Several retirees and employee representatives used the committee's public-comment period on Nov. 11 to press the district on affordability and staffing.

Visitor John Glover told the committee he had tried Blue Advantage and said it offered less coverage for him, urging staff to provide affected retirees with detailed information before the board acts. "Blue Advantage gave me less," Glover said, and he asked the district to explain how the proposed mandatory-enrollment policy would affect individuals who lack Medicare eligibility through their own earnings.

Jordan Thomas, president of Red River United, told the committee the district's last permanent local pay raise was in 2017 and said employees have faced repeated cost increases without matching wage growth. "We need a raise, not just a promise of one," Thomas said, arguing that teachers and school employees cannot sustain ongoing insurance increases alongside stagnant pay.

Committee staff and the Director of Insurance, Lillian Hooper, acknowledged the concerns and said staff would produce dedicated outreach materials and meet individually with retirees to check Medicare eligibility and explain exceptions. The committee did not alter its recommendation at the meeting.

The public comments framed the committee vote: while staff described the proposal as necessary to stabilize plan costs, commenters asked the board to weigh retiree affordability and broader compensation policy in its final decision.