Putnam County board hears plan for employee wellness center powered by Marathon Health

The Putnam County School Board on a March meeting heard a detailed update on the district—s planned Putnam County Wellness Center, to be operated by Marathon Health, aimed at expanding employees— access to preventive care and primary services.

District committee member Andy Bowling, who led the presentation, said the center will be called the "Putnam County wellness center powered by Marathon Health" and that the district now plans to open the remodeled facility in June. "We're gonna go with a 0 fee for all of our eligible members, regardless of the plan," Bowling told the board, adding that employees, spouses and dependents on a sponsored plan and retirees on the PCSD insurance plan will have access.

The update placed emphasis on access, recruitment and long-term savings. Bowling described the center as a shift from episodic clinic care toward a wellness model focused on prevention and earlier intervention. He said the chosen on-site clinician is "Miss Bridal Braswell," identified in the presentation as an advanced practice registered nurse and family nurse practitioner already employed by Marathon and with rural experience. Bowling said the remodel is underway at the district's former training center on Husson Avenue and that the opening date was pushed back to June to allow for required work.

Board members pressed staff on operational details. Jonathan (CFO) told the board roughly 900-plus covered employees will be eligible to use the center. Board members asked whether retirees, temporary employees or contracted staff will have access; Bowling said retirees on the PCSD insurance plan would have access but "no off plan, temporary, or contracted employees will have access." The board also discussed possible extended or weekend hours and the option of later additions such as physical therapy, dietitians or mental-health days as use and savings data allow.

Bowling described next steps: finalizing union language about use during contract hours, completing remodel work, publishing hours (initially Tuesdays and Thursdays run later), and collecting employee feedback after each visit. He said staff will meet monthly with Marathon to review data and adapt hours and services if needed.

Board members signaled interest in evaluating additional sites for employees who live farther from the Husson Avenue location and in using the center for some student services in future (for example, sports physicals), but Bowling and staff said those services would be considered later as operations and capacity allow.

The board did not vote on the operating agreement during the update; staff said implementing details and union language remain to be finalized before full operational launch.