[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6316590,"mediaKeyId","2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d","parentId",2376595,"title","Cabarrus County Schools brief Board on enrollment, capital projects and funding priorities","audioSeconds",3510,"startMs",3352405,"endMs",6863140,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d&start=3352&end=6863","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d/thumbnail_3352405.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6316590/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Cabarrus-County-Schools-brief-Board-on-enrollment-capital-projects-and-funding-priorities","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316590-42dbc08d6ecff5cf55c05664764f79d6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194186&Signature=VyqC-GQLuu9EKoJtv-vp-laphGqZ4p~4XEK~ds-OmY-~XNQCdEW3UouV-swz0MR~2BwVJ1MIT5yoR0HzEOsjxVB4Dev6dDqKydOF-DRQ7FLZcgFMzsXMCgvJn0X4IFMVnlx~imwzDok4vgaYOBIT-i7vi4oGh0doEXIHCG9kc7Vd-r8P2qI9iR~uuc8xMwEgu7PrtFjmQHOQ9dO3bQI~NDjzSOMRxqtTaoAX6ItwYksf-9Q3rKJbx7MQ-oyYBt6kHu1zVyif40014~IdIYSICp3wJbU1jDB4fimyUVpWZXjWsnbP8zLH-wL8wlxqzSpLhv6II0zgOMj2cptc46CF1g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Cabarrus County, NC","date","2025-02-22T20:57:06.987Z","article","Leaders of Cabarrus County Schools on Saturday presented the district’s academic performance, enrollment and strategic priorities, outlined how local funds are spent, reviewed major capital projects and asked the county to continue collaborating on capital funding and maintenance needs.

Rob Walter, chairman of the Cabarrus County Board of Education, introduced Superintendent John Kopicki and Chief Financial Officer Philip Penn, who delivered the overview and described priorities including student wellness, teaching and learning, developing a diverse talent pipeline, early learning, technology enhancement and community alignment.

Academic and enrollment highlights
Kopicki said the district serves roughly 35,161 students and reported a 91 percent graduation rate, an improvement from two years earlier. He noted the district remains among the top academic performers in the state and highlighted career and technical education pathways: 52 CTE pathways and 93 associate degrees awarded through the district’s partnership with Rowan‑Cabarrus Community College. Kopicki said 48 percent of graduates leave the district with college credit and about 98 percent of graduates move on to two‑year, four‑year, military or workforce pathways.

Local spending and budget context
Penn reviewed how local funds are allocated. The largest local expenditure categories are certified salaries and benefits (including a locally funded 13 percent supplement for certified staff noted in the presentation), classified salaries and benefits, facilities maintenance, technology, contracted services (including school resource officers and athletic trainers) and utilities. He provided a district operating budget context, saying the total operating budget was about $470 million in the initial plan and that more recent state and capital additions raised the run‑rate toward $540 million.

Per‑pupil expenditures and equity context
Penn and Kopicki reviewed state per‑pupil expenditure (PPE) rankings and said Cabarrus ranked near the lower end on PPE among some neighboring districts despite strong academic outcomes. They attributed the ranking to a mixed local wealth demographic: a relatively high median household income in the county (which reduces eligibility for some federal aid) combined with a substantial share of students in poverty (about 40% receiving free or reduced lunch). The presenters said this “bifurcated” demographic picture limits eligibility for some state and federal aid.

Capital projects and facilities
The district provided a 10‑year list of capital investments the county has supported, totaling more than $300 million in construction and pushing the district’s invested assets above $2.7–$2.8 billion, Penn said. Ongoing facilities work cited included roof and HVAC projects across multiple schools and multi‑year capital projects underway (for example, an Opportunity School, a pre‑K center, and replacement schools). Penn said the district and county are monitoring deferred‑maintenance needs and that the county’s capital investments have been important in limiting future replacement costs.

A proposed new high school in southern Cabarrus (referred to in materials as “Southern High School”) was discussed; Kopicki and Penn said about $8 million has already been invested in design, engineering and site work for that project. They said the final construction cost escalated compared with earlier estimates and that the district will present a prioritized 2025–26 capital plan for the county’s consideration during budget conversations.

Board role and next steps
School leaders said they will bring the 2025–26 capital plan to the county during the upcoming budget process and requested continued county partnership on timing and funding. School officials also asked for a breakdown of classified and certified staff funded by local and other sources and said they would provide more detailed FTE and salary data when requested. Several commissioners asked clarifying questions about priorities and sequencing for new schools and maintenance projects; school leaders said they would rely on enrollment data and condition assessments to sequence projects.

Provenance: the school system presentation began at 00:55:52.405 and continued through a Q&A and close at 01:54:23.140 (transcript excerpts referenced).","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Cabarrus County BOC Retreat 02.22.2025 - Risk & Safety | Benefits Presentation | CabCo Schools","oneSentenceSummary","Leaders of Cabarrus County Schools on Saturday gave county commissioners a status update on enrollment and academic performance, detailed how local funds are allocated, and reviewed major capital and deferred‑maintenance needs, including $8 million already spent on planning for a proposed southern high school site.","taxTitle","Cabarrus County, North Carolina","taxId",13706,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316600,"Cabarrus County outlines ADA transition‑plan options, estimates up to $94,575 for full survey",784,948525,1732885,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d&start=948&end=1732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d/thumbnail_948525.jpg","/articles/6316600/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Cabarrus-County-outlines-ADA-transitionplan-options-estimates-up-to-94575-for-full-survey","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316600-f613c914cfc862eca2c5380fc3b7d5c0/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194185&Signature=DQSyxhOye1y-BXIEzWyWx9zMeN7L1vPg2rgQRoAAbBMpclGzVpMjLkDUoqyG20SDyCQe--ChNoHbrN6Byn8iL6dHJzChgpnE0aYc0lD58N8dfnNX16-fao6v3Nlm4uvJ4rniCD5fN8OsmeEbAs7KcFiGAfnkdkE7mGwcngIr1ukjuRivg1KPWtK8dBb-g4jNGbCynZIcsVbdf02xJdXTR9k4gdQptUQ4Nsl-dLwxgz692GrpioBREotkc-M98dhi96mqnYVn70By0Ef9jZFy5iG7y5Zt5OkETjMuAmg-hzuk2UCo7C34KiCuGE7AREMFvgYSmovoCtEWrTklIWvc2Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County staff presented an overview of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition‑plan requirements and two vendor options for completing the plan and facility assessments, estimating total costs from about $14,000 (phased/coordinated approach) up to roughly $94,575 for a comprehensive third‑party contract.

The staff member presenting — identified in the meeting as the county ADA coordinator — told the Board the ADA’s transition‑plan obligations date to early 1990s guidance and that local governments must maintain ADA components including a public survey, facility evaluations, modification and grievance procedures, an ADA coordinator and staff training. The presenter said the most complex and expensive part is the facility assessments, which may require architects or specialized vendors to evaluate sidewalks, parking, restrooms and building access.

Options presented
- Precision Infrastructure (piggyback pricing): staff said a comprehensive third‑party contract that includes most facility assessments and an optional website accessibility assessment was estimated at $94,575; the price would drop to about $81,825 without the website work. Precision estimated 67 workdays to complete a full assessment; staff proposed phasing the work over multiple years (typical local schedules of 5–7 years) to spread costs.
- Disability Rights and Resources (nonprofit): a lower‑cost, more hands‑on option that would focus on training and policy development but not conduct building assessments; staff reported an estimated total of about $25,000 for first‑year guidance, monthly meetings and limited training services (additional per‑session fees apply).

Staff said the county has already completed some facility assessments using leftover budget funds at Camp Spencer, Frank Lisk Park, several libraries, the Concord Senior Center and the Governmental Center. The county’s IT team has been using a third‑party web scanner to produce an internal ADA compliance score for web pages; staff said the vendor website audit option in the Precision quote would examine a limited portion (about 11%) of pages and is therefore optional.

Why it matters: an ADA transition plan documents barriers and establishes a timetable and cost estimates for modifications that improve public access; the choice between a turnkey third‑party contract and a lower‑cost, staff‑intensive nonprofit approach affects county staff time and the timeline for facility work.

Board role and next steps
Staff asked the Board for guidance on whether to pursue a full third‑party contract, a nonprofit partnership, or other vendors. The presenter noted that third‑party contracts can be phased and that many local governments spread the work over five to seven years to manage staff workload and budget impact. No formal action or vote occurred during the session.

Provenance: ADA transition plan presentation began at 00:15:48.525 and continued through cost options and questions at 00:28:52.885 (transcript excerpts referenced).","Cabarrus County staff presented an overview of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) transition‑plan requirements and two vendor options for completing required surveys and facility assessments, with cost estimates ranging from roughly $14,000 up to $94,575 depending on scope.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316605,"Cabarrus County staff recommend exploring switch of third‑party claims administrator to SCA",918,15815,934530,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d&start=15&end=934","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d/thumbnail_15815.jpg","/articles/6316605/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/Cabarrus-County-staff-recommend-exploring-switch-of-thirdparty-claims-administrator-to-SCA","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316605-0e93857975a0c2b36b28164137834e20/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194186&Signature=NG8qzyeEraiaNgewQWHpbTTmFZ5-7qq7h6PpJh8BYemH3PREgH6MTBw0LjASVNo9VCxNAQZi5GFqEVM3~7qQGs5MnhqdQkqtJ05cIfcQj2AdnYv24sIG9hnPzb~-QPch2hER-ThK-xWa10Hck6KpJTPZ4J65LcrOc0-i0VTtBj7MfzwWJ---wCvx8jnpMLqZOWVynC0uDGqUZLoFvZhznRAmItbqUUkUNu1249NPEJjj9TkxlLQTYgaLHcBQ7zNR2mnVpZxCECqmJZMXroh2MgUtXNQJG8XNUMqIT~unuVax0l3Ed1tfTv7oRNxXF151JDVX8707XN2OXx7qzkpBog__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County staff on Saturday recommended exploring a move from the county's long‑standing claims administrator, Compensation Claim Solutions, to Specialized Contractor Administrators (SCA), citing faster service, easier data transfer and comparable overall costs.

The recommendation came during a retreat presentation from a staff member identified in the meeting as the county ADA coordinator, who also explained the county's current claims profile and transition logistics. The staff member said the county currently has about 20 open workers' compensation claims, 16 open auto liability claims and nine general liability or property claims — about 45 open files in total, and later referred to that as roughly 43 claims when discussing transition planning.

The presentation said Compensation Claim Solutions has served the county since at least February 2007 and that SCA emerged as the recommended alternative after market outreach. The staff member said SCA’s advantages include dedicated claim administrators who can be reached directly and prior experience importing the county’s existing claim data from Compensation Claim Solutions’ system, which should make the technical transition smoother. “That greatly improves service and also lets them know our county operations in greater detail,” the staff member said.

Why it matters: the county’s choice of third‑party administrator (TPA) affects who manages incident claims (workers’ compensation, auto and general liability), how quickly claims are handled, what reporting the county receives for insurance marketing, and near‑term transition costs.

Key details from the presentation
- Current administration fees with Compensation Claim Solutions were listed at $34,250 annually for workers’ compensation and $24,000 for liability and property administration (about $54,250 total), plus per‑claim management fees. Compensation Claim Solutions also returns a percentage of some medical/prescription savings to the county, a benefit noted as a difference among vendors.
- SCA’s quoted annual administrative minimums were reported as $2,000 for workers’ compensation and $2,000 for general liability/property but include required minimum claim expenditures of $20,000 (workers’ compensation) and $30,000 (general liability) per year.
- Transition costs: the staff member said extracting the county’s full claim files from CentraRisk (the current vendor’s hosted system) was estimated at about $10,000; SCA charges a takeover fee of $400 per open claim; and the county estimates a total transition cost of about $35,000 that could be covered from current claim administration and claim fee accounts but may need a budget amendment.
- Contract terms: the county’s contract with Compensation Claim Solutions requires 90 days’ notice for termination; the staff member said the plan would be to start agreements and initial data pulls before an April 1 target so the final transfer period aligns with that contract requirement.
- Legal services: the staff member named the county’s long‑used outside counsel (recorded in the transcript as “McGangus, Gulak, and Curry”) and said the county can continue to use that legal team alongside a new TPA; the presenter noted legal fee trends and that those outside counsel have historically helped reduce settlement costs.

Board role and next steps
The staff member asked the Board for guidance rather than a formal vote, saying a change could be made under the county manager’s or deputy county manager’s direction and did not require a suspension of rules or a board vote. A commissioner in the meeting signaled support to proceed. The staff member said they had funding available in claim accounts to cover transition costs, but would likely seek a budget amendment to move funds into the required accounts.

Provenance: presentation and discussion on the TPA review occurred in the retreat session beginning at 00:00:15.815 and resumed through the transition‑cost summary at 00:15:07.530 (transcript excerpts referenced).","County staff presented options to change third‑party administrator for workers' compensation, liability and property claims, recommending Specialized Contractor Administrators (SCA) based on service, data‑migration experience and comparable costs; county staff requested guidance to begin transition steps, noting no board vote is required.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6316595,"USI and county HR outline FY‑26 health plan forecast and cost‑control strategies",1569,1776835,3346350,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d&start=1776&end=3346","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2376595-fee34812b34865d754c20e3d1e0f353d/thumbnail_1776835.jpg","/articles/6316595/Cabarrus-County/North-Carolina/USI-and-county-HR-outline-FY26-health-plan-forecast-and-costcontrol-strategies","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6316595-2f955b1ee83b6a6c042755113b885041/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194186&Signature=m79Pc6p00x4Q945xkoiSeQCkyyFHZ8SfXeW8mu8TicvQcT1LUYNaCKdWvuz5xVKmDv3vALTLa1~6KakNPfarPUux6QOzbFH8oRJuWWwHDHs91C5fo-akXF85KoBs4CP9x6j-bsPTtXKhaBTRr399CLY0TSH4oRJC9rSaXbBr3soesfpG4-zpuRz6cmIbLKTRYJ1NruoaFoBfNQgByKs~1Y947xYD-shuOLD3uiUX~aES3vDuGw~J3FuSl1qNGjzDxpryL04bAI0x4p3QRlsRk6ZNx17nH8IU01C28GVNWKZx7asGM2NMFoKcZVrDuJfWrMMBS2WZEHijbJrdR8feAA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Cabarrus County’s benefits broker and HR staff on Saturday reviewed the county’s self‑funded health plans, projected next‑year cost trends and a set of strategies to curb medical and pharmacy spending.

Joanna Ray, the county’s health and wellness manager, introduced a presentation from USI Insurance Services. USI representatives Larry Reese and Linda Klein said the county is a self‑funded plan sponsor that pays claims through a third‑party administrator and reinsurance (stop‑loss). The county offers two medical plans: an open‑access (PPO) plan and a high‑deductible health plan (HDHP). About 70% of employees are enrolled in the HDHP and 30% in the PPO, USI said.

Forecast and drivers
USI presented a forecast for fiscal year 2026 showing an expected increase in claim costs of roughly $1.66 million (a 7.5–9.5% trend estimate). USI attributed most of the increase to larger claimants (defined in the presentation as claimants with more than about $75,000 in annual claims), specialty medications delivered via infusion, and musculoskeletal procedures (surgeries for hips, knees, back). Pharmacy accounts for about 29% of total plan spend, USI said, and specialty pharmacy is a sizable driver.

Cost‑management recommendations
USI recommended continuing and expanding existing programs the county already uses, including strong utilization of the county’s on‑site clinic and virtual care, increased enrollment in chronic‑condition management programs, targeted musculoskeletal digital therapy/physical‑therapy alternatives, specialty‑pharmacy management and manufacturer assistance programs where appropriate, and ongoing promotion of preventive care and generic drug utilization.

Other points
- USI said Cigna is the county’s current medical TPA and network partner and that pharmacy rebates and retrospective reconciliation affect forecasts (rebates may appear with a lag of roughly 180 days). USI also recommended marketing the medical and pharmacy contracts at renewal to ensure competitive pricing.
- Dental utilization has risen since the pandemic; USI recommended Delta Dental for network and projected a roughly 20–26% rate increase driven by rescheduled dental care, suggesting the increase be passed to employees because the dental plan is voluntary and employee‑paid.
- USI noted a common nationwide trend of annual health‑care inflation of roughly 7% and encouraged multi‑year, programmatic approaches to reduce trend by modest amounts rather than expecting a one‑year reversal.

Why it matters: the county’s self‑funded status makes it directly responsible for paid claims and exposed to large, unpredictable claim events; plan design, clinic usage and pharmacy strategies materially affect near‑term costs and the budget forecast.

Provenance: USI presentation began at 00:29:36.835 and concluded at 00:55:46.350 (transcript excerpts referenced).","County benefits broker USI presented the county’s self‑funded health plan status, a FY‑26 forecast of a 7.5–9.5% trend driven largely by large claimants and pharmacy, and recommended continued use of the on‑site clinic, virtual care, specialty pharmacy strategies and other cost‑management programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Cabarrus County Schools brief Board on enrollment, capital projects and funding priorities

Cabarrus County outlines ADA transition‑plan options, estimates up to $94,575 for full survey

Cabarrus County staff recommend exploring switch of third‑party claims administrator to SCA

USI and county HR outline FY‑26 health plan forecast and cost‑control strategies