Board approves employee handbook, benefit options and next year's meal prices

The board approved several administrative items for the 2026–27 school year, including the employee handbook, insurance benefit options and meal prices.

The handbook committee had met earlier in the year and recommended changes; the board voted to approve the 2026–27 employee handbook and the motion carried. On insurance, the benefits committee reviewed health, dental and vision options and proposed new plan tiers (employee, employee + spouse, employee + children, family). Board members discussed premium increases; a presenter noted increases across plans and described the introduction of a "smart consumer" plan and new tiering to help control costs.

A staff member provided sample monthly employee share figures for single and family plans and discussed stop‑loss thresholds (stop‑loss noted at $75,000). The board then approved the recommended insurance benefit options by voice vote.

Board members also approved meal prices for the 2026–27 school year as presented at a prior meeting. The meeting record notes approval of those routine business items and moves on to committee reports and upcoming dates.

Where dollar figures were read aloud in the meeting, some amounts in the transcript were fragmented; the article notes increases were discussed and that staff provided comparative numbers, while full plan documents in the board packet contain the definitive costs.