Weight Loss drugs could be on chopping block for W-JCC school employees
Today is Jan. 21. W-JCC schools face a shortfall of up to $5.1 million for their next budget; cutting coverage of GLP-1 drugs could address a big chunk. Also today, happy birthday to us!
Editor’s Note: We have corrected this story to clarify that the changes under consideration for GLP-1 coverage would only be for weight loss treatments, not diabetes. We apologize for our error.
Stopping coverage for GLP-1 weight loss treatments could go a long way to closing the multimillion-dollar gap between the Williamsburg-James City County schools’ first pass at a new budget, and the revenue it expects to come in.
School officials told the school board at their final budget work session Tuesday afternoon that there is a $3.4 million to $5.1 million gap between their budget wish list and the amount of money they know is going to come in.
The school system is looking at getting $200.5 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1 from James City County, Williamsburg, and the state -- an increase of $10.6 million from this year.
The wish list of expense increases penciled in for the first pass at the budget could cost $15.1 million to $16.7 million more than the schools are currently spending, according to finance officials. That’s where the weight loss drugs come in.
While compensation increases and new hires make up most of the difference, health insurance costs are projected to rise 16% next year.
Greg Snow of USI Consulting told the school board that nearly half of the schools’ medical costs are for pharmacy expenses. Covering GLP-1 prescriptions for weight-loss purposes, which many insurance plans do not cover, costs $1.5 million a year.
Snow said the schools could consider directing employees to buy directly from the pharmaceutical companies, which would charge them about two thirds less than employers must pay.
“Taking $1.5 million off (expenses) by axing coverage for GLP-1’s, or modifying coverage, would seem to go a long way in alleviating.... this budget constraint,” noted Jamestown board member Ty Hodges.
But at a public hearing on the budget, teacher and union member Marco Sardi asked the board not to further dilute employee health benefits. Sardi said he was spending about the same for his share of medical insurance, but for less coverage and higher co-pays.
The only other speaker at the public hearing, Jay Everson, urged the school board to direct as much of their budget as possible toward improving reading scores, which have declined for several years.
Stonehouse Representative Michael T. Hosang said the 27 additional employees in the proposed budget is “going to be a hard sell for a lot of people”, given the schools’ declining student enrollment levels.
Superintendent Daniel Keever told Hosang about half of that number covers employees who already work for the schools, but are funded by grants that are going away.
Happy Birthday to us!
By Digby A. Solomon
Today marks a year since I launched Williamsburg Watch, not quite knowing what to expect.
As the former CEO of The Daily Press and Virginia Gazette, I was heartbroken about the dwindling of local newspapers from the scene, as the internet and over-dependence on social media algorithms decimated the business.
Newspapers used to be a combination of town criers, gadflies, and community boosters. Local residents could see how government was spending their money, how their schools were doing, and get other important community information.
But with the advent of the internet and social media, nearly 40% of America’s newspapers have closed since 2005, according to an annual survey by Northwestern University’s Medill journalism school. Medill estimates 50 million Americans live in “news deserts” with little or no local news access.
Some of my conservative friends who considered legacy media too liberal – although they tended to confuse editorial opinions with news coverage -- think this is great. But the alternative has proven worse.
Too many of my neighbors think they can get their news from social media feeds, whose algorithms plunge them into an endless feedback loop of things similar to what they’ve already read. They can’t tell the difference between bloggers who report from only one viewpoint, and may get paid for spreading a particular point of view, and news media with ethical standards.
It breaks my heart to see intelligent people going on Next Door Neighbors to express surprise at everything from the new cruise missile plant in James City County to increases in local meals taxes – all topics foretold by local media.
On January 21 of 2025 I dipped my toe in the water with two editions a week, focusing on the government and economic news that matters to the community’s most involved citizens. I decided not to spend scarce resources covering local sports. Here’s what came out a year ago:
Over the past 12 months more than 2,500 readers have signed up, plus another 620 followers on social media.
They have told me in online polls that they want to know more about how local government spends their money, local economic topics, schools and local business.
We sponsored two sold-out local candidate forums with our news partners at WHRO in October.
I recently expanded our coverage frequency. We plan to add podcasts and more community forums where you will be able to question officials directly.
But to keep up I need to add staff – and that costs money.
So starting next month, Williamsburg Watch converts to a paid publication.
Free subscribers will still be able to see our daily headlines. But only paid subscribers will be able to read all the news.
Our standard subscription rate will be $8 a month, or $80 a year paid in advance. Organizations that want to purchase bulk subscriptions will pay a reduced rate of $6 a month.
We will also offer a premium level at $100, whose members will have first crack at quarterly town halls and other benefits.
People who have already pledged to support us will see their first subscription charge hit their credit cards after the conversion.
Here is what readers who have already pledged to pay had to say:
“I find that I get caught up in all the huge national news/government and lose perspective on what is happening in my local news/government. The decisions the city council makes hit me directly as a property owner/city resident/school/CW employee. The articles WW put together keep me informed. Thank you.” – Jenni
“I want to know what is happening where I live...and new proposals for change so I can make good decisions.” – Judy
“Always glad to support verifiable journalism. It’s worth the money. The price of not having local journalism is more than just dollars. “ – Diane
“You are helping to spread the local news in the way of the old small-town dailies on which we depended. It is a new format for the 21st-century, much needed and very much appreciated.” – Steven
State headlines
Lobby Day draws larger pro-gun crowd as Virginia Democrats revive gun-safety agenda
Spanberger appoints 27 to university boards, orders study of selection process
Top 5 Things to do before the snow hits!
Liberty Ice Pavilion Outdoor Ice Skating. Daily starting at noon. $16 adult, $14 youth ages 3
Pottery: The Secret to a Post-Colonial Williamsburg. Friday 5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m. Saturday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. James City County Recreation Center. $10.
Silver Hand Session: Jazz Jam. Friday 6p.m. – 8 p.m. Silver Hand Meadery. Free.
Chinese Tea Ceremonies & Tea Talk. Saturday 10:30 a.m. Jamestown Settlement. $40.
Neighborhood Winter Carnival. Saturday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Abram Frink Jr. Community Center. Free.
Passings
Virginia Kuyk Lynch, 88, January 17.
Patricia Ann Emerson, 86, January 17.
James Edward Alfred Woodbury, 94, January 19.
Mary McAllister Teale, 85, January 15.
Floyd Sprouse, 76, January 14.
Really sharp analysis on this budget tradeoff. The $1.5 million from GLP-1s looks temping short term, but I've seen similiar cuts backfire when chronic health issues pile up later. Directing employees to pharma companies directly could be a middle ground, though it adds burdenon staff who already juggle a ton. Wonder if theboard's tracking how benefit erosion impacts teacher retention in tight labor markets.