schools that participated. 7,300 students and families were exposed to handsonly CPR and the signs of a stroke. Um, almost $65,000 was raised by Parkway School District, which was amazing. Give yourselves a round of applause. That's worth it. And we like to say our our lowest research studies start at $25,000. So, your school district funded over two research studies last year, which is amazing. Um, and then we in turn give back

008to Parkway. So, $6,500 in US games and give back for PE equipment and supplies for a playground were given. And then Parkway um is ranked, we do we do have a friendly competition. We know that we like to do that in Missouri or in St. Louis and Parkway was number four um in the in the state of Missouri for their impact with the American Heart Association. So, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. And these are the schools that participated last year. And what I want you to h what I want to highlight there is look at that lifetime dollars amount that is amazing when you look at that that impact over the years. So some of these schools have been participating with us for 20 to 30 years. So when you add that up that's

009such a significant impact they're that they're making in the lives of um so many people in their community. A couple things I just want to share. Um, when schools partner with us, they have the opportunity to use our educational resources. They have access to website. Um, and it's not just housed in the PE arena, it's things that your counselors can use, brain breaks that the classroom teachers can use, your school nurses can use. So, we like to say this is for your whole school. It's not just housed in the PE arena. Um, all your schools have access to apply for grants through the American Heart Association. Um we actually had a neighboring school district that won a grant um actually two this year um one for pickle ball and they're doing pickle ball with the

010students and the staff. So it's kind of a fun activity. And then finally we offer to all staff not just PE and health all staff have the opportunity to join us in our educator leaders leadership series. So that's another resource that we provide um for all the schools. Um this past year we were pretty um pretty involved with state of Missouri with the emergency um law that was passed on the cardiac emergency response plan. So that's something that we've been working with MISA and project atom to help school districts roll things out and Dr. Schneider and I were talking. We're waiting on some some final um information to be able to provide um some help with school districts as they're coming up with their plans as well. And then finally, I just want to focus

011on um these three stats, right? So just the need for um involvement with the American Heart Association and just with having quality health and PE programs in schools. You know, one in five kiddos, less than one in five survive if they do not a cardiac arrest survive if CPR is not administered. Okay, which is pretty significant. And then less than 20% of kids in the United States get the daily average physical activity they need, 60 minutes a day. And then finally, um depression and anxiety has increased. Um it has doubled in the past um decade, which is pretty significant. And we know when you're moving, what's released in your body? Endorphins. You're whispering to me. You knew the answer there, right? So we know we know that movement is important right for mental health for

012everyone. So now more than ever um we just say that we need your help right and so there's three ways I just I encourage you as a school board to help us out celebrate your schools right so when you're visiting schools and you see PE teachers and you know they participate please say thank you it's extra work that they're doing to partner with us but it's it's great work and they're creating fun activities for their students um you know every year um Second of all, just continue to study or continue to support state and national legislation that promotes heart health and getting kids moving. And then finally, we're going to have a little quiz today. Um, we are going to review this is going to become your annual checkup from Carrie. So, this I do

013this with my other school boards I participate or partner with. We're going to have a little annual checkup on the steps of hands only CPR and the signs of a stroke because it would I would not be doing justice if I wasn't out educating everywhere I go. So, when I say um hands only CPR, how many beats per minute should you be pressing hard and fast on the center of the chest? And if you're in the medical industry, you cannot answer 100. Yep. 100 to 120 beats per minute. And we we like to use the song Staying Alive, right? Um, but I I wanted to stay or share Baby Shark is another song you could sing in your head or um I Want to Dance with Somebody by Whitney or Ice Ice Baby by Vanilla

014Ice or Can't Stop the Feeling by Justin Timberlake. So maybe one of those songs will come to your mind um with Hands Holding CPR. And then my other quiz tonight is FAST. FAST is the acronym to help you with if you think someone's having a stroke. So you remember F means what? >> Face drooping. Good. You guys are good. A >> A for >> arm weakness. S for >> smile. >> You're close. >> Slurring speech and T time to call 911. And um I just I'm going to share a quick story. Um this summer I don't even know if Eddie knows the story. Um I was driving with my mom and um we were on the outer road um on on 44. She lives in Eureka and it was a super hot day and I

015looked over at her and she kind of had mush mouth and I looked over. She had a stroke in the front seat of my car and she's fine. She's fine. But I knew what to do, right? And so um I just think it's so important that we educate as many people as we can in hands only CPR and the signs of stroke because you never know. um when you're going to save someone's life or help to save their life. With that, I'm going to share a video about a hearty ambassador named Ridge. Every year we have national hearty ambassadors. I got to meet him this summer. Um he's delightful little guy. We have seven ambassadors across the country. We actually have one here in Missouri and have a special message from them to you all.

016Hopefully it works. >> How would you describe your brother? American Heart Association. Thank you so much for helping um families or kiddos like Ridge and the many families and um kiddos that are in your school district. Thank you guys and good luck with your school year. I heard it's off to a great start. >> It is. Uh Carrie, I just want to thank you uh on behalf of the board. We look forward every year to hearing your report and how Parkway is making a difference uh for your organization and people around our area. I'm a little disappointed we slipped down to number four. So, I challenge all of our schools to uh maybe pick up the slack and reach out to that that unfortunately short list of of less than half of our schools that

017are that are participating. So, hopefully we can increase that number uh between now and next year. And I'll also mention when uh Dr. Schneider's predecessor and I would meet with um our fire chiefs and police chiefs regularly. Um one of the things that they periodically mention is an app called Pulse Point. Uh, and if your CPR trained and you download that app, you can get a notification is like within seconds that a 911 dispatch center uh receives a call for life-saving uh need uh in usually in the case of CPR. And often times it it well it every time it will send an alert to your phone if you're within a certain radius of the site uh where that person needs CPR. And so the design is that a random stranger could be there minutes

018before uh EMTs and help participate in in saving that person's life. So important stuff. >> Yep. Thank you for sharing that and thank you for the plug. I I can I can say that I have meetings with three additional schools next week. So, um I'm hoping to have more on board as well. >> Thank you again. >> Next up, we will move on to uh the rest of our agenda. 7.0 is additions, corrections, and or modifications. Those include 7.01, addendum to agenda item 11.08, approval of Items 7.02 update to agenda item 11.18 approval of the Branson on stage live trip. West Middle updated the dates of their trip. The need for that update. Uh 7.03 addition of agenda item 11.30 approval of purchase science resources 2024. Uh we have no citizen speakers tonight. Uh so

019we will move on to 9.0. That's the approval of our agenda. We have motion and a second to approve the agenda for the regular meeting of the board of education is scheduled for September 10th, 2025. >> So move second. >> All in favor? >> Opposed? Carry 70. Uh the next regular board meeting will take place on Thursday, September 25th, 2025, beginning at 7 p.m. here at the Parkway Welcome Center. As I mentioned before, Parkway's annual tax rate hearing will be held that same evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Uh, next up is 10.03 board and superintendent reports. >> I'll just be quick with one thing. Um, seems like we've had a very good start to the school year and I think one of the apprehensions we had coming into the school year was a cell phone

020policy. I think we're all very pleasantly surprised how well it's gone. not just in Parkway but other districts too are experiencing the exact same thing that I actually had a high school teacher tell me the other day that they're mad because it's so now so loud now in the lunchrooms because the kids are off the phones. So I am just pleasantly surprised that we have something coming out of Jeff City that actually is beneficial to us. So that's all I have uh to piggyback off that. You know it does seem like everyone's having a great start to the school year. uh had the pleasure of uh visiting around eight schools at the beginning of the year uh between elementary, middle, and high just to see how things were going and how the summers were. Everyone's

021firing on all cylinders. The students all seem to be happy and enthusiastic about coming to school every day. Um was able to attend a couple of football games uh the past couple of weekends. Um I have to give a shameless plug. On Monday, the Parkway Central uh JV had a game and my wife uh recently started the middle school dance team and they had their first um performance at halftime and my daughter was in it and they did a very good job. So, shameless plug there. Um other than that, it's been, like I said, a great start to the year and uh looking forward to, you know, another great one. >> Yeah, it's been a busy month. Um so, uh school started. I've got two. Um, my oldest is starting at Northeast this year, so

022sixth grade, new middle school, and he's loving it. And so, good for him. Uh, really likes lunch because he gets pizza every day with ice cream. So, you know, whatever. Um, it's Yeah, hard healthy, right? Yeah, exactly. Um since our last meeting, uh one thing we did shortly, just a few days actually after our last meeting, we did a a facilities tour the week before um school started where we were able to go to Riverbend um north and uh kind of drove by Northeast um to see the progress of all the construction that's Oh, and Craig uh construction going on there. And uh it's just it's really great to see um all the progress that's been made on the schools. We still got a lot to go with the other locations, but um I tell

023you in Craig Elementary, I don't know if anybody gets an opportunity, but I mean what what the contractor and the designer was able to do at that school, it's like a brand new school where the the kindergarten classes are. So, just uh really glad to see that progress and looking forward to uh seeing more progress as the years roll out. >> Um I'll be brief. I just um I was able to to go to one school so far. Um, I plan to get to other schools um to visit those throughout the rest of this year. Um, but I did get a chance to go to Craig. This was my first time going to Craig Elementary and um I was able to attend with with Dr. Schneider and we had a a good tour by uh

024the principal there. Um and I I want to just wish everyone a good good start to the school year. I also had um as far as the cell phone policy um my my children are in the West District and my son is at West High and I got a chance to talk to Dr. McCabe at open house and he said that everything is going very well and um one of the teachers actually had to bring out her Play-Doh for during ACT ACT lab because um kids were no longer on the phones and it was the first ACT lab of the year so there was no homework to do. So, but because of that, my son signed up for her ACL lab class the next time to go back and play with some Play-Doh. >> Well,

025these are all pretty redundant, but I'll say the same things everybody else just said. It's a fun time of the year when school starts. Uh, personally, we've got a child in fifth grade and eighth grade. So, it's the last year in buildings and the last year of having a child in grade school. Um, but they're all excited. Everybody seems happy. The cell phone uh ban seems to be going well and um I just want to follow the facilities tour was really incredible. So uh we have a what do we call the con see right the construction manager ris is peckard um they the relationships they build as part of the construction project is what really stay with me from that experience the way you know it's not just a construction project that happens to be

026a school it's a construction project that's working together with the school and you know school construction projects are complicated that you know they're those are buildings where kids are educated and you got to squeeze a whole lot of work into the summer or work alongside the teachers to make sure that you know the students are disrupted as little as possible. And I think we really uh have a good relationship there. It sounds like these projects all uh succeeded because of that collaboration. Uh but what really blew me away is how they all seem to come down to the absolute wire of uh you know the last pieces come in on Sunday so that we could serve lunch on Monday. But as far as I can tell, everything came off great. And uh I think that's

027really really remarkable. >> Yeah, I agree. The beginning of school is always fun to go on the construction tours to see the the huge progress that's being made with all of our um bond work that our voters have passed. So, we greatly appreciate all of that support so that we can keep our facilities up and running and our pools are getting renovated um which were sorely needed. And um so we're moving forward with all of that and yes, kudos to Puter Construction for um making sure that yes, we can meet that very difficult deadline. Uh I too visited several schools on the first day and accompanied with um Mr. Todd and Dr. Schneider and that was a lot of fun to see um everybody's so happy and everything's fun on the very first day. Uh

028I also attended the TLA subcommittee meeting um that uh Dr. Becker and his team in TLA had um with us and I believe Mr. Schindler was at and Mr. just Mr. Kilper um was there as well. So that's always a great opportunity to become updated with uh the work within the TLA uh um administration as to what we're doing with curriculum and advances in and our um various different updates that will be taking place. I also attended the Missouri School Board Association's region 7 meeting last week. This is a meeting that um encompasses the um school board members from multiple school districts throughout um this region of Missouri for MSBA that include uh Jefferson County, St. Charles County, all of St. Louis County um and some of uh St. Louis City. And it was very

029informative. We did uh talk about no phones in schools policy. Everybody seems to really in um are happy about that and no problems. Um the other issue that public schools are in the process of needing to navigate has to do with um homeschooled family-based education and full-time virtual school students living in our district having the opportunity to participate in various different events including athletics and events, fine arts activities, and a variety of co-curricular activities like National Honor Societ Scholar Bowl, DECA, etc. So, as our school district um these are individuals who would come to the district asking to participate, we don't go out inviting them, but they are now welcome and we will do what we need to do to be able to include them in our district activities. Now, um the other things that

030um you know are always high on the agendas of of conversation have to do with funding public education um both the threats and the demands on our budget and expenses. So we all continue to evaluate and look at and assess what's happening um at funding at both the local level with taxes with the state level possible changes with our funding um foundation formula and the overall state budget and how much money comes to public education and also at the federal level with the IDA program for our special education. ation students um and um different Medicaid funding uh things of that nature and even some title one money is in the process of being discussed. So, and then having to manage all that on top of our increasing expenses regarding medical expenses, food services, property insurance,

031malpractice suites, etc. like that. So, legal matters that we have to deal with. So, um, it can be a demanding process to try to juggle all of this, but we have solid teams here in Parkway that do just that and have every confidence that we'll continue to be good advocates of our legislators and keep up good partnerships with our various different um, communities, which I did attend this morning with Dr. Schneider and some of the other cabinet members within administration, our mayors and city administrators meeting today, which is always a wonderful opportunity to talk to county council members, various different mayors, Chesterfield um was participating today. Bowwin, CREF Court, Pair. Um I think that's it. And so we we had a wonderful um attendance and it's always a nice opportunity for um two-way communication to

032update them on what's happening with our districts and for them to update us on the things that are going on in their areas that may affect likely will affect our school district. >> Thank you. >> Uh well, I'll just reiterate a couple of things. the back to school uh visits. Uh not just opening day, but uh Dr. Schneider and I were able to welcome back different groups of people uh coaches, counselors, nutrition specialists, uh special educators. Um it's always great to to be with those employee groups before school starts because they haven't haven't been inundated with kids yet. Um and they're still genuinely excited. not not biased by some of the the groups that they get once school starts, but uh but during our school visits uh I agree, Matt, the the level of engagement

033with kids not having cell phones uh was just thrilling to see. We were we were in a lunchroom or two um in high school and and the volume was refreshing. uh in passing periods. You know, we got caught in some passing periods and I I've heard that the kids are pack back to passing notes now. Um so what goes around comes around. So uh that was good. Um facilities tour, uh as some have mentioned, Peter Construction has been a great partner thus far and we had a a great time seeing the work that's been going on. Um, and lastly, I'll just mention, uh, I I don't know what the the cuto off is, but if you haven't, if you're an employee of Parkway and you haven't completed your safe schools training, um, that's required. I

034do it every year just because I like to see uh, you know, what we ask what we expect our employees to to know and and and be aware of uh, in order to be in in a classroom or around kids. Um, and if you paid attention during the CPR module, both of her trivia questions were answered in that module. So, um, there's there's value in >> Well, thank you all, uh, with many of the things that you have said, I've joined you on. So, the facilities tour, uh, the visits to some of our, uh, classrooms this fall at the very first week of school, as well as some of the um the visiting of employee groups as they got excited about starting the new year. So, I echo all that I heard. I have a

035a short list of things that I've been able to get out and do that have excited me and I I've really felt the the Parkway pride since the beginning of the school year. I just knew that as soon as the kids came back, just the electricity is like it got turned on in the district is just amazing to see the kids and the families. uh like like you heard, I've been in every single school uh the first week of school and that was accompanied by many board members uh at some of those visits. It was a a great first week of school. I was able to attend uh the North High School band and color guard performed at the Cardinals game uh the second week of school and it was very nice to see the

036parents and the kids. They were so proud of how they played and uh they stuck around. It was really nice to sit with them in the stands and and visit with them, get to know them a little bit more. Um, I also attended my very first Parkway sporting event which was a girls volleyball match between Central and South High School and I will tell you those young ladies are amazing athletes. I couldn't believe how long they could hold a volley and it was just a very exciting game. I I stayed much longer than I had planned because I had planned to do two things uh that night at least. And so that I drove quickly over to West High School and uh met up with Miss Hopper and saw not only the cheerleading squad and

037heard the marching band play there, but they swept their opponents that night. So we have some very talented athletes here at the Parkway School District. Um I am looking forward to the uh Parkway Alumni Golf Tournament which is upcoming on this Saturday. So hopefully we'll talk about that next time. Uh as Miss Hopper mentioned, we hosted this a lot of the city administrators and mayors of the uh municipalities that share Parkway School District and overwhelmingly felt just a need to be able to connect and support each other during this next school year. We have a couple of new mayors who attended and that was really nice to get to know them as well. Um, so I am just I couldn't say enough good things about the past month and uh having the schools and the

038buses and everything come alive. So, thank you. >> Thank you. >> Uh, next up on our agenda is 11.0, our consent agenda. Uh, we've all had an opportunity to review that and so now may have a motion uh and a second to approve the consent agenda as presented in the September 10th, 2025 board meeting materials. >> So move second. Is there anything to be pulled to action or close? >> Yes. I would like to request um 11.11 be moved to action. >> Okay. Uh anything else? Okay. So we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda with the exception of 11.11. All in favor? >> Any opposed? Any extensions? Motion carry 70. Now believe now we'll we'll go ahead because that our next item on the official agenda is 12.0 which is

039related to 11.11. Actually, not. >> I'm sorry. Um, so now, uh, actually, if I could have Carrie, you could join us if you're the if you're the best person to talk to us about 11.11 11.11 >> 11.11. So, um, this action item is, thank you. I was looking for the paper so I can say the exact name for it. This is our retiree Medicare Advantage prescription drug drug plan design. And so this is um a benefit we offer to our retirees. We as Parkway act as a pass through entity for Anthem and Etna. Correct. >> And um what they So this is we have no um control over what these plans um are charging for premiums. We just act as a middle kind of like middle, not even management, just a middle entity to our

040retirees pay their premiums and then we turn around and pay ATM or Anthem for their prescription drug plan. This is just a courtesy or a service that we offer to our retirees. This is not something that they have to opt into, but if they choose to um they have that ability to to apply and use those services if they ever have any questions regarding those services, we direct them then to either um Anthem or Etna to answer those questions. >> What questions can I ask? What what questions may I answer? >> So, could you clarify is this part of the conversation of what we'll be discussing in 12.01 01 about the employee benefit plan design and providers that includes what the premium increases will be for retirees. >> No, this is specifically for retirees who

041are on Medicare >> only for Medicare. >> Yes. So this is Yes. Okay. 65 or older. Um so this does not include our retirees that are on our self- insurance fund plan with United Healthcare. >> Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? >> So, I may have a motion in a second to approve consent agenda item 11.11. >> Hold on. >> I'm sorry. >> It's okay. Where am I going? 12.0. >> Oh, because because we've now made it an action item. I'm sorry. >> Sorry. >> Yes. Um, so I just need to rephrase that. >> Okay. You just need to rephrase the motion. >> Okay. So, may I have a motion in a second to uh, and we're going to call that, what are we calling that? 12.00 12.0. >> That's right. >> Five. And I

042have a motion in a second. to approve action item 12.001 >> previously known as consent agenda item 11. >> So move >> second [Music] >> I oppose. >> Now we are at action item 12.01 Approval of 2026 employee benefit plan designs and providers. >> Correct. >> Back to Carrie. >> Thank you. >> Okay. So, last last month we came to you with the benefit committee um with some recommendations during our working session. So, now we're bringing this recommendation to you tonight. Um the slides that you're seeing tonight are recaps of what we shared with you in our working session with some edits that we have um based on some recommendations that you guys brought to us. So this is a chart that should look familiar. Um this was a this shows our self- insurance fund

043balance um back for 10 years 2015 and it shows what the fund balance was at the end of each plan year which a plan year starts January January 1st and goes through December 31st. So it does not correlate necessarily with the school year. It is a calendar year. And so this shows where we are projected to be at the end of plan year 26 if we do nothing. And I'd like to point out that we are only even in that position because the Thank you, Jason. We are only in that position because the board generously allowed us to uh supply our self-funded insurance fund with $7.5 million from our operating account. So, in FY25, we moved $2.5 million into our self-funded insurance. And in FY26, we'll be moving $5 million into our self-funded insurance. Um,

044and so we are, and even with that, this is where we would be at the end of plan year 26 if we do nothing >> for 2026, >> FY26. So, um, this goes back to the plan year doesn't align with the school year. So, $7.5 million is going to go into plan year 25, but $2 and a half million will be from FY25 and 5 million will be from FY26 fiscal years. Got it. >> So, yeah, because plan years are calendar January >> calendar year of 2025. >> Correct. And but it the the $7.5 million was split over two fiscal years. Okay. So, the recommendation that the benefits committee brought to you last month was that we increase the di the district premiums by 25%. Which would bring us a $5.4 million extra revenue to

045our self-funded insurance. They recommended that we increase our employee premiums by 15% which would generate a $700,000 um revenue generation. And then um during this process we that would mean that the retirees premium would increase 25% which would generate 5,000 um $500,000 in in additional revenue. And then we also they also suggested that we add a $100 premium increase to the base which is currently one of our free plans. So that would be $100 um per month um which would generate one point uh $1,370,000 of additional revenue. And then there are some savings here for um changes in the deductible in network and out of network and max out of pockets for both the base plan and the high deductible health plan. And then they also recommended that we remove GLP-1 weight loss coverage um

046which would be a cost savings of 1,230,000 and then we would eliminate the premium plan which would be a savings of $430,000. So, this would generate either RA revenue or savings of 10,910,000 for the self-funded insurance. And again, um the thing that is important to know about this plan is even with these changes, Parkway would still be covering over 76% of the premium um revenue that's generated for the self-funded insurance and our and our employees would be covering or generating 24% of the revenue that goes into our self-funded insurance. So this is what then the next few slides show what it would look like per paycheck for our employees based on our two remaining plans which was the base plan. So this base plan shows you what the per paycheck cost would be for a

04724 pay period year. Um and this is for the base plan. This chart shows you on the lefth hand side what our current plan year rates are. Um the middle columns are plan year 26. So what those new rates would be and then the last two columns show you what the increases will be per employee or employer um based on the tier that you have selected. So if you're just only um paying for employee and plan year 25 you would be paying $0 per paycheck but in starting in January 1, you would be paying $50 per paycheck. And so that shows that there's an increased cost of $50 um for the employee and the employer would have an increase so Parkway would have an increase of $95 $94.99 per paycheck um based on this recommendation.

048Next is still for the base plan but um solely for the retirees. So this is per month because the retirees pay us per month. um they pay us to put into the self-funded insurance. So again on the lefth hand side is our current plan year 25 and what they currently pay. The middle column is what plan year 26 um new rates would be. Um and then on the far right is the retire at least it's my far right. Is it your guys's far right? Yes. My far right is the retirey um the retiree increase that they would have per month. Next is the high deductible plan. Um, and again this is the per paycheck cost for a 24 pay period employee. Um, and this again shows the 20 the the first set of columns on

049the lefth hand side is for 25 plan year our current year. Um, the second set is for 26 plan year and what they would be paying at the start of January 1st. And then again on the right shows what the employee increase is and the employer increase parkway increase. So again if you look at the employee line um in plan year 25 they will pay per an employee $0 and in plan year 26 $0. This will remain a free plan for our employees. So that way we always have a cost um a costeffective option for them. Um, but the but the Parkway will still have an increase of that 25% that you see on the far right where it's that $94.99 cents per paycheck that we would be increasing the premiums that we pay for

050them for that plan. I also like to note on this because of the cost increases um that we're doing with this premium plan, the district will also be increasing their um contribution to the employees into their HSA savings account. Um um and that that annual amount will be $1,961. Here is the retirees um per month um premium cost. Um this again is on the left is plan year 25 what they're currently paying. Plan your year 26 um is what they would will start paying what they would start paying on January 1. And then the far right is their monthly increase that they would incur. Um under these new premium rates. Um, this is a little different because we do not um ask them to pay the $1,961 extra that the district chips in. So, you

051know, this is a little bit lower than a because because normally how you can tell what a retiree is going to pay is by going and looking at what the employees pay and you would say the employee plus parkway equals what a retiree would pay. But in this particular case, that is not 100% accurate. It's a little bit less than that because we are chipping in for our employees an extra $1,961 into their health savings account. They're um and so we don't we don't expect them to have to do that. They can obviously pay as much into their um high deductible health savings account that they want, but we don't require that. So, what questions can I answer for you guys tonight? Well, I'll just say first off, thank you for entertaining the questions that

052we've had both at last month's board meeting and I know you've had a number of emails uh from many of us asking different for additional information, different questions and and and you've been great with uh getting back to us with all that information. Um, one of my questions is, have we have we is there a way? There's probably not a way, but have we thought about will any of these increases or do we think any of these increases will cause either employees or retirees to move to a different plan that they may have an option on uh versus our plan in if we've thought of what percentage that could be, will that impact us positively or negatively or we don't know. >> That's an excellent question and I would advocate for our employees, our retirees

053to always research the market and find the most cost-effective way for them because at the end of the day, that's what that's what I care about for our employees and our retirees is that they that they get the health care that they need and they get to keep as much money as possible in their pocket. That's what I would want for myself. That's what I want for um our employees and retirees as well. So, would that happen? It always is a possibility. Um, but we are we are still a very rich program and one of the things other than the GLP1 coverage, we're not changing our coverage and so we have a very rich um a very rich plan and we cover a lot of a lot of benefits um for our employees. So um

054so so that's that's the bad thing about just looking dollar for dollar when you're looking at premiums is that that that's not the full picture. Um yes, you may be paying a certain dollar amount for your premium and another plan might be lower, but our coverage might cover more. Um, and you might have to pay more out of pocket because the services that you want aren't covered under the other plan. So, it's not a direct one for one that you compare just premium prices. So, in terms of the GLP1, that's the only one that that's the only medication that has been singled out as being removed. Um, has there been any looked at any other medications that >> So, GP >> are just as expensive. >> Correct. So, GLP1s are um we're we're a very

055big topic not only with our um committee um but also just with our our employees. This is this is a topic that is very um near and dear and personal to to people when they have this conversation. Um so the reason why we we brought this up is because GLP1's consistently on our utilization report always end up at the top of the list being our one of our outside of specialty drugs being our highest um expense in pharmaceuticals drugs that we that we cover. Um and so of our top 10 um the GLP1s are the top are within six of the top 10. >> Do you have an idea as to why that is? Is it what what's what's driving that cost? >> Um I think it's so GLP1s is a relatively um for for

056weight loss specifically. And let's and let's even that out because when we're talking about this there GLP1s can be used for for you know it's becoming every day and and in a good way. Every day I hear that GLP1s can be used for a new chronic condition and that and that's not a bad thing. I you know we all want to be able to find um cures and helps for these chronic diseases but specifically when we're talking now we're talking about GLP1s for weight loss. Um, and so I think the reason why we're seeing this increase is because it's becoming more um, prominent and more well known um, and more um, and the benefits and that people are seeing from weight loss with it. Um, there's evidence that shows that it obviously does does work

057for people and it is a and it is a good pharmaceutical uh, resource to help with with a with a disease. So I think that the reason why it's increasing is because it's gaining popularity in the populace and and and and I think that's the reason why we're seeing the increase is because it's becoming more well known that that's an option for people to to treat their um their diseases. >> I would also add that I think in the medical field and society we're also seeing that um obesity is is a chronic illness as well. um much like mental health and um any other chronic illness that people have. So that does concern me that we're removing that for weight loss um when it can be preventative of other chronic illnesses in addition to helping

058with that particular chronic illness. >> Correct. And I will say that my my hope is that this is not a permanent um removal. Um but we do need to We do need we do hope that this pharmaceutical will decrease in price. Um and we do need to get our fund balance in a place that is sustainable and financially um can cover all of our medical expenses. So this I'm I'm hoping that this isn't a a one and one and done and we'll never revisit this option again. Um and the other you know the other thing is when our benefit advisory committee um had lots of conversations around GLP1s um and and the main driver that always that got brought up multiple times was but if we don't if we stop co covering this won't this

059then cause other chronic things that we see in our plan to increase. Um, and the and the truth to that is we can't with 100% certainty say yes, that will happen because of the newness of GLP1s being used for weight loss. There's just not long-term data to support that there's a risk benefit analysis, you know, to do the risk benefit analysis of of the long-term benefits that GLP1s um will cause. So, for instance, like there is a longstanding long-term data that shows like wellness appointments, for example, will help with catastrophic events and they can help catch things early. And there is long long-term data that supports that and GLP1s just aren't there yet. That doesn't mean that they won't get there. It's just that right now the data is not there to support that longterm

060um strategy that says covering them in the long run will help reduce your help reduce the risks and costs associated with that. Can can I ask a question on one of the other options that the committee had looked at which was in our information was option number five and it came it came to the $10.4 4 million target also. >> Um why was that one not not selected? Because that would have helped to have had coverage for the GLP1s for weight loss. But then you have another line in there that talks about GLP1 weight loss removal from preventative list savings. So what made the committee decide to not go with that option when it could have and instead went with this option? >> Yes. Because um the reason why they didn't go with that option

061was to be cover to be able to cover the savings that we so so with dropping GLP1s we would have that savings of $1,200,000. Um so if we didn't drop it and we kept it we said how can we make up for that? Um and so the way we can make up for that was we would have had to then in addition raise employee premiums an additional 24%. Um and then there was the other option within our formulary with um our our pharmaceutical u medical uh our PBM which is express scripts. um within our formulary, we could have dropped it from the preventative list, which then would have created a savings um on our high deductible plan. But even with that um to to get to the same dollar amount, we would have had to

062have done that and then increased our employees premiums again to keep that coverage. >> Okay. So, so in essence then it would have increased employees premiums like 39%. >> Correct. >> Right. one year. >> Correct. >> Okay. All right. Um in order to So with including the retiree savings, now we're looking at um our savings at a $10.9 million >> and we're looking at a $10.4 million target. >> Correct. And that's just a forecast. >> And that's just to break even. Also, >> um, if so, my and I admit I'm having difficulties accepting the idea of not covering the GLPS >> because it's already been in place. >> It's one thing not to ever start it, right? >> But once we've started it and now we've got employees that are relying on it, seeing the

063benefits of it, and now to take it away, >> that just to me, I'm having a very difficult ethically thinking that that's the right choice to make. So, with that, if we were to put back in the the coverage for um for this, could we do we have enough? I'm I'm coming up with something like $730,000 from a fund balance to cover that for one year to figure this out and see what our finances will be once we know better what this um the senior tax issue will be. We know there's some tax issues coming from the state possibly. Um, and get that all kind of ironed out and then we're still I I I appreciate us coming out of our fund balance from the district, but just for one more year to try to

064and then you've got a we've got a budget task force that's coming. They're going to be looking at everything in addition to employee benefits. So, is that a possibility? Um, you know, I I think that I think so. Is it is it a possibility to pull more money out of our fund balance like our general our general operations? Yes. Is now but is but I think the things is you again you have to say what is what is the cost to that? So if we do this what don't we do? Um so there's so there's that equation that you have to think about it. Um, I also think that we, the truth is we're running out of runway to, you know, our plan year starts on January 1 and we have open enrollment in November.

065Um, and so we also need time to to educate our employees on on for instance, we're if we go with this route and we drop a plan, um, there's a lot of education we would like to do around um, high deductible health plans. Um and so so so p so pushing it off um could we do it I mean yes but it always it always comes it always comes with another cost and I and I don't think I'm prepared tonight to answer that question and it's and I think to the full to the full extent that it deserves. Um I'm I'm happy to engage in that conversation. Um, but I think that it's we're coming down to the wire um and with the conversations that we had um with our benefit advisory committee and then

066that we've had with cabinet. Um going that route would be something we could engage in but would be um opposite of the recommendations that we've had up to date up to today. So So how would these employees manage without the GLP1s? What are their options if we're not going to cover it? >> That's an excellent question and yes, because we do care that, you know, you can't just stop GLP1s cold turkey. Like there is a process where you have to you have to come off of them. And so we do have a couple of things already in place. Um so one of the options that we have in place for um for folks is an option called Real Appeal. And so they're able to connect with a specialized coach, have group sessions um and do

067online tools to help them with their um with obesity. And then we also have Lumongo, which is a digital health uh health company that specializes in helping people maintain patients maintain um manage chronic diseases. So we also have that option. But then the big option that we're looking in that we were looking into and researching to be able to have in place for uh January 1 is with New Leaf New Nutrition. Um and it would come out of our wellness budget um because it was unspent and there was a portion of it that was unspent with United Healthcare. And so we can we they they allow us a wellness budget um as part of our contract and we can use those funds towards wellness um activities and we could use that towards our because we

068have 220 um employees currently on GLP1s which represents about 2.5% of our members. Um so of those 220 um members, we would offer this service to them and the first time they have that service, Parkway would pay for that service and then any appointments that they would have afterwards um would be covered under the medical plan. >> And and also with that, I guess to follow up with what Debbie was saying, obviously, you know, they recommend a gradual taping off. Do we know how long? I mean none of us are doctors here. So do we know what they recommend from a tapering you know time frame? Will we have that time >> if assuming we approve this today? Um is there that time? >> Right. And so GLP1s would be covered through the end of

069the year. And so then their tapering off period for those employees would our members would start in January. Um and since and each one of those could have an individual plan that looks a little different. So I'm not prepared to to speak to all of them in total. Um, so it could look different per >> well person. >> But I I think the tapering off would have to start now. Yeah. >> Because they would not be eligible for the benefit start January one >> and unless we allowed um unless we allowed the tapering off of that. >> And is that part of this the the >> the part of this is that does not include that. That would um that would be an additional an additional expense to that. >> Wait, what the tapering? What

070do you mean? >> Because $1.2 million savings is if is if GLP1 squares to stop immediately. >> So if we allowed those so if we allowed those employees the tapering off period then that wouldn't be a full like it would eat into some of that savings. >> Um one other question is this just for the injectables? This is for weight loss uh GLP1s for weight loss in entirety. So >> So if somebody's taking GLP1s for specific chronic illness, >> those are still covered. >> Correct. >> And do we know or do we have any data? Are there any other school districts that have this coverage currently? >> Um the majority of not only school districts but just the society at large is moving away from covering GLP1s because of the expense associated with them. Very

071few are still covering them. Um and and because they they are just growing in honestly popularity and so more and more members are getting on them but we're not we are seeing some shifts in the prices going down but not at a dramatic dramatic rate. you actually um like so for instance, you can actually still be on a GP1 GLP-1 outside of your insurance company and there's actually a plan right now where you can get it for um that my insurance our insurance broker was telling me about. It's it's $499 a month, which is less than what we pay per month per employee. >> So that would be something that these employees who use this just for weight loss could tap into. >> Yeah. if they choose to, that if they if they want to

072use their own personal funds that way, that is that is that is a that is a >> and how much do we so we cover it right now at 100%. Is that right? So, okay. >> Well, you know, there's deductibles and co-pays, but >> Right. Yeah. Yeah. >> Depending on which plan you're on. >> So, what what does it end up costing somebody per month to be on a weight loss >> outside of outside of the metal outside of being covered. >> Um I can tell you what we what one they average anywhere from um you know anywhere from $1,000 up to $1,800 per per prescriptions which is a monthly p you know it's it's a monthly or monthly dose. Um, so it's it's yeah, that's what we pay per plan. And so there are

073different um there's multiple uh GLP ones and each one has a different price. I'll just share um I thank the committee for doing this work because it is not easy making these decisions. And I kind of mentioned last time too, but the fact that this gets back to even >> for next year. There's no extra fund balance in there. >> Correct. >> If our projections are good. >> Yeah. And >> and the fact that we could likely be back here again next year doing the exact same thing. >> Well, and maybe you can just kind of speak to that. I know we've seen emails, but just looking long term, right? Um >> what are the ideas to kind of look ahead and kind of plan for what the numbers are going to look like next

074year, year after? um what kind of work can we do in the next few months or six months, whatever to kind of plan for that? >> Yeah. And I think the biggest work with that will be with our budget task force because this is going to be a big topic. Um because one of the things is, you know, like when we when I came and I was presenting on our self-funded insurance and I was talking about the bucket like one of the things in the budget tax force that we'll be talking about is our buckets and what happens when a bucket becomes in distress. And so our self-fundances is is there. Um we, you know, we had to we had to pump money into for plan year 25 of $7.5 million, which is is quite

075a bit. Um and that just gets us to 2.8 million. So, so really the work there is with a budget task force. Um and I don't want to get ahead of their work, but I can tell you that we we have to do something because you know, it used to be a bad plan year was you know, anything where you saw your medical expenses increasing by 10%. Well, we had a year where it increased 14% and I have pro, you know, I am forecasting a 12% this year and so far I have been our medical expenses have exceeded that. We have on aggregate been averaging 17 to 18% increases from the prior year that had already increased 14%. So when talking to our brokerage our insurance brokerage brokers, they were telling that the new norm

076to expect for medical expense increases from year to year is closer to 14%. So this is something that is just just the medical costs are just exponentially across the board increasing and that is just that is not just a parkway problem. That is a nationwide issue. I I don't know I have not interacted with a single person yet that hasn't said that they had some medical insurance um costs increasing. There was even an entity that is a partner here with um Parkway that had shared with me that they had a 100% that's a doubling of their premium premiums in one year because they they were so high. So this is this is not just a parkway problem. We I don't I don't know if I want to say we're in good company, but we are

077not in alone company. We we have company in regards to these to these issues. So, have has there been any thought in um increasing the premiums for the high deductible plan for the employee because right now that's the only one that has a zero dollar. >> Yes. So, the high deductible plan um we actually don't set those. The IRS does so. So, every year they have chosen to increase that deductible. We try to minimize it as much as we can. So, we do have control over the deductible for the dependent side of it, but the individual side, we can't control. The IRS sets that every year. >> So, the >> Yeah, the premium. So, >> Oh, the premium. I saw I'm sorry. I thought you said the high deductible plan. >> Yeah, the high deductible

078plan. There's only there's a Z premium. >> Oh, yes, we are. So, we we are keeping that as um for the employee only as Z. So we have a cost-effective option for our employees. Since we used to have two plans that were free for an employee, we'll be going down to two only. Instead of offering three plans with two of them being free to employees, we are going down to two plans with one of them being a free option for employee only coverage. >> So um how many is that typical in school districts to have zero only plans? >> Yes. because I know a lot of corporate has moved away from zero only plans like decades ago. >> Yeah. >> So, this is a question that just popped into my head, but um so I

079apologize for no preparation. Some of this has already been hindered about, but could the district pay 50% of the GLPS for weight loss or I mean is that >> that's that's another great question that was also entertained a lot at the benefit advisory committee because we were because we we really did try to do a lot of work to figure out how we could cover GOP ones. We we came up with multiple different options. Um and every time we brought it back to our brokerage our and to ESI, we have a a rather strict formulary with them. And so if we adjust that formulary, then we lose the mass some massive rebates that are associated with GLP1s. And so doing that would then just actually increase because we would be losing about $3 million in

080rebates. And so instead of saving ourselves, you know, like $500,000, we'd end up ultimately losing $3 million and making these costs go up even more. >> Well, that was one of the other questions that I was wondering about is what effect if we don't cover this, what effect will that have in our formulary and is that going to create any But it doesn't sound like we're going to have any issues with being able to provide >> correct. It's it's basically >> continuing services. Yeah, it's basically with in regards to GBP ones, it's kind of a black and white situation where it's either you cover all of them or you don't cover any of them. Um, now we we can't like like I mentioned earlier when I said like I hope this is not a permanent

081thing with our plan, you know, when we go and um negotiate for a new pharmacy provider like we can we can try to negotiate for a more flexible form that maybe gives us the freedom to have those adjustments where we can say, well, we only want to cover GLP1 rate loss under these circumstances. Um and we can we can do that. But when we were honestly negotiating with um express scripts, we did not realize the extent to which GOP ones were going to one cost us and two the the restraints that that formula would that formulary was giving us in order to be able to cover them. >> And I might not be understanding. Um so there are different GLP1s. There's goi, there's zbound, there's this other one that I don't even know the name

082of. >> Um, so you're saying we have to cover all of them or none of them. >> Yeah, that doesn't make sense. >> That's that's the formulary that we have with the scripts that when we try to get around that and the options that we came up with. I mean, we came up with even things like, well, what if we just increase the co-pays for just just um just for GLP1s or what if we we cover the medicine but not the auto injectors. Um, and every option that we came up with, it violated the formula. It violated it and we would have lost the lost the rebates. >> But that's only if it's used for weight loss. >> Correct. >> So, if it's used for other purposes, so we might So, one of the main

083reasons that uh that GW1's are used for is diabetes. So, that is still being covered. >> And one thing I wanted to mention, I mean, that's a snapshot of today. I I will be honest, I think if we did continue to cover it, we'd have a lot more people getting on next year and this our our balance is going to diminish. Um because it's it's a that you know you have employees who might know this is the final year of getting 100% coverage and you're going to have more people getting on it for the year and so the the 1.2 million is going to rise. Um it's just just something to think about. Um I I don't think that you know I think it will get a larger amount. I think more people will get

084on it and then we're in a diff the same conversation every single year with this. I don't know if if more people would get on it knowing that we're having this this conversation where it might not be covered in the future because if they're working with their doctors, which they should, their doctors will tell them that when you get on this drug, it's it should be a lifetime drug. >> That's my understanding. I actually had my annual physical this morning and spent a good chunk of my time with my physician talking about GLP once for this very reason. Um and and he he confirmed this, you know, this is a lifetime thing. And he also mentioned that this is by far the majority of his uh his patients he's seeing. And he said the trend

085is just going up. It's just more and more people. And when I was in the waiting room, there was there were there were about eight other people and at least three of them were having a conversation about why they were there and it was to get this this prescription >> yeah to what M Franklin was saying is I've heard I mean I know I have relatives who are on it and they've heard differently It could be depending on what you're using it for. >> Um, >> but I, you know, I know people that, you know, you gradually taper off of it once you've reached your goal. Um, and then it's maintenance. Um, not necessarily with the shot. So, I I've heard, my doctor has said different things as well. So, it's interesting. But also I

086think with the evolution of the way healthcare technology is going and the medical field is going. I mean there was just an article today that talked about the various different problems um medical issues that are being being found to be improved with the use of GLP1. So I see it as an evolving type of drug that even though we may not include it or cover it for weight loss, we may find that we'll still get an increase in it because of its use that could end up being FDA approved for other purposes. So I don't I don't think this is probably it could may not be a drug that's going to go away. We're going to continue to see it evolving. is just like, you know, other drugs that have happened in the in the

087in the past where you start using it for for one thing and you find it's great for something else and then they get approved for that purpose. So, it might, you know, and and that's what bothers me a little bit about the the cost of of this because it is so some of them are very new, but that um where was I going with that thought? But anyway, my head's all spinning. um that the idea that these are going to continue to evolve and that we may just continue to see them grow because of and hopefully get lesser expensive or go to a generic form >> then they're just not there yet. They're so new and they're still they're still learning so much about them. >> You mentioned there's there could be an opportunity to

088negotiate with with the prescription provider in the future. How often do we have those opportunities? >> Um, we are in our second year with a three-year contract with Express Scripts. >> Well, plan year 26 will be our second year. Um, with Express Scripts, >> can you remind us how many people currently have this for weight loss? Isn't it like >> 220? Okay. Currently, employees or their family members. is all all like that's all belly buttons that are on. >> Okay. So if so say an employee has a dependent on this medication I know what you talked about with what employees can do with the real appealer the new leaf the different >> but what can their dependent do then >> the same thing yes those resources are available to their >> they're available to them

089as well and the school district has the funds to cover them to go through that great Anybody have any further questions? Thank you very much for answering all of those questions and the many more that you have answered the past month. Uh at this time may I have a motion and a second that the board of education approve the plan options service providers and the monthly rates for participation in the Parkway health benefits medical dental vision life disability and voluntary program effective January 1st 2026 through December 31st 2026 as presented in the board materials >> second roll call please >> Mrs. Hopper >> yes Mr. Kilper. >> Yes. >> Miss Matt Franklin, >> no. >> Mr. Schindler, >> yes. >> Mr. Seltzer, >> yes. >> Mr. Spectre, >> yes. >> Mr. Todd, >> yes. Motion

090car 61. >> Next on our agenda, we have no policy review. We have no official reports. However, we have uh the first of a couple of work sessions. So I'd like to invite Kevin Beckner, assistant superintendent of teaching and learning and Aaron Crowley, John Deval and Alexis Luki, coordinators of social studies. Well, good evening, President Todd, Vice President Hopper, Dr. Schneider, Mrs. Mrs. Stove, members of the board. Appreciate the opportunity to talk about social studies tonight. Uh, in 2012, which seems like ages ago, there was a major social studies program evaluation that recommended a switch to an inquirybased approach to not just students memorizing content, but really engaging in social science practice. Uh, just a couple years later, the state changed all the standards and said that we have to do our work differently, which

091led to quite a change in our work. From 2016 to 2019, our social studies teachers and curriculum teams redesigned the whole scope and sequence for how we teach social studies and Parkway in terms of which courses are offered at which times. Um, in 2019, the board received a very detailed update about all of that work that was in progress. Um, and then from that time until now, we've been operationalizing all of those new classes and writing new curriculum. Happy to say that all those classes are currently operational. So that has been a very long time frame to get to where we are tonight. And then in addition to that, this past year through our strategic plan, we've been updating our curriculum to ensure that we are clear about the outcomes for all students by creating

092essential standards, learning intentions, and success criteria for all of our classes. That's the context that brings us here tonight as um Dr. Dval and Dr. Luki are going to share. Unfortunately, Aaron Kohley couldn't be here with us tonight, but they will represent uh her thinking very well. Also, I do also want to thank and it was mentioned in the board leaison reports um that Mrs. Hopper, Mr. Kilper, Mr. Schindler participated in the teaching and learning subcommittee and were able to offer input and ask questions about the program evaluation. And at this time, I'll turn over to Dr. Luki and Dr. Dval. >> Good evening. Thanks for being here tonight. So, Dr. Becker. Uh, as he said, it's been a long journey to get to this point tonight, but we have the opportunity to present to

093you uh our targeted evaluation of the K through2 social studies program. Um, teachers were surprised to find out we were up for a targeted evaluation because of the delays with COVID and our updated curriculum. Um, it felt like our hard work from long ago had finally taken root and then we were coming back. But it's actually a great opportunity for us. Dr. Breer stated we have a new curriculum framework we are putting into place and that gives us the opportunity to target some particular areas that we want to study in terms of our original goals with our curriculum and to see how well those have been implemented. So with that we have four goals that we are going to target and study this year. Uh the first of those goals is our K through2 vertical

094alignment. So with our curriculum project with elementary and secondary having gone through two separate uh program evaluations we now have an an opportunity to look at how well our curriculum is aligned from kindergarten through 12th grade. Secondly we want to study because of the kind of fragmented nature of implementation as a result of COVID and the disruption we have an opportunity to study like how how well has it taken root in our classrooms? How viable is our curriculum across the board in from kindergarten through 12th grade? We look forward to u looking across our classrooms at that this year. We also want to look at the relevance. How relevant is our social studies curriculum to our students currently in our everchanging world. We know things are changing rapidly and we want to ensure that our

095curriculum is reflecting their real world, our real world and ensuring relevance to them as they learn our content. Dr. Wicky. >> So the four guiding questions that will lead us to find that work is really thinking about not only the curriculum, but it's how the curriculum's delivered and how the students engage and respond to the curriculum. So we're going to be asking four main questions and John introduced the first two, but not only thinking about the delivery of the curriculum, but then the learning that happens after that. So the assessment that happens and where our student achievement is. Um, we're really excited to think through our four guiding questions and then gather research to help support it as well as surveys and audits of our curriculum. We're bringing together task force by grade bands who

096will also look at each other's to see do we have that vertical alignment to ensure uh K12. We have observations planned and then of course data collection and just analysis to be able to share um our findings. I shared a little bit about the teams that are meeting. There are times we'll be meeting individually as an elementary team, a middle school team, a high school team, and as well vertically. Um, just because that conversation, we know there's so much power in that. What questions can we answer? >> What I'm sorry, tell me what your timeline is again. So, we're starting task force this fall um to be looking at different um data and then we'll be sharing with the board in April through a memo since this is a targeted review all those findings. >>

097Uh you're going to you're going to compare us what we what Parkway offers versus what neighboring districts, national districts. >> So, our guiding questions focus more on what we're doing and then comparing it evidence-based research, not necessarily surrounding districts, but what do we know is proven to work for students. Um, one of the questions the board subcommittee asked was the resources we utilize in our curriculum and we talked a little bit about this that many of the resources we used are Parkway teacher developed. Um, which has a different um point of empowerment and engagement and relevance for the students that we serve. Um, and with that, I think it would not be justice just to look around us, but to really think of those research based practices. >> Okay, we look forward to hearing what

098you uncover. Wish you good luck. >> Thank you so much. Thank you. >> All right. Next up, we have another program evaluation targeted review preliminary discussion. Uh so we'll invite Lisa Tomish, our chief communications officer, and Mike Christian, our group coordinator of security and emergency management. >> All right. Good evening. Make sure this is down low enough. Um President Vice President Hopper, members of the board, Dr. Schneider, and Mrs. Stove. Thank you for giving us a moment of your time tonight to kick off the targeted evaluation for our security department. I'm here with Mike Christian, um, our coordinator of security emermergency management. And for those of you who were on the board in 2021, you might remember that that our predecessors conducted a program evaluation of our SRO program. Um, this will be a targeted

099evaluation that's going to focus on the security department. So, Mike and I are going to walk you through what our goals are for this evaluation as well as um guiding questions, main topics, research methods, and our timeline >> here. There we go. Okay. So, as we said, we are launching a target evaluation. Um, and part of the goal is to ensure our structure, staffing, and strategies used by our security department are aligned with best practices and effectively support the safety and well-being of our students and staff. Uh, this will be an opportunity for us to clarify expectations and reimagine how our security department can best serve uh the schools given today's challenges. So, the goals of our evaluation are going to be d Determine the expectations for the security department in the current landscape of

100school safety. Um, assess whether the responsibilities align with the best practices. And best practice areas include uh physical security, emergency preparation, communication, safety, culture and prevention, and then technology and monitoring. And then also we're going to determine how to attract and retain uh qualified candidates based on peer district research and develop strategy strategies that align uh helping students feel safe, supported, and ready to succeed. Okay, so this is our security department. Uh just to give you a brief overview, um three members of our department have uh 30 years of law enforcement experience. uh two of our SSOs, our school safety officers were SRO, school resource officers, um when they were working with the police department. Uh as far as security experience, other members have over 20 years of experience in the security world. Um so

101we have uh a lot of experienced uh people working in this department. Uh we also have a full-time uh dispatcher, day dispatcher, which has been great. It gives us consistency um whoever is answering the phone and he's well aware of all the procedures uh from taking phone calls from several people. As Alisa said, this is going to focus on the security department specifically. Um, part of the things that we do every day, um, uh, patrol, we monitor surveillance cameras, uh, we oversee the visit management system, we monitor the, uh, 247 safety tip line, and then we also respond to schools, uh, for various reasons. It could be threats, uh, suspicious persons, uh, to help with traffic. Uh, we've had some custody issues that we responded to last year, and we'll also go by and help

102with uh, and monitor their emergency drills. And there's other things too. That's just a brief synopsis. >> I'll touch on um the framing of this evaluation. So in August we met with more than 20 stakeholders representing all levels of our buildings um elementary, middle, um high school operations. We had the security team involved. um student services and Nathan Tyson facilitated a discussion in which we we or they I should say um identified main topics in as areas of concern for this evaluation and those are roles and responsibilities, daily operations and expectations, resources, staffing and retention, support and training, compensation, communication and measurement evaluation. So from those topics, Mike and I um took a look at the long list of questions that the participants came up with for each topic and we synthesized those and we

103we developed these. So these are the guiding questions that we've chosen to frame the evaluation. What are Parkway's expectations of the security department both in daily school operations and in its broader role in creating safe, supportive learning environments? How well do the department's responsibilities, practices, and use of equipment, resources align with best practices in school safety, and where are the gaps? What staffing levels, coverage, and rule definitions are needed to ensure efficiency, clarity, and student staff safety? And how can Parkway recruit and retain qualified candidates? How can security better support staff and students through proactive presence, training, and relationship building? And then finally, how should security effectiveness be measured and evaluated? So, you may have noticed that we had eight main topics and five guiding questions. I just wanted to include this slide so you

104could see that every um every main topic aligns with at least one guiding question. >> Okay. So, for the uh our re for the evaluation methods, our research is going to include uh voices of many different stakeholders. internal reflection and peer district benchmarking. So the stakeholder input is going to in uh surveys and focus groups with staff, parents and students um on safety perception, security, visibility and response. Uh we're also going to conduct an internal review um that's going to be an analysis of our protocols, coverage models, training, dispatch and coordination with school administrators, SRO's and local law enforcement. And then as Alise already mentioned, we're doing a peer district comparison uh benchmarking against peer districts, department structure, staffing, compensation, training standards, and resources. And the peer districts that we've selected, they're um neighboring districts

105andor districts within the state that have a similar student population that Parkway does. Oh, there it is. Okay. All right. So, we already covered a few of the things. Identifying the need that's been done. Memo to the board has already been presented to you. Uh we've convened the stakeholders to come up with the guiding questions as Alisa went over. Um and so what we have left to do is gather data from the peer districts which is ongoing right now. uh the focus group research and the stakeholder survey, those are still to be done. And then once all that is completed, uh we'll be back here in uh December to uh provide recommendations to the board. That is it. Does anybody have any questions? I don't have any questions, but I'll just say thank you for

106u doing this. When was the last time we Oh, I guess this is a question. When was the last time we did not SRO review but uh the security department program review. >> So all we know is that it predates 2021. So you know the uh when I was looking through the SRO report in 2021, it looked like it had been probably at least five years since the previous one had been conducted. Um, and so the the one in 2021, it kicked off as something that was more inclusive of both the department and SRO's, but I think at the time the focus really was on um, SRO's and schools and the just the impact they were having. >> I have a question. Um, and if you said this, I apologize if I glossed over it,

107but who are your um stakeholders going to be and your focus group people group in your research there? >> So, we're planning on we're making sure that we we include students, staff, um, and when I say staff, you know, um, a diversity of staff. So, school leaders and certified staff and operations um, also parents. So we want to get perceptions and also get a sense from our entire community what their expectations are of our security department and what they would like to see maybe what our gaps are and if there are emerging trends that we're just not aware of that >> students. >> Oh yeah students. So we'll be we'll be surveying and doing focus groups with with middle school and high schoolers. >> Great. >> So you you mentioned that there are four SSOs.

108This was the first time I've heard of SSOS. So they were former SRO's that are now >> um I was just giving a background on their experience. So you don't have to be a former SRO. So So SRO's are the school resource officers. They are active police officers and they work for their various departments. SSOs are school safety officers. And I was just highlighting that um two of our school safety officers um were SRO's when they were employed by the police department. So they just bring a lot of experience and knowledge to this position. >> So are they in the schools as well like guess the SRO's? >> So right now Parkway and this is pretty common across the nation. Actually Parkway has SRO so the school resource officers at all the high schools and

109middle schools. And then uh the the SRO's also are assigned elementary schools although their primary responsibility is the initial school that they're assigned to. So what I do with uh with the SSOs in the security department, I have them focus on the elementary schools since they don't have a dedicated SRO there. And they they know to call us if they need anything and they're very good about doing that. I get several calls from uh administrative staff at the various schools asking for for help with various things. >> Good luck in your work. >> Thank you. >> Okay. Uh we have a special meeting to uh attend to. So may I have a motion and a second to adjourn the regular meeting? >> Some move. >> Second. >> All in favor? I >> motion carry 70.