The Jordan Board of Education voted Tuesday night to quadruple board members' pay.

Instead of $3,000 a year, each board member will get $12,000 a year. Board members also can take cash in lieu of health insurance — worth more than $17,000 a year — if they choose. Pay also will be tied to the consumer price index and will automatically rise with the cost of living.

A board member could conceivably receive $29,000 a year if he or she chooses.

Jordan Education Association President Robin Frodge noted the board's compensation could equal that of a beginning teacher, according to a district report on the meeting. She also urged the board to postpone the public hearing until September, when more workers and residents could be made aware of the proposal and have a say.

Board President J. Dale Christensen said he knows the board is going to catch flak for the decision. But he hopes as people understand the reasons behind the raise they'll view it as an appropriate move.

"People don't understand school boards. They don't understand the time and energy of a responsibility of a school board like ours ... responsible for an annual $850 million budget and all the ramifications," Christensen said in an interview.

"We figured this compensation ... comes out to $12.50 an hour," he said. "We don't think $12.50 an hour is unreasonable for the responsibilities we carry."

Jordan Board members have earned $3,000 a year for approximately a decade.

But a new state law allows local boards to set their own compensation. It also lets board members participate in the district's health insurance plan, with the option for those who don't want or need the insurance to take a cash payment instead, Christensen said.

"Obviously, (lawmakers) saw a need for an adjustment," he said.

Jordan board members estimate they put in 15 to 25 hours a week in their official capacities, Christensen said. That's about $3 an hour.

Some board members worried that raising the compensation would encourage people to run for the board for the money rather than commitment to public schools and children.

"But at the same time, we felt like not to compensate people properly might also indirectly discourage people who might very well be ... good board members but simply couldn't afford the time and commitment because of jobs and costs and things like that," Christensen said.

Christensen also notes the health insurance payout option costs taxpayers nothing extra; it's just cash compensation rather than a benefit. The extra $9,000 per board member — there are seven, for a total $63,000 — is an additional cost to taxpayers.

Board member Tracy Cowdell said the pay is less than that of many city councils and the Legislature, according to a district report.

The board discussed the matter several times before Tuesday's public hearing, Christensen said.

Cowdell suggested those uncomfortable with the raise could donate it to the Jordan Education Foundation or other charities, the district reported.

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