Jordan Board approves budget: no teacher raises

SOUTH JORDAN — As dark storm clouds gathered outside, the west-side Jordan School Board made unpopular budget decisions inside — including quashing pay raises for educators.

The board voted unanimously on its $446.2 million budget Tuesday night for Jordan School District's 2009-10 school year, slicing $25 million due to revenue shortfalls — $8 million of which is due to the district split, according to district officials.

About 100 educators attended the board meeting, a sea of matching blue union T-shirts and glum faces in the auditorium of Elk Ridge Middle School.

Board members and district officials emphasized the budget is a fluid document.

"Could it change? Yes," said Superintendent Barry Newbold.

The district and the teacher's union, Jordan Education Association, are at an impasse over salary negotiations. They are headed into mediation. At the heart of the matter is educator pay raises and professional development days.

Jordan Education Association President Robin Frodge said a teacher strike is not part of the plan.

The board's budget vote Tuesday eliminated educator salary increases for "steps" and "lanes" to save up to $6 million. A lane increase is a salary adjustment for those who have earned extra academic degrees. Step increases are for years of experience.

Amber Cannon, a first-year teacher who instructs fourth grade at Columbia Elementary School in West Jordan, says she doesn't think she can make it on her beginning teachers salary of approximately $29,000 plus benefits.

"I had planned on making more each year," Cannon said. "Otherwise, I'm not going to make it as a teacher."

Some teachers pointed out educators have taken out loans for that extra schooling.

"We wonder why teachers should invest in bettering themselves if the district doesn't invest in us," said Jennifer Boehme, a 17-year teacher who instructs sixth grade at Elk Meadows Elementary School in South Jordan.

Last year, teachers had 10 professional-development days. Under the approved budget, they will have three six-hour professional-development days this year.

Teresa Lindsay, a seventh-year teacher who instructs fourth grade at Riverside Elementary School in West Jordan, points out eliminating professional-development days is the same as a salary cut.

"Those days are important and give us time to learn new strategies," Lindsay said. "We need to have those days."