District 205 recognizes student achievement, approves 2026-27 calendar revision
By Loran LewisOctober 8, 2025
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Galesburg Community Unit School District 205 recognized winners of Galesburg High School’s National College Board Awards at its Oct. 6 meeting. Shown here are, front from left, Olivia Springer, Natalie Warren and Caroline Baxter; back from left, Aila Warby, Carter Bohm, Muhammad Shehata, Silas Descalzo and Liam Dilley. Not pictured are Matthias Anderson, Sawyer Bruns, Douglas Bunde, Emily Edwards, Ava Henley, Henry Ikrami, Damanjot Kaur, Sophia Kistler, Gregory Leahy and Sophia Nguyen.
Galesburg High School students who received National College Board Awards this year were recognized by Galesburg Community Unit School District 205 at its regular meeting on Oct. 6.
These students had a 3.3 GPA and either passed two AP exams with a score of 3 or higher in their sophomore year or scored in the top 10 percent on the PSAT or MSPT exam they voluntarily took in October 2024.
The award recipients and their categories are:
Matthias Anderson – National School Recognition Award
Caroline Baxter – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Carter Bohm – School Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
Douglas Bunde – School Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
Silas Descalzo – School Recognition Award
Liam Dilley – School Recognition Award
Emily Edwards – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Ava Henley – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Henry Ikrami – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Damanjot Kaur – School Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
Sophia Kistler – School Recognition Award
Gregory Leahy – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Sophia Nguyen – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award, First-Generation Recognition Award
Muhammad Shehata – School Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
Olivia Springer – School Recognition Award, Rural and Small Town Recognition Award
Natalie Warren – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Aila Warby – Rural and Small Town Recognition Award, School Recognition Award
Board adjusts 2026-27 calendar, approves reimbursement increases
Following the recognition, the board approved a switch in the 2026-27 school calendar that adds an extra day of fall break to accommodate a regionwide teachers institute.
The institute was originally scheduled for April, but because of a lack of regional facilities large enough to hold it, Galesburg was suggested as an alternative. The date would be Oct. 9, 2026, which is the Friday before the district’s fall break.
Superintendent John Asplund said this could be considered an opportunity to promote the district’s facilities.
“So, I hope you see it as, one, a friendly gesture to the area communities,” he told board members, “but secondly, I think it can only serve us well for the neighboring communities to come in and see what our facility looks like.”
The item passed unanimously.
The board also approved an increase in travel reimbursement for district personnel, staff and faculty. The district will provide, without special permission, up to $350 per night for hotel costs. Cabs and driving services will be reimbursed up to $75 per day.
For the 2025-26 school year, the reimbursement levels are $10 for breakfast, $25 for lunch and $25 for dinner/supper. Car travel is reimbursed at the IRS rate up to 100 miles round trip.
