Carrollton sees modest increase in insurance rates

By Editor | July 6, 2026 |

By Carmen Ensinger

School districts never like it when it comes time to renew their insurance policies because they hardly ever go down and the increases are usually staggering.
However, Carrollton School District is pretty happy with the modest increase from their insurance carrier. The board approved the renewal of the property, casualty and workman’s comp. insurance with Prairie State Insurance Cooperative with an increase of only 6.43 percent over last year’s rate. This works out to the district paying 11,177.26 more in insurance premiums than they did last year.
Carrollton Superintendent Jason Bauer thinks this increase isn’t too bad.
“A 6.43 increase is actually really, really good,” Bauer said. “I’m going to go out on a limb and say that next year when we get to the same time it will probably be higher and the reason being, if you noticed here recently, we are leading the nation in the number of tornadoes this year.”
Bauer said there have been several schools that have sustained a lot of damage in those tornadoes.
“The Charleston School District received damage at the middle school and the elementary school in Blue Mound also received damage,” he said. “Both of those schools are located in central Illinois.”
The district will be going back to the 10-point grading scale next year to align with several other area schools who are currently using this grading scale Beginning next year, anything scored 90 or above will be an A. 80 or above will be a B, 70 or above will be a C, etcetera.
Bauer said they are switching back to this grading scale so that Carrollton students are able to compete with other neighboring districts for scholarships.
The board approved the athletic director job description.
“We did this just so it would be more accurately reflecting the position being a licensed teacher as opposed to being an administrative position,” Bauer said. “Brian Madsen is going to be the new Athletic Director.”
The board approved two new five-year contracts for the two building principals – High School Principal Ronda Smith and Elementary School Principal Natalie Frye.
They also approved one year contracts for Early Childhood Supervisor Krista Flatt and Transportation and Maintenance Supervisor Steve Caselton.
Since board member Jeff Krumwiede resigned, that put an opening on the Athletic Committee, so Amber Flowers was appointed to fill his seat on that committee.
The board approved updating the board committee member assignments. As such, a new subcommittee of the Athletic Committee was created to look into the coop. Appointed to this committee were Amber Flowers and Scott Bryant.
In other action, the board:
Accepted the resignation of Olivia Henson as Family Liaison at the Grade School at the conclusion of the 2025-26 school year.
Approved Ryan Kost as Assistant FFA Sponsor.
Approved Dawson Hillis as Assistant High School Track Coach.
Approved Krista Flatt as Junior High Assistant Cheerleading Coach.
Approved Ethan Frye as High School Assistant Girls Basketball Coach and Assistant Football Coach.