The school year is off to a tremendous start. I appreciate everyone's dedication and hard work in making our school district successful. Thank you for everything you do on a daily basis! You are making a difference!
The rain subsided long enough last Monday for students and staff to enjoy the historical day. I appreciate everyone's careful preparation and planning to make August 21 a special event for everyone involved. The memories will last a lifetime. The new soft play surfaces and equipment look great on the playgrounds at the five elementary schools and Lewis and Clark. To officially open the sites, each school hosted a ribbon cutting at back to school night. Other projects such as the stadium renovation, warehouse freezer replacement, and new early childhood center will be bid in late September with the construction beginning later in the fall. I appreciate everyone's engagement in this process as it is exciting times to see these needed improvements.
The District will be changing to a new health insurance provider beginning January 1, 2018. As normal practice the District asked for health insurance bids prior to our annual renewal. The District's current provider, Blue Cross Blue Shield, called for a 18.5% increase in premiums. Additional bids were reviewed from several other providers. Working closely with the insurance committee, the District accepted the bid from Humana. Beyond being a flat (0%) rate increase, it is anticipated that Humana will provide the most seamless change as their coverage is quite comparable with our current BCBS plans. They have an excellent wellness plan and our research showed that most doctors used by our staff are accepted by both providers. Open enrollment will be scheduled for this fall as in years past. If you have any questions regarding any possible changes you may contact Laura Ford in the Benefits office.
The District's comprehensive school improvement plan (CSIP) is due to be revised this year. District employees, parents, and community members are encouraged to complete the stakeholder survey which will provide valuable input. The second way you can help is to become a member of the CSIP development team. The team will meet three times this fall to chart our course for the future. If you're interested in taking the survey or applying for membership on the team please visit the District's website for additional information.
For those of you interested, a $20.00 Casey's gift card will be given away to one lucky winner using the RNG. To enter please send an email to [email protected] with "Casey's" in the subject line. Entries will be accepted until 8:00 am on Monday, September 4. Give Away prizes are not purchased with District funds. Only Fort Osage employees are eligible to enter the drawing. |
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