Dr. Dickey: health plan hit in December left balance near $276,000; district monitoring funds

Dr. Jordan Dickey, calling into the Joplin Schools Board meeting, presented the district's health, dental and general financial statements through Dec. 31, 2025.

Health and dental plans: Dr. Dickey said the health plan had a heavy claims month in December. "We as of that sixth month of the year, we had spent a little over $5,400,000 of the $8.9 [million] budgeted, which is about 61% of the total budget," he said, and reported an ending balance of roughly $276,000 as of Dec. 31. He noted the district expected a reimbursement that did not arrive until January and that a prescription rebate and additional soft-loss reimbursements were pending.

Dental activity was smaller; Dr. Dickey reported revenues "a little over $31,000" for the month and an ending balance just over $221,000 while noting the dental balance is being gradually drawn down.

General financials and investments: Dr. Dickey reviewed broader district funds and liquidity: miscellaneous accounts totaling nearly $160,000, about $8 million in general investment and debt service, and approximately $86 million invested with an entity the transcript references (MOCA/T). He said the district times liquidity, maintains funds in shorter-term vehicles to preserve cash for the school year, and is watching balances as tax receipts arrive.

Board reaction and next steps: Board members thanked Dr. Dickey; he said the administration will continue to monitor balances, anticipate pending reimbursements and consider a spring budget adjustment if necessary.

What wasn’t in the record: The presentation recorded several dollar figures and described pending reimbursements; the transcript indicates some expected reimbursements arrived after Dec. 31 and that balances had begun to recover in January.