Jordan school board whittles perk package

A quadrupled salary is all that remains of a controversial Jordan Board of Education compensation package.

Following about an hourlong public hearing, the school board Tuesday night voted 6-1 to repeal an option to take cash in lieu of insurance — worth more than $17,000 — and cut the tie between its salary and the Consumer Price Index so its pay will go up with inflation.

All that remains of the lightning rod compensation package is the $12,000-a-year salary for board members — up from $3,000 a year — and free insurance, which the board has received for years, if members want it.

"The best thing I can say is, we're willing to listen and we're willing to see a different perspective," board President J. Dale Christensen said after the meeting.

But it's uncertain whether the vote will repair what several teachers likened to shattered morale due to the compensation package, free insurance raises tied to inflation that are not an option for teachers, plus past board action that resulted in cut retirement benefits.

"The automatic increase — my heaven, I wish over the past 25 years I'd been anywhere near the CPI," Riverton High teacher Steve Bickmore told the board.

"I think their final decision is OK," he said in an interview. But in terms of repairing morale, "It's not enough."

The board last month voted to quadruple members' pay to $12,000 a year, tie that pay to the CPI so it rises with inflation, and allow a cash payment in lieu of insurance — totalling more than $17,000 a year. Ultimately, a board member could make just shy of $30,000 a year, similar to a rookie schoolteacher.

The move came after a new state law allowed boards to set their own compensation, which for about 10 years had remained at $3,000 a year. It also followed board study that included estimated time put in —up to 25 hours a week, for some members —and what others pay their public servants. It was not made without care, board Vice President Tracy Cowdell said.

"The mistake that we made is we probably should have had a blue ribbon committee study this issue ... and make some recommendations and put it out there and see how the staff and the public responded to it first," Cowdell said.

About a dozen teachers ripped the board's compensation, saying such perks have never been afforded teachers or other employees.