Trapped by a law that requires the board to advertise and hold a public hearing to vote on any salary changes, members could only voice their eagerness to consider throwing out the perks they unanimously approved just weeks ago.

"I'm deeply disappointed that we cannot resolve and finish the issue tonight," said board member Peggy Jo Kennett.

In July, the part-time board awarded itself a nearly $27,000 raise at a meeting attended by almost no members of the public. The board quadrupled its salary - from $3,000 to $12,000 - and gave members the option of rejecting health insurance and receiving its equivalent of $17,456 instead.

It was that benefit, believed to be unprecedented in Utah, that appeared to spark the most anger.

With the insurance bonus, a board member can earn up to $29,456, or almost as much as a first-year teacher's salary.

Kennett wants the board to discuss potentially eliminating the cash-in-lieu-of-insurance option as well as the link between board salary increases and the consumer price index, which was also approved last month.

The July decision led to a public outcry that drove the board to revisit the compensation issue.

"It's been a very, very enlightening experience to see the interest and the response from our constituents," said board president J. Dale Christensen.

But scheduling the Aug. 21 hearing did not stop the crowd of more than 50 district residents and employees from loudly protesting the board's recent compensation decision. Jordan teachers and residents said they were "shocked," "disturbed" and "disheartened." Their objections primarily focused on the insurance issue, though some speakers were unhappy with the size of the salary increase and its link to the consumer price index.

"I think our teachers' morale right now [is] pretty low," said Gay Quinn, a Jordan High teacher. "Speaking for my school, we just kind of thought this was the straw that broke the camel's back."

Carol Stuhff, an Oakdale Elementary teacher and Jordan parent, said it was "incomprehensible" the board voted to give itself a "generous benefit" other employees didn't receive.

At a time when the board recently voted to reduce teachers' retirement benefits and the district stands at risk of being divided by voters, "you are sending the message to all employees of your district that you are privileged," she said.

Tuesday night several board members expressed interest in looking at the possibility of offering employees different insurance deals ranging from cash pay outs for those who don't take insurance to having insurance paid for by the district.

The Jordan Classified Professional Association, which represents about 3,000 employees ranging from bus drivers to secretaries, asked that the district study the cash pay out option.

Prior to increasing its compensation, the board studied other elected officials' salaries and discussed individual contributions to the job. Some board members say they work as many as 20 hours a week on their district position.

jlyon@sltrib.com