Madison school board discusses raising stipends to about $15,000 and exploring health coverage for members

Board President Jared Castro led a broad discussion about possible changes to board compensation and providing health benefits to board members. Staff presented comparative research on other districts and local governing bodies.

Jennifer (senior executive director of human resources) and staff outlined options including a one‑time flat increase, an annual increase tied to budget assumptions, or a policy to review compensation every three to five years. Staff provided a preliminary cost estimate for offering district health and dental insurance to seven board members using the Affordable Care Act model: roughly $74,000 annually if all elected board members select the single lowest‑cost plan (staff emphasized this is an estimate and depends on plan choices).

Multiple board members said they support a substantive stipend increase and expressed interest in making service more accessible by reducing financial barriers. Board member Muldrow said she was “in favor of this board seeing a significant increase in our compensation,” and board member Mulder pressed for clarity on conflict‑of‑interest rules should board members take district benefits.

Several members, including Board member Pearson and Board member Nichols, said $15,000 per member was a reasonable reference point to analyze. Members also discussed whether health coverage should be available only while a person is seated or continue after leaving office and asked staff to clarify tax and recusal implications. Staff noted that offering insurance to board members would be a taxable benefit (board members are not district employees) and that state statutes and recusal rules might apply.

The board did not adopt any compensation changes at the meeting. Members asked administration to prepare a budget amendment and to return to the September operations work group with detailed costs and parameters (for example, whether the district contribution would match staff practice and whether the district would charge 12% of premiums as employees do). Chief financial staff (Bob) advised the board that staff will present numbers in September so the board can consider a budget amendment for the fall budget cycle.