Locations chosen for FWCS health clinics [The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Ind.]

Nov. 29--Fort Wayne Community Schools has selected two locations for its health and wellness clinics.

The first, scheduled to open mid-January, is at 10012 Auburn Park Drive, near the intersection of Auburn and Dupont roads.

Superintendent Wendy Robinson said at the board meeting Monday evening that the location was attractive because it required little renovation. It's also near where FWCS employees live or can easily access with its proximity to I-469.

That location will be leased and cost the district about $29,750 a year, including taxes and other fees.

The lease is for three years, but the district has an option to end it earlier, which Chief Financial Officer Kathy Friend said was important in the event that clinics are underutilized.

But numbers of enrolled employees in the district's self-funded health insurance program show that may not be the case.

Chief Operations Officer Charles Cammack said 26 percent of employees opted for a high-deductible plan. The district estimated only 10 percent would choose this plan.

Those employees are the most likely to take advantage of the clinics because they will be completely free for those covered under the FWCS plan.

Changes in the district's health insurance program will save the district at least $3 million a year. The district also hopes to see a savings through the clinic's focus on preventive care and wellness.

The location for the second clinic will be at 1517 Catalpa St., property currently owned by the district. This location requires much more renovation, as it is currently being used for equipment storage. The district hopes to open the second clinic in mid-February.

Energy managers to help district save

On Monday night, the board also approved a contract with Performance Services Inc. to begin an energy-efficiency program in FWCS.

The program will focus on changing behaviors, not purchasing any equipment.

The contract will cost the district $367,000 a year, including salaries and benefits for two energy managers, charged with creating building-specific energy plans and monitoring progress.

The district's estimated savings through the energy program is $600,000 after covering the cost of the contract. Over 10 years, it's estimated the district will save $8 million.

Friend also said the energy consultants will make recommendations on needs of buildings to make them more energy-efficient. This could come during a time when the district will be renovating some buildings.

Any savings would be in the district's general fund, which also pays teacher salaries. The district has already implemented a program on its own encouraging employees to turn off lights and computers at the end of the day.

"But we've gone as far as we can on our own," said Robinson.

At the end of the five-year contract, the goal is for the energy program to sustain itself, with the help of the two energy managers who will be employees of the district.

"I'm excited that we're trying to do something proactively if the $119 million (building) project doesn't get approved," Friend said.

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