"We've been trying to negotiate (cash in lieu of insurance) for our certified employees for years," said Marilyn Kurt, teacher member of the Jordan Education Association Executive Board.

Board member Ellen Wallace feared the decision on compensation made it sound like board service was all about money, when it's not.

"This may be the first (decision) that conveyed to the public we were more concerned with our personal welfare than the district's," she said.

Wallace moved to remove the cash in lieu of insurance and the CPI options from the package. Those were the two points most contentious in the e-mails, phone calls and letters board member Peggy Jo Kennett said she has received.

Colleague Randy Brinkerhoff said boards should have to justify pay raises in the future.

But board member Kim Horiuchi, the sole dissenting voice, wanted to keep the CPI tie.

"We wanted intentionally to be the first school district to (raise compensation). We are the largest school district in the state and we did want to ... show that serving on a school board is valuable," Horiuchi said. "I do think the CPI is important to keep. I don't think future school boards should have to go through this."

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E-mail: jtcook@desnews.com