"The superintendent, and down, should have taken a percentage cut, and we would match it equally," he said. "But instead, the teachers sacrifice."

Wendy Brown, a counselor at Copper Hills High School, agreed, saying district administrators should take a cut.

"Everyone should be sacrificing," she said.

Ironically, if Merrell quit his job and was rehired next year in Jordan District, he would get his salary increase, because he would be hired as a third-year teacher with an MBA.

Merrell said going to a different district that pays a higher salary and hasn't frozen steps and lanes is an option.

"I really enjoy the students," he said. "I want to continue teaching."

Or, if Merrell stays in Jordan District, he may have to get an additional part-time job, he said.

The past school year, Merrell worked about 100 hours for about $2,000 serving as Bingham High's adviser to DECA, an association for marketing students. In addition, for the upcoming school year, Merrell plans to work as an assistant state adviser for Utah's DECA. He predicts it will require about 200 hours of his time, and he will earn $4,000.

"I'm thinking of starting a lawn-mowing business," he said, though he thinks working too many other hours could detract from his teaching duties.

E-mail: astewart@desnews.com