The district will fund a 5 percent increase in employee health insurance, costing the district $1.6 million.

A total of 172 Jordan district employees have been eliminated due to resignations, retirements and layoffs.

More than a dozen teachers addressed the board before the budget vote — some in tears.

"This kills me," said Vince Merrell, a second-year teacher of business at Bingham High School in South Jordan. His annual salary was supposed to go from $33,725 to $40,286, he said.

Some teachers said they were led to believe their salary would remain intact if they stayed with the district and didn't vacate to the Canyons School District — the east-side district that split from Jordan, effective July 1.

However, Newbold said teachers aren't contracted to receive a raise in Jordan district.

"Lanes and steps are negotiated every year," he said. "They are not a guaranteed benefit."

Frodge suggested closing schools for three or more days to fund steps and lanes.

Board president Peggy Jo Kennett reminded teachers that while cutting school days would help educators financially, it also hurts students academically.

A Jordan Education Association negotiations survey in March revealed that more than 60 percent of its members say morale is worse this year than the previous year.

"The challenges of the district division have raised levels of anxiety and concern for all district employees while they wait to see how their jobs and programs will be affected by budget-driven decisions," Frodge said.

In November 2007, east-side residents voted to leave Jordan School District and form their own district. The district division will be official July 1, with the west side remaining as Jordan district, and the newly named Canyons district existing on the east side.

Canyons district comprises Cottonwood Heights, Sandy, Midvale, Alta and Draper.

The west-side Jordan district consists of Bluffdale, Herriman, Riverton, South Jordan and West Jordan, as well as the township of Copperton.

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