COVID works its way through School Board agenda

CENTERVILLE — Just as people across St. Mary Parish are forced to cope with the continuing COVID-19 pandemic, the coronavirus worked its way into School Board deliberations on issues ranging from insurance to school lunches.
At the board’s Thursday meeting, insurance consultant James Perez said the system’s insurance plan for employees and retirees has been hit with a larger than expected number of large claims, due in part to COVID-19.
Among the claims for $25,000 or more, four are COVID-related, Perez said. Other claims may be indirectly related to the pandemic because they’re for care that was deferred during the pandemic.
The district has seen 253 confirmed cases since April 2020, Perez said.
In the first four months of the year, the district’s claims exceeded premiums by the largest margin since 2017, Perez said.
The school system will consider renewal of its coverage with United Health Care this fall.
“I don’t expect it to be pretty,” Perez said.
Also Thursday:
—The board voted to accept data that could keep students eligible for free school breakfasts and lunches.
Claire Guarisco, the system’s supervisor of child nutrition, said eligibility rules were waived last year to allow free meals for students across the district because of the pandemic.
Guarisco also said she has been unable to get 29 food items as well as other supplies for school cafeterias because of what appear to be COVID-related shortages.
She’s seeking authority to advertise for bids as items become available rather than making a large one-time purchase each year as in the past.
—The board approved a resolution to allow a bond issue of $11.5 million. The move is essentially a refinancing of the bond issue that paid for the construction of the new Patterson Junior High School.
Jason Akers of Foley and Judell said the lower interest rate on the $11.5 million issue will save $450,000 over the life of the bonds.
—The board renewed the memorandum of understanding with the St. Mary/Vermilion Community Action Agency for operation of the parish’s Head Start program.
—The board approved an Instructional Continuity Plan for the new school year.
The plan puts St. Mary in line with state guidelines for meeting the educational needs of students in the event of new COVID closures and other public health emergencies.