QACPS joins insulin litigation class action lawsuit

CENTREVILLE — The Queen Anne’s County Public Schools Board of Education announced joining a lawsuit against insulin spiked prices Oct. 2.

Superintendent Patricia Saelens noted many districts and organizations that insure employees have started to engage with a new mass lawsuit going after companies for gouging as it relates to insulin.

The fair price of insulin is typically about $35 per vial and some companies have been charging upwards of $1,000 depending on location, Saelens alleged.

“So as a school district to insure our employees, we’ve had to bear those costs that were inflated due to price gouging,” she said.

Board of Education review and the school district attorney found no risk or cost to QACPS in any way, only monies if a settlement is received, Saelens said.

The board reached a consensus to contact the county commissioners for their consideration in joining the action as well.

In other business it was noted, the Board of Education is beginning its planning stages for the upcoming school year budget.

The board expressed frustration with state funding and numbers that are not received until June.

It was also noted, a performance audit of the Board of Education financial records put forth by the county commissioners is now underway.

The auditing firm recently met with the chief financial officer, as well as members of the executive team to discuss the auditing process and timeline, according to Saelens.

“Our CFO and the staff in the areas of finance will provide all and any information that’s requested,” including transportation and benefit package data, she said.

More information will be presented as it becomes available, Saelens said.

In other business, celebrating Maryland Homegrown School Lunch Week, the QACPS cafeteria served apples from Blades Orchard in Caroline County from Sept. 30 to Oct. 4. Through this initiative students were invited to take a bite out of fresh produce and learn about local farms.