April 8, 2024 – At the April 8 meeting, in a Board Room packed with AISD staff members, the Board voted to approve a 16% increase in medical insurance premiums for both the PPO plan and the high-deductible (CDHP) plan. Trustees also voted to institute a 20% co-insurance for the Consumer Driven Health Plan (CDHP) plan and increase the out-of-pocket maximum for the CDHP to $4,500 individual and $9,000 family (previously $3,000 and $6,000). Chief Human Resources Officer Chris Tatum said there has been no increase in premiums in over a decade, and to ensure maximum efficiency and viability of the self-funded health insurance plan for both the District and its employees, an increase is necessary. Even with the changes, AISD’s health insurance plan remains one of the best and lowest cost of any school district in the area, including TRS-Active Care, which is the State’s health insurance plan for public school employees.
The Board approved an annual contract with the Turn Center to provide in-school physical and occupational therapy services to AISD students at a cost of $696,502 for the 2024-25 school year. They also approved Nobox Creative to spearhead a community engagement project to gain input from parents, staff, and community on how best to address enrollment and funding losses and plan for the future of Amarillo ISD.
Trustees set May 13 as the date to hold a public hearing on the 2024-25 school district budget, which is scheduled to be adopted at the May 13 meeting. The Board also approved CEI Engineering Associates to design a project to replace decade-old field turfs at all four high schools and they approved Sims+ Architects to design play court surface replacements at Oak Dale, South Georgia, Wills, and Ridgecrest elementary schools. All play courts were evaluated, and these four schools show the highest need for replacements.
Finally, Trustees thanked those who generously gave gifts and donations to AISD and its schools this month. A total of $40,060.17 was given to various schools from Atmos Energy, Michael and Cassidy Martellaro, Raine Russell, Pantex, Belmar Booster Club, Craig and Vicki Gilmore, Western Plateau PTO, AAA Electric Company, Texas Panhandle Builders Association, 1-800-Plumber, Shreiner Home Comfort LLC, D&K Construction, Patrick Herring, and the Sandie Tennis Booster Club.
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