Superintendent announces consultant contracts for strategic plan, communications and compensation study; recommends switch to Anthem for employee health

Superintendent Dr. Brown told the Petersburg school board on Aug. 6 that the district has selected consultants for three major studies and plans to change employee health coverage to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield effective Oct. 1. Why it matters: The strategic-plan, communications and compensation studies will shape district priorities, external messaging and employee pay/classification; a health-insurance carrier change affects employee network access and benefits. Procurements and costs announced: - Hazard Young & Atiyah and Associates: develop a five-year strategic plan, $55,000; work to begin in August with final board presentation expected in December 2025. - ILO Group: communications audit, three-year plan, qualitative and quantitative research, media training and one-year on-call crisis communications support, $65,000 for one school year. - Evergreen Solutions LLC: compensation classification, stipend and contract study to be completed by October 2025, $62,500. Brown also said the district intends to move employee health coverage from Centra back to Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield effective Oct. 1; she said the board previously agreed to absorb increased costs for the switch for the upcoming year and that the district will present formal contract documentation for board approval at a later meeting. Next steps: The strategic-plan vendor will begin community engagement in August; interim updates will be provided and a draft will be presented to the board in November before final approval in December. The communications and compensation vendors will proceed with their scopes, with the compensation study scheduled to finish by October. The superintendent will place the Anthem healthcare contract on a future board agenda for formal vote.