Knox County schools keep supplemental athlete insurance as board approves policy changes, staff to study alternatives

The Knox County Board of Education on June 5 approved amended language to Policy E200 (Insurance Management) that clarifies the district can continue its current practice of requiring supplemental athletic insurance and paying unpaid expenses for student athletes unable to cover them. The change passed after public comment from local sports medicine physicians and long-time sideline providers and a lengthy board discussion about fiscal risk and equity. Board members and staff said the policy revisions are intended to make the district’s authority and practice “crystal clear” while buying time to seek lower-cost insurance options and to consider sources for roughly a $150,000 annual gap staff identified. In a presentation before the vote, Superintendent Reiswick…