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District to offer Kellen Foundation lifestyle program to staff; $30,000 budgeted
Summary
The Bethlehem Area School District reviewed a Kellen Foundation lifestyle-medicine program for staff consisting of 12 sessions plus kickoff and alumni follow-ups; the district said the $30,000 cost is budgeted but has not performed a district-level cost-avoidance analysis.
District staff described a proposed staff wellness program run by the Kellen Foundation and told the board the district has budgeted $30,000 to offer the series to employees and spouses.
Doctor Burris briefed the board on the program, which includes two kickoff sessions (one for introduction and one for baseline biometrics), 12 weekly in-person sessions running Feb. 4 through April 29, and additional alumni follow-ups for the remainder of the year. The program promotes lifestyle medicine: dietary and exercise changes intended to improve health and reduce stress.
Burris read participant testimonials into the record and said the program has been offered in the district for three or four years, initially to targeted groups and now open to all staff and spouses. She said the program cost of $30,000 has been budgeted and that staff remarks have been positive.
Board members asked whether there is a limit on participants and whether program materials or catch-up options exist for employees who miss sessions. Staff said there is a participant limit but the specific number was not provided during the committee discussion; staff also said the program offers a robust website, dashboards and materials and that program staff have previously been responsive to questions.
A board member asked whether the district has measured benefits to its insurance or benefits costs; staff said the district has not researched those statistics in depth and that the Kellen Foundation may have data from other groups but the district has not performed its own cost-avoidance analysis.
