- May 23, 2025
Flagler Schools plans to open its new employee Wellness Center in July. Construction crews are currently converting the old weight room gym at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club into the new health care facility.
The Wellness Center by Marathon Health will be part of the school district's medical insurance plan package.
A year ago, as the School Board was deciding whether to approve funding the facility, Superintendent LaShakia Moore said, “it’s an intervention to mitigate the cost of the claims that we're currently receiving (in the district’s self-insurance plan).”
Joshua Walker, the the school district's Human Resources supervisor, told the board at a workshop on Tuesday, April 22, that the Wellness Center will be open 40 hours a week with a staff of three Marathon Health medical professionals.
The services the facility will provide include immediate care for illness, annual physical exams, condition and medication management, labs and onsite testing and school and sports physicals.
The services will be free to all Flagler Schools employees and their families who are on the district's medical plan.
The Wellness Center replaces a clinic contract with AdventHealth. Its benefit to the district will depend on how widely used it becomes, district staff and board members have stressed. The district plans to promote the facility through internal communications, social media and district events.
One promotional poster would tout that the Wellness Center would cover up to 90% of health and wellness needs.
Not only will the facility's services be free of charge, but Walker said the district's plan includes cash incentives through May, 2026 to drive engagement. The incentives include $25 to each Wellness Center patient on their first visit and $100 for completion of their annual physical.
All new employees will go to the facility for required physicals and drug screening, Walker said.
The hours of operation include two days a week when it will be open until 7 p.m. and two days when it will be open until 5 p.m. The other day it will be open until 4 p.m. It will be closed on weekends. Board member Janie Ruddy said being open late is an advantage to teachers who won't have to take time off during the school day, which would require calling in a substitute.
Board member Christy Chong asked Walker and HR chief Bob Ouellette about the possibility of providing a cash option to use the facility for employees who are not on the district's insurance plan.
Walker said plumbing, slab work and framing are currently underway at the Belle Terre Swim and Racquet Club building.
