Teachers near pay resolution

A slight pay raise won't be enough to offset other cutbacks for teachers in the Jordan School District this year, according to details emerging Monday of soon-to-be-resolved salary negotiations.

The tentative package includes a 1 percent cost-of-living increase but a loss of nearly nine paid days and a freeze of increment pay increases. The result is a net loss in pay for Jordan District educators of about 4.5 percent for the 2009-10 school year, according to the Jordan Education Association, the teachers union.

"The national recession has made this a difficult year for school funding in Utah school districts," said JEA President Robin Frodge. "It is particularly difficult in the Jordan School District because we have the added financial concerns of the district division."

The proposal is expected to be ratified by Jordan educators in the next few days, then voted on by the school board Aug. 11.

The largest cut for teachers comes from the loss of nine working days. The days are typically devoted to classroom preparation, professional development, grading and lesson planning.

The other substantial loss comes as increment increases, called "steps" for additional years experience, were frozen for the 2009-10 school year.

Educators who have worked on advanced degrees will still be able to apply for and receive additional salary credit called "lanes." In order to fund these small increases, educators will pay half of their health insurance premium increases.

Jordan educators also agreed to reduce funding for an incentive program that rewards work attendance.

Jordan District spokeswoman Melinda Colton said it was good to get the teacher salary issue resolved before traditional school began.

"It's been a long delay. We are relieved to have it behind us," Colton said.

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