Some board members have said they'd like another chance to discuss their compensation after their unanimous approval of it angered many Jordan teachers and parents. The board's vote earlier this month increased members' annual salary from $3,000 to $12,000 and allows board members who forgo health insurance to take $17,456 in cash.

Critics view the part-time board members' pay and benefits as extravagant and unnecessary at a time of upheaval in the state's largest school district, which faces an effort to split it in two.

Board President J. Dale Christensen on Monday said he is polling board members to see whether they want to revisit the issue.

"I'm just trying to respect the process," he said. "If the majority of board members want to relook at it or any one aspect of it, they have the right to that prerogative. If there's a majority . . . then it's appropriate to relook at it. If there isn't, we'll let it ride."

He won't make a decision until later this week, and he said he'll voice his opinion only to break a tie. But he "isn't opposed" to revisiting the issue if board members want to.

His actions don't sit well with board member Kim Murphy Horiuchi. She is happy with the new compensation package, and is doing research to see whether a formal vote is needed to put the item on the Aug. 7 meeting agenda.

"I don't want to reconsider it because I think we discussed it extensively," she said. "The July 10 vote was unanimous."

She believes better compensation will encourage a more dedicated part-time board.

"If we don't value the job that we do as public school boards, who will value that job?" Horiuchi said. "It's a very valuable job and I wanted to put value on it."

She also believes better board compensation will give Jordan teachers and staff more bargaining power in their compensation negotiations.

"The board's compensation will open doors for employees and teachers and I'm worried that reconsidering will close those doors," she said. "In negotiations, they can point to the board and really use it as a negotiating tool. This really could be a win-win situation and work to the advantage of teachers, employees and the board."

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* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at smcfarland@sltrib.com or 801-257-8619.