Clay County Schools highlights staff wellness day; screenings show elevated health risks among screened staff

Mrs. Godfree, who presented the staff wellness day and the superintendent’s report, told the board the district held its fourth annual staff wellness day on March 13 and had more than 150 participants out of roughly 200 employees. The event featured more than 20 community resource booths, classes (massage, cooking, floral design, pickleball, rock‑climbing), and a cornhole tournament; sponsors covered expenses so no school money was used.

The presentation included optional health screenings (blood work) for about 20 staff members. "Seventy‑seven percent of the individuals that were tested were at a higher risk of developing heart disease," Mrs. Godfree said, adding that 64% had elevated cholesterol and 36% had blood sugar levels indicating pre‑diabetes or diabetes. She noted those figures represent only the subset who had blood work done, not all staff.

Staff survey excerpts read to the board praised the event and suggested practical changes: clearer class descriptions, more chair‑massage slots, and consideration of a half‑day format to reduce conflicts with classroom duties. Mrs. Godfree said the district will consider those suggestions and noted a prior partnership with a community college that reduced some service costs is no longer available, which increases the expense of offering certain services.

The superintendent also used slides to show photographs from the day and to list sponsors and a wish list; she said the district did not use its own funds for the event. Mrs. Godfree recognized the wellness team (Shelly, Jenny, Adrian and Marcy) and behind‑the‑scenes staff who helped with setup and teardown.

The board had no further questions and thanked staff for organizing the program. The superintendent then moved into broader district updates, including state education milestones and facility construction reports.