The lone action item on the agenda for Tuesday night’s School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) meeting was the renewal of 2026 insurance rates. 

While addressing the board, Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources Deborah Terry said in the past, the Alachua County School District’s Insurance Committee “would recommend to the board the cost of the premiums for contracted employees.” 

She said the committee held two meetings on July 17 and 22, but could not come to an agreement on the premiums.  

According to Terry, two different suggestions were made during those meetings.  

She noted that the Alachua County Education Association (ACEA) presented a 0% increase in the premiums, which resulted in a deadlocked vote. The district then countered with a 3.7% increase – the same hike as last year – which also deadlocked. 

With both sides at a standstill, The Bailey Group, a health insurance agency serving North Florida, was asked to present the health insurance premium options at the Aug. 13 school board workshop.  

“They presented information regarding the prescription program and the medical plan,” Terry said. “Some of the details that they gave us: claims equal 96% of the budget, which are the premiums.” 

Terry said the actuaries – people who help insurance companies set rates – recommended a 14% increase to the premiums, but The Bailey Group removed the opt-out employees.  

“Those are employees who choose not to take part in the benefits program,” she said, adding there’s 508 within the district. “When they took that out, then they recommended an increase of 7.35%. They did say, though, that the board could consider going as low as 5% and still be OK.” 

Terry said the group reminded board members at the workshop to be cautious about going any lower than 5% because they know of school districts that went lower for one to two years and then had to come back to a higher number. 

With The Bailey Group’s recommendation of 7.35%, Terry said there would be no impact to the fund balance drawdown. However, a 5% increase in premiums would result in a $752,460 impact on the fund balance, a 3.7% increase would result in a $1,168,646 impact, a 1.5% increase would result in a $1,872,963 impact, and a 0% increase would result in a $2,353,179 impact. 

Staff recommended a 5% increase to the board. 

While discussing their options, board members were split on which direction to go. 

Board Chair Sarah Rockwell, who attended the meeting via phone, eventually made a motion for a 3.7% increase in the premiums. The motion was seconded by board member Leanetta McNealy, but failed 3-2, with board members Tina Certain, Thomas Vu and Janine Plavac dissenting.  

Vu then made a motion for a 1.5% increase. This was seconded by Plavac and approved 4-1, with Certain being the lone dissenting vote. 

The premiums will be in effect from Jan. 1, 2026, through Dec. 31, 2026. 

Nick Anschultz is a Report for America corps member and writes about education for Mainstreet Daily News. This position is supported by local donations through the Community Catalyst for Local Journalism Fund at the Community Foundation of North Central Florida.