The board quadrupled its base salary Tuesday night - going from $3,000 to $12,000 for the year - and gave members the option of forgoing insurance and taking the equivalent in cash: an additional $17,456.

In other words, a board member who doesn't need insurance went from making about $3,000 per year to $29,456 - literally overnight.

An entry-level teacher in Jordan with a bachelor's degree earns up to $31,672 this school year.

Though almost no one from the public addressed the issue at Tuesday's hearing, the head of the Jordan teachers union urged the board to delay its decision.

"This is a major shift, leaving the idea of public service to a part-time job with extremely generous insurance benefits," said Robin Frodge, the Jordan Education Association president.

She noted that a Jordan teacher who opts out of the district insurance plan receives nothing in return. And, she said, the board's new compensation package will be adjusted to follow the consumer price index, which is an increase teachers have not always received.

Setting their own salary is something new for local Utah school-board members. A new law, which went into effect July 1, removed the roughly $3,000 limit on board pay and turned over control of salary to the boards themselves.

"This board has been grossly undercompensated for several years, and the Legislature recognized that problem," said board member Tracy Cowdell.

Rep. John Dougall, R-Highland, sponsored the law after realizing various other elected officials determine their own pay.

"I thought, 'I don't think it's my place to set [the board's] compensation,' " he said.

Upon hearing the potential amount Tuesday night, he said it sounded like "a large jump."

"I certainly hope they can justify it to their voters," the legislator said.

If a board member does choose to receive district insurance, the member does not pay a premium. To receive the equivalent level of insurance, a teacher this year pays $684.29 each month for 10 months. Currently, all seven board members take the district's insurance.

Though some members said they were troubled by the salary leap, others were more comfortable.

If people were really upset about the potential raise, they would have let the board know, Cowdell said.

Some board members report working as many as 20 hours a week on their elected position.

Prior to the hearing, the board had discussed in study session what their hourly pay factored out to based on their salary.

At $3,000 a year, the board was making only a few dollars per hour.

"I mean, $3,000 is just really an insult," said board member Kim Horiuchi. "I just don't think our time is really even valued at $3,000."

Members discussed how they had to reduce their time at work, pay for baby sitters and sacrifice hours with family to fulfill their board positions.

The board had reviewed what other government entities pay their elected officials. Sandy city council members receive, on average, nearly $14,500 per year.

But board members said they didn't want pay to become the reason people ran for office.

"They should do it because they love children," said board member Randy Brinkerhoff.

Those who are uncomfortable with the salary could give some of the money away such as to the district foundation, board members agreed.

Board member Peggy Jo Kennett plans to do just that.

"This will allow me to do things I couldn't have done before," she said.

jlyon@sltrib.com