Board reviews employee wellness programs and staffing updates as salary‑schedule changes move forward

At the Personnel & Policy Committee June 22, Teresa Brown presented a status update on two employee offerings: Access Perks (in place since February 2021) and the Ramsey SmartDollar financial wellness program (introduced June 2023). Brown reported Access Perks carries an annual cost of $16,800 and said usage varies; she described the SmartDollar program as a premium benefit with positive employee feedback and said staff recommends reallocating limited resources to recruitment or retention priorities unless the board directs otherwise.

"Access Perks has an annual cost of $16,800," Brown said, and she noted the district tracks utilization and eligibility. Board member Mr. Cody replied that, given limited participation (38 employees this year), the program's apparent small cost made cancellation worth reconsidering: "I see a benefit much greater than $4,500," he said during the discussion, advocating retention.

Committee members asked whether lower‑cost or free alternatives (bank or credit union offerings, free apps) could replace premium services; Brown said staff is exploring options. The committee deferred final action and placed the item on the full board agenda for Wednesday, asking staff to clarify participation limits, exact costs (some figures discussed in the meeting were estimates), and the wellness credit carryover for Asha digital medicine.

Separately, HR reported a staffing update as of June 22: 37 resignations and retirements to date (correction noted from an earlier misdated figure), including 13 in special education; the district reported 16 hires from a job fair and about 13 actively open vacancies. Administration also reviewed the proposed FY26‑27 salary schedule: several positions were added or realigned (executive director of equity and student services; director of counseling, mental health and student support; director of child welfare and attendance), some unfilled titles were removed from visible pages for clarity, and several co‑curricular stipends (including girls flag football and middle‑school powerlifting) were codified with payment timelines.

Next steps: wellness program decisions, Asha renewal clarifications, and the salary schedule will all appear on the full board agenda for action.