AMERICAN FORK — The Alpine School District board of education is considering doubling or tripling members' monthly pay.

Currently, board members make $250 a month. They're considering raising it to $500 or $750 a month.

During a discussion Tuesday before the regular meeting, board members Christine Hannemann, Tim Osborn and Donna Barnes said they felt most comfortable with $500 extra a month.

"I don't do it for the money, but yeah, we put in a lot of hours," Hannemann said.

Barnes said she works up to 20 hours a week attending a variety of meetings, visiting schools, answering e-mail and phone calls and reading district reports and books about education.

Board members plan to write a pay proposal and discuss it in coming months before voting on whether to change the compensation.

"I would say it's long overdue for all we do," said board member Guy Fugal, after the discussion, adding that in his 15 years on the board, pay hasn't changed.

Pay raise talk comes after the Utah Legislature passed a law allowing school boards to determine their own compensation.

Members of the Jordan School District Board of Education raised pay — and eyebrows — by awarding themselves $1,000 a month, plus the monetary value of medical insurance if they chose not to take the insurance. After a public outcry, they dropped the insurance compensation proposal.

Utah law has long allowed city councils to determine their own compensation.

Orem council members make $9,900 a year; Provo council members $12,240 a year. Sandy council members are paid by the hour with rates ranging from $34.60 to $51.90, depending on years of experience.

Salt Lake council members make 20 percent of the mayor's salary, currently $21,750, and Bountiful council members $650 a month, with two council members receiving extra pay for other commissions on which they sit.

But the modest $3,000 a year currently paid the seven members of the Alpine school board is supplemented by other benefits.

They are reimbursed 48.5 cents per mile for travel to meetings that are not official board meetings. They have laptops. The district pays for Internet service at each member's house.

Board members are paid for 12 meetings each year that are not regularly scheduled board meetings, although board members commented Tuesday that they attend 30 to 50 meetings a year.

They earn $60 for meetings that last four hours or less, $90 for meetings that last more than four hours.

The board is considering increasing pay up to $180 per meeting.

Board members also can choose the district's medical insurance for themselves and their families. They acknowledged the medical insurance benefits are more generous than those of many private employers and can save families hundreds of dollars each month.

Hannemann suggested trying to strike "a happy medium" that would attract board candidates.

Osborn, an engineer, said he often has to miss work to fulfill school board duties.

"I'm not here for the money, that's for sure," he said. "Anything beyond that is a bonus. It's nice, but it's nothing I'm begging for. I'm OK with $500. If (the majority) decide $750, I'm sure I can find use for it for my family."

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E-mail: lhancock@desnews.com