With the goal of improving recruitment and retention of early-career educators, Galesburg District 205 is moving forward with a salary enhancement plan.
The school board on Monday approved a memorandum of understanding with the Galesburg Education Association to adjust compensation mid-way through the current contract, because the district was no longer competitive in the region for years one through ten on the pay scale.
The current contract awarded teachers a 3% increase for next school year and a 4% increase for the year after that. The memorandum increases the starting teaching salary to $48,000 for next school year, and provides additional compensation to all certified staff in addition to the 3% raise guaranteed in the contract.
“I’m very pleased that our board supports this so that we are committed to recruiting the best that we can possibly get, and once we have them showing that we do appreciate them,” said board member Rod Scherpe.
The board also approved switching back to Blue Cross Blue Shield for employee health insurance in 2026, which will lower premiums by 3.4% and reduce deductibles through the addition of MedPlus supplemental coverage.
Jennifer Hamm, Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations, said the district was facing 30% rate hikes from its current carrier UnitedHealthcare Surest for 2026. She said that increase “obviously was not something that was sustainable for the district or for our employees.”
Then Blue Cross Blue Shield came in with the favorable rate for 2026.
Hamm said the district was also able to secure a rate cap for the following year, with rates not to exceed an 11.9% increase, which is well below what is budgeted long-term.
“We wanted to make sure that this wasn't a one-year relationship,” Hamm said. “That was very important because we have switched carriers so frequently in the last couple of years and that is difficult for our employees.”
The district is holding open enrollment meetings at all buildings, with the new policies going into effect Jan. 1.
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